EU experts hail inspection and legal systems

The Occupational Health and Safety Authority has passed with flying colours a peer review exercise carried out by representatives from the European Union's committee of senior labour inspectors.

The four inspectors analysed the inspection and legal systems in the area of occupational health and safety in Malta. The major problem identified was that related to effective social partner participation.

During their visit in Malta the representatives met various entities in the area of occupational health and safety and accompanied officers on site visits.

This was part of a series of visits during which they analysed the capability of candidate countries to enforce EU directives in an appropriate manner and discussed the strengths of the countries' systems for health and safety at work. Malta and Cyprus were the only two countries out of the 12 candidate countries visited where only few suggestions were made.

The draft report, which has been forwarded to the government, states that Malta has inspection and legal systems that are generally in line with those in member states and good standards of health and safety at the workplace.

The degree of transposition of EU legislation was deemed to be high with the legal basis already in place in spite of the transitional periods acquired.

The draft report praised the competence of the country's inspectorate system, indicating a high-level of training, motivation and good judgment.

Social dialogue was perceived to be well channelled and targeted, including interactions between inspectors and social partners. However, the report said there was wider scope for social partnership between employers and trade unions, with more emphasis being laid on active involvement. The other area, which also requires attention, is the development of an efficient information system and better collaboration with other entities.

"Although we are still in the process of recruiting people to strengthen the operational capabilities of the authority, major strides forward have been made. We fully concord that health and safety have to be put high up on the agenda of all social partners and that active action should be taken immediately. Safety and health add value and credibility to every business, to every workplace and to every individual. This is a message which has to be articulated every day, by all possible means," chief executive officer of the Occupational Health and Safety Authority, Mark Gauci said.