CIM holds symposium on occupational health and safety

KATHMANDU: Chamber of Industries Morang (CIM) organised a provincial-level symposium on 'Occupational Health and Safety Management System' on Friday, to enhance workforce safety in the industry, supporting the creation of safe workplaces, and boosting long-term capacity in the context of occupational safety and health.

Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki inaugurated the programme held in collaboration with ENSSURE Project, and Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs' Forum — Biratnagar, Itahari, and Jhapa Chapters.

Addressing the programme, Chief Minister Karki stated that the symposium will be a milestone in improving the safety and productivity of the workforce in the industrial and business sectors. He suggested that the symposium’s working papers and conclusions would assist the provincial government at the policy-making level in the future. He emphasised the government's collaboration with the private sector to promote industry and business, expressing confidence that the symposium would address challenges in the industrial sector and provide solutions for industrial workers.

Karki also called for constructive support from the industry and business sectors, noting that their suggestions and recommendations will be crucial for the success of the upcoming Investment Summit.

CIM President Rakesh Surana highlighted the importance of occupational health and safety for the workforce in every sector. He opined that the working papers presented at the symposium, along with the experience gathered by national and multi-national companies, would contribute to worker welfare.

President Surana expressed confidence that the ideas presented would ensure the long-term efficiency of the workforce in creating safe workplaces and positively impact overall industry management.

Siddhartha Shrestha, President of the Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs' Forum, Sunsari Chapter, said the programme aimed to protect workplace safety and workers' physical and mental health. He opined that proper management of occupational safety and health would enhance workers' well-being and ensure the company's long-term success.

The symposium included presentations by experts on occupational safety and health, discussions on best practices by national and multi-national companies, and insights on prevailing laws, compliance, international standards, and quality management systems, according to CIM.

The programme was attended by directors, managers, and human resource managers from various industrial establishments in Sunsari-Morang Industrial Corridor. Representatives from development partners, including the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, ENSSURE Helvetas, the Quality Association of Nepal, and Occupational Safety and Health Professionals Nepal (OSHPN), were also present.