workplace inspections carried out at the premises where repairs of motor vehicles and motorcycles are effect…
(No. B/607) Mr N. Beejan (Second Member for Grand’Baie & Poudre d'Or) asked the Minister of Labour and Industrial Relations whether, in regard to workplace inspections carried out at the premises where repairs of motor vehicles and motorcycles are effected over the period December 2014 to November 2024, he will state the – (a) number thereof annually and table the list thereof, and (b) names of the employers prosecuted for breaches of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2005, indicating in each case, the relevant section under which each one was prosecuted.
Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am informed by the officers of the National Occupational Safety and Health Department that they carry out visits at places of work, including workshops where mechanical repairs are carried out for motor vehicles and motor cycles, to ensure that the health and safety standards are met in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 2005.
54 Following visits carried at places of work, appropriate recommendation is issued to the employers in accordance with Section 24 (5) of the OSH Act 2005. Follow-up visits are thereafter carried out to verify compliance. In case of repeated non-compliance, contraventions are established and the employers are prosecuted in accordance with Section 26 of the Act. With regard to part (a) of the question, I am informed that for the period December 2014 to November 2024, 434 visits were undertaken by officers of the National Occupational Safety and Health Department. 191 out of 230 premises are registered with NOSH as factories where activities in connection with repairs of motor vehicles and motor cycles are carried out. I am tabling the list of the inspections carried out for each year, from 2014 to 2025. As regard to part (b) of the question, I am further informed that as at date, eight employers involved in repair of motor vehicles and motor cycles have been prosecuted for breaches under relevant sections OSH Act 2005, namely sections 5, 10, 23, 85, 87, 88 and 105. I am also tabling the list of the employers who have been sanctioned under the Act.
Do you have a supplementary question?
Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Could the hon. Minister inform the House what additional measures will be taken to ensure the safety and health of employees in this sector, especially given that there has been a significant rise in the number of vehicles for the past ten years?
Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have to confess that I am also not satisfied with the number of visits carried out by the inspection of my Ministry because over the past 10 years, approximately less than 20% of workshops are inspected every year. But unfortunately, we have a constraint of labour inspectors and in the Enforcement Department. We have asked for additional staff and we will try our best to conduct more inspections of workshops.
Hon. Second Member for Flacq and Bon Accueil! BUS ROUTES 53, 26 & 221 – IRREGULARITIES – REMEDIAL MEASURES