Deputy Minister Mr Zulpkhar Leads Delegation in Productive Discussions on Occupational Safety and Health in the United States

The delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection, Mr. S. Zulpkhar, is currently on a working visit to the United States of America at the invitation of the US Department of Labor.

During the first day of the visit, fruitful discussions were held with Mrs. Patricia W. Silvey, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor and Mr. Christopher Williamson, MSHA Asssistant Secretaryof the Administration for Mining Occupational Safety, and officials from the US Department of Labor.  The focus of the discussions revolved around occupational safety and health, with an emphasis on reducing accidents and fatalities in the mining sector. Both sides exchanged valuable information and insights on the matter.

Last February, our country signed a Memorandum of Labor Cooperation with the US Department of Labor. As part of this cooperation, efforts are being made to introduce international standards and best practices in labor and health safety, particularly in the mining, heavy industry, and other industrial sectors. The aim is to establish an effective structure and system of labor control to prevent industrial accidents, acute poisoning, and occupational diseases, while improving working conditions and safeguarding the rights, lives, and health of employees.

In 2023, the United States witnessed 40 fatalities and 63 injuries due to mining accidents. Following a thorough analysis of the root causes, measures were implemented to train miners and supervisors, resulting in a significant reduction in accidents compared to the previous year. Additionally, new regulations were adopted to mitigate the risks associated with mining dust.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Zulpkhar presented specific proposals, including the development and implementation of necessary occupational standards in the mining and heavy industry sectors, capacity building for experts in these fields, and empowerment of labor and mining inspectors in alignment with the implementation of ILO Conventions 81 and 129. The US side expressed full support for these initiatives.

This collaborative effort underscores our commitment to enhancing occupational safety and health standards in critical sectors, and we look forward to further cooperation with the United States in this regard.