SUB-CONTRACTING, out-sourcing and engagement of agents cause significant challenges for safety and health in the workplace.

This charge came from Minister of Labour and Civil Service, Rawle Eastmond, at the opening ceremony of Occupational Safety and Health Week yesterday at the Dining Club, Green Hill, St Michael.

He said these non-standard work arrangements were more prevalent and "fraught with danger", especially in the construction sector, which included civil works and works of engineer construction, as well as in the agriculture sector.

He said his department had committed more resources to monitoring and ensuring that there were safety and health practices within both sectors, including creating a Framework Policy On Safety And Health.

He also looked at migrant labour as a challenge.

"There is such evidence that migrants here in Barbados are sometimes made to take chances with their health and safety, that Barbadian workers are forbidden from practising. There must be no discrimination against migrant workers.

"We must see beyond the traditional concerns and be willing to take on board for example, the challenges and concerns such as migrant labour, new work arrangements and wellness," he said, adding that special emphasis must be placed on wellness.

"Wellness must be seen as critical to safety and health at the workplace and critical to the attainment of the long-term business objective."

However, executive director of the Barbados Employers Confederation, Harry Husbands, said employers' interest in health and safety had "slackened" over the years.

"The challenge we currently face is to connect for employers the relationship between safety and health and the enhancement of profitability and the competitiveness of their enterprises," he said.

He added it would make business-sense for employees to enter the workforce with a preventative safety mentality. (TM)