How the new OHS strategy could revolutionize working conditions in South Africa

With this launch, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the Compensation Fund (CF), Rand Mutual Assurance (RMA) and the Federated Employers Mutual Assurance (FEM) have reaffirmed their commitment to play an important role in helping shape healthier and safer working practices within the sectors they cover.

During the event, key players including RMA, CF, FEM, organized labor and the private sector signed the Security Agreement.

This agreement represents a collective commitment to promote a safe and healthy working environment and to establish best practices in occupational health and safety. The common goal is to reduce and ultimately eliminate occupational accidents and diseases.

RMA CEO Mandla Shezi emphasized the importance of preventive measures in workplace safety: “Compensation for injured workers remains the core of our work, but preventing injury is our main goal.

“That is why we launched the RMA prevention program in 2022, which is already showing the first signs of a decrease in the number of injury incidents in the metal industry.”

Successes of the RMA initiative

Shezi elaborated on the successes of RMA initiatives, including the Rehabilitation Program launched in July last year. Supported by RMA’s sub-acute facility in Welcome, this program helps injured workers return to work through inpatient rehabilitation or prepare for other work through vocational rehabilitation.

With 28,000 employers and 1.1 million employees under its coverage, RMA has processed more than 14,000 claims through August this year alone, which equates to approximately 58 claims per day. Since 2015, the company has paid out almost R12 billion in claims, and more than R900 million so far this year.

“These figures are staggering,” Shezi said, “especially for a developing country like South Africa, where such resources could instead be reinvested in creating jobs and building a more equitable society. Nevertheless, we are confident that the signing of this agreement will represent an important step in reducing injuries and promoting workplace safety.”

Commitment to safety

Minister Meth’s speech underlined the historical significance of the event: “More than twenty years ago we signed the first Working Conditions Agreement in response to poor compliance with the Working Conditions Act.

“Today we reaffirm our commitment to worker safety with a comprehensive inspection and a renewed focus on compliance. Yet despite these efforts, the need for collective action remains. I am happy that we have a formidable contingent of crucial players in the labor market today. market, all united in our commitment to minimizing incidents in the workplace.”

With a dual emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation, RMA and its stakeholders continue to lead efforts to create safer workplaces. “Our work is anchored by these social programs,” Shezi said in closing.

“We are confident that we can ensure safer and healthier working conditions for South African workers by working together, being innovative and committed.”