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The Department of Employment and Labour is to observe the 2025 World Day for Safety and Health on the importance of investing in occupational health and safety and how to respond to new and emerging technological challenges.

The Department through the Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) branch has been hosting a number events nationally in the month of April 2025, and this will culminate with the national commemoration of world day for health and safety event that will take place in Bloemfontein on Friday.

World Day for Safety and Health was initiated in 2003 to promote and discuss the importance of having a safe, and healthy work environment. It was declared by the International Labour Organization (ILO) to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally.

The 2025 World Day for Safety and Health theme is: “The Impact of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on Workers' Safety and Health". The ILO celebrate the day on 28 April.

According to the ILO the absence of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) measures, digital technologies can lead to accidents, ergonomic risks, work intensification, reduced job control and blurred boundaries. The organization says AI and digital tools are revolutionizing occupational safety and health.

The commemoration initiative is expected to be addressed by Employment and Labour Minister Nomakhosazana Meth; Department of Employment and Labour Inspector General Aggy Moiloa; Department's Chief Director: Provincial Operations in Free State Emily Maneli; Department's Chief Inspector Milly Ruiters. There will also be speakers from labour federations; AUDA-NEPAD; business; and ILO.

Media is invited to attend the commemoration.   

Event: World Day for Health and Safety

Where: President Hotel, Bloemfontein

When: 25 April 2025

Time: 08:30 – 15:00

For media inquiries, kindly contact Shadrack Mashalaba atShadrack.Mashalaba@labour.gov.za /076 982 6821

For more information, contact:

Teboho Thejane

Departmental Spokesperson

082 697 0694/ Teboho.Thejane@labour.gov.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Department of Employment and Labour​

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