The Occupational Safety and Health Center (OSHC) said on Wednesday that it expects over 100 applications for the workplace safety and health awards, as more firms and agencies value staff’ wellbeing.
“Last time we were almost 100 by way of initial application, so I believe we could be beating that for the 14th Gawad Kaligtasan at Kalusugan (GKK),” OSHC Executive Director Jose Maria S. Batino told BusinessWorld in an interview.
The GKK is an award by the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) to each the private and non-private sectors that exhibited “outstanding achievements” by way of the security and health of staff, workplaces, and their communities.
Government agencies, private establishments, microenterprises, informal sectors, and individuals from different industries can submit their applications to take part in the awards.
“We enjoin all sectors to affix, that’s why our award system could be established on a sector-based,” Mr. Batino said, citing mining, services, construction, and manufacturing among the many industries with essentially the most applicants.
“There have been greater than 80 enterprises from the private sector that really applied to the Gawad Kaligtasan last time and about 20 from the general public sector but I’m unsure in regards to the figures,” he added.
In comparison with the previous awardings, this yr’s GKK also goals to acknowledge the occupational safety and health (OSH) excellence of various sectors amidst changes in work modalities and digitalization.
“We’ve noticed some firms are applying AI (artificial intelligence), they’re applying their systems to be sure that they get to watch and implement effective secure tenant programs,” Mr. Batino said.
“We’re transitioning with respect to transformative forces like climate change, digitalization, artificial intelligence, and dealing arrangements,” he added.
Data from the World Economic Forum revealed that 92 million roles or 25% growth in digital jobs are expected by 2030.
As more jobs shift to digital, Mr. Batino said it’s timely to acknowledge the adjustments made to make sure the security of distant staff and their work setups.
“Many firms have established technique of ensuring that even their personnel who’re on alternative work arrangements are also given the essential monitoring and the essential interventions,” he said.
“The regulations now require that if there are firms they usually have people who find themselves on alternative work arrangements, they’re required to incorporate as a part of their OSH programs that they undergo DoLE the aspect of looking into the security and health of those subject or concerned employees,” he added.
Regional GKK awarding, scheduled from September to October, grants as much as P30,000 to winners. Meanwhile, the national awarding, scheduled in December, grants awardees as much as P100,000. — Almira Louise S. Martinez