VietNamNet Bridge - According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), there are nearly 6,000 labor accidents in Vietnam, killing about 600 people, annually. However, the data at hospitals showed that the number of victims is more than three times.




Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Bui Hong Linh said at a recent conference that labor accidents and occupational diseases are on the rise.

In the past 10 years, the average number of labor accidents is nearly 6,000 per year, killing 600 people. Labor accidents mainly occurred in the fields of construction and mining. However, the statistics from hospitals show that the number of victims is more than three times than the data of the MoLISA, with about 1,700 deaths a year.

It is forecasted that the number of victims will be increasing, especially workers in the agricultural sector, because the process of modernization of agriculture and rural areas goes with the increasing use of machinery, fertilizers, pesticides while communes do not have officials in charge of labor protection yet.

Linh also said that Vietnam has 28 diseases that are included in the list of occupational diseases. The total number of the patients with occupational diseases by the end of 2011 is more than 27,000 cases, mainly silicosis and occupational deafness.

Occupational accidents also cause great material losses worth millions of USD per year, including social welfare for the victims.

The number of accidents increases, according to the Deputy Minister, owning to the strong development of small and medium enterprises with backward technology. On the other hand, the import of machinery, technology, new materials also entails the risk of occupational safety and health since their structure does not match the body and the health of Vietnamese people.

The development of the mining, construction, energy, chemical industry and the increased use of electricity in the industrialization and modernization also increases the risk of loss of safety, hygiene and labor market environment.

Labor Minister Pham Thi Hai Chuyen said although the amended Labor Code in 2012 includes a chapter on labor safety issues, it only governs part of the laborers. Therefore, the labor safety law needs to be issued as a legal basis for the implementation of the protection for all workers.

Chuyen said that the number of labor accidents is high because the employers do not fulfill their responsibilities in making plans to ensure working conditions and safety. In addition, the knowledge of workers themselves on labor safety is limited.

Compiled by Le Ha