ILO R4D Timor-Leste / Geneva Country Case Study of OHS principles in EIIP works

Dr Green conducted the Occupational Safety and Health review of labour intensive construction methods of road works under for the Employment Intensive Investment Programme in rural areas of Timor-Leste. Examination of systems and tools for compliance with Health and Safety guidelines. Advising ILO Geneva on compliance with TIM H&S policies. Completion of video & written accounts of work in progress for 12 road contracts on 70km of roads in in Baguia, Baucau District, Timor-Leste. Capacity development and advice to contract managers and on the job training to construction workers. Providing technical guidance for contractor’s health and safety staff and monitoring with respect to ILO safeguard policies. The study followed on from GoTL nationwide OSH training excercises (2018) to key Government staff and local contractors supported by ILO. Collaborating partners for training were drawn from key stakeholders such as the Secretary of State for Youth and Labour (SSYL) [formerly SEPFOPE], The World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the Secretary of State for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (SEGIS), The Public Service Commission (CFP), Ra'es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO) the Asosiasaun Defisiénsia Timor-Leste (ADTL), Ministry of Health and the Konfederasaun Sindikatu Timor-Leste (KSTL). The Study was carried out by observing contractors activities and practices under Roads for Development (R4D) and Enhancing Rural Access (ERA) programs for the rehabilitation of roads in the Baucau District of Timor-Leste. A prompt review deadlibne was set by ILO for the evaluation of current occupational safety and health practices on certain active labour based rural road rehabilitation projects. Results are summarized below (Project Sheet 09) Through the promotion of local resource-based approaches, including the use of employment intensive work methods, job opportunities are increased, facilitating poverty reduction while at the same time improving access to basic infrastructure services. Employment-intensive work for rural road improvements, was funded by the Government of Australia, The Government of Timor-Leste (GoTL) and the European Union with technical assiantance managed by the ILO under R4D and ERA programs for the rehabilitation of feeder and access roads in districts. Occupational safety and health (OSH) issues in road improvement works are seen as critically important by ILO and OSH is regarded as important to reduce risk due to large numbers of accidents at work occuring in the construction sector; many of which are fatal accidents. Even small scale employment intensive work methods have some intrinsically hazardous activities such as use of various equipment and tools, excavation, multiple locations of construction sites, and subcontracting or outsourcing practices. The sector often faces the high risk of non-compliance with good international labour practices due to the extensive contracting chains, temporary nature of worksites, mobility and diversity of the workforce, and diverse and changing nature of operations at construction sites. The application of OSH principles and practices to the construction works with employment intensive investment approaches is essential to ensure decent employment creation with appropriate working conditions that protect the safety and health of workers. Existing OSH materials for construction focus on larger scale projects and do not necessarily address OSH practical needs for the EIIP programme. Construction projects with employment-intensive investment approaches require specific OSH considerations, as they are more based on labour and local resources. They are often implemented in fragile situations to respond to an urgent demand for job creation for vulnerable groups and at the same time for the rehabilitation or construction of basic infrastructure. An OSH Manual for EIIP works, designed to encourage usage at the labor-intensive work sites was the target outcome. The approach aimed to assist workers and employers to take concrete measures to improve their working conditions while increasing productivity. The manual accounts for the empirical information from the ongoing EIIP projects and reflect international principles and standards on OSH. In 2018, ILO supported the GoTL to conduct nationwide OSH training excercises to key Government staff and local contractors. Collaborating partners were drawn from key stakeholders such as the Secretary of State for Youth and Labour (SSYL) [formerly SEPFOPE], The World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the Secretary of State for Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (SEGIS), The Public Service Commission (CFP), Ra'es Hadomi Timor Oan (RHTO) the Asosiasaun Defisiénsia Timor-Leste (ADTL), the Ministry of Health and the Konfederasaun Sindikatu Timor-Leste (KSTL). Dr Green’s study covered selected EIIP work activities and analyzed the key OSH issues. The observations summarized overall OSH provisions and how the risks from the inherent hazards are mitigated. The good practices were noted and the hazards, risks, tools and working conditions described. Proposals were made for improvements to certain activities and the overall implementation of good practices for OSH. The report was presented including video footage, photographs and detailed descriptions of the main hazards, risky tasks, tools, working conditions and mitigation measures to improve situations with recommendations for improvements by reference to international best practice.