Within the framework of the SESRIC’s Occupational Safety and Health Capacity Building Programme (OSH-CaB) and in line with the OIC Occupational Safety and Health Network (OIC-OSHNET) Work Plan 2021-2022, the Centre, in collaboration with the Tunisian Agency for Technical Cooperation (ATCT), organised a Training Course on “OSH Structures and Labour Inspection” on 07-09 June 2022 through an online video conferencing platform.

The training course was delivered by competent experts from the Tunisian Occupational Health and Safety Institute (TOSHI) under the Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia for the benefit of 82 experts and executives from the national OSH authorities and relevant national institutions of 14 OIC African French-speaking Member Countries, namely Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Djibouti, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

The training course aimed at providing insights into the OSH structures and the application of legal provisions on working conditions to establish adequate protection for the workers in their workplace. The training provided a better understanding of organising and carrying out occupational safety and health controls in the companies and the responsibilities of the employers and workers in this regard. The course also focused on relevant technical subjects, including but not limited to labour laws, labour inspection conventions, and the rights and duties of the labour inspection control officer.

The training course commenced with the opening statement by Mr. Fadi Abdullah FARASIN, Assistant Director General of SESRIC, who underlined the importance of ensuring continuous improvement in working conditions and promoting the rights of workers for a safe and healthy workplace. Mr. FARASIN also highlighted in his speech that labour inspection, among other activities within the OSH system, plays a critical role in ensuring a safe and hazard-free environment for all employees and workers. He further stressed that decent and safe workplaces are essential elements to ensure the economic sustainability and well-being of societies. Before concluding, Mr. FARASIN briefed the participants on SESRIC's contribution to the efforts of the OIC and its member countries in the field of OSH.

In his welcoming remarks, H.E. Prof. Habib NOUAIGUI, Director General of the Tunisian Occupational Safety and Health Institute (TOSHI), pointed out that the exchange of experiences among the OIC Member Countries should lead to the harmonization of OSH legislation, regulations and structures in accordance with the international conventions of the ILO. Before concluding his remarks, H.E. Prof. NOUAIGUI stressed the readiness and willingness of TOSHI to continue contributing to the success of the objectives of the OIC-OSHNET and SESRIC’s capacity building training activities in the field of OSH.

The OIC-OSHNET was launched in 2011 in order to establish closer cooperation among the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Institutions of the OIC Member Countries through sharing knowledge, experience and best practices. SESRIC assumes the role of the OIC Technical Coordinator of the OIC-OSHNET and carries out a specific capacity building programme on OSH, namely, Occupational Safety and Health Capacity Building Programme (OSH-CaB), to support the efforts of the OIC Member Countries in improving workplace safety and health. For more details about the Network and its activities, please visit: https://oshnet.sesric.org/index.php

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