19,20,23 Nov 2020, Trained for occupational safety and health (OSH) at New Rose Hotel.

Representatives from member factories of the Association of Lao Garment Industry (ALGI) are being trained for occupational safety and health (OSH). The three-day training began on Wednesday in Vientiane,

and was co-chaired by the Director General of Labour Management Department under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Mr Phongsaysack Inthalath. The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI)’s OSH Committee Head, Ms Souphayvanh Thiengchanhxay, the Vice President of Association of Lao Garment Industry (ALGI), Mr Phimmasone Aminthalath, the Technical

Advisor for ILO Vision Zero Fund Project for Laos, Ms Kristina Kurths also co- ALGI member factories train for occupational safety, health chaired the meet.

In early 2019, a VZF project from the EU conducted an OSH assessment in Laos’ garment industry to identify where and how it could help factories improve their safety and health conditions, and reduce the occurrence of occupational accidents, injuries and diseases. It was a finding of this assessment that most factories did not have a functioning OSH Committee and also faced many OSH-related problems. “I am pleased to see that trainers from partner organisations and factories will now restart to rollout OSH Committee training to ALGI member factories and that this training is being conducted as a tripartite event,” said Ms Kristina.

“As we know, in order to improve OSH conditions in the workplace, to protect both workers’ safety and health and business operations, tripartite collaboration will be more effective than the action of one single agency alone.”

“I am pleased that the ministry will certify participating factories’ to be in compliance with the national OSH decree with respect to their committee’s knowledge on OSH, the way it was established, and the way it operates,” she added.