Editorial
Make the workplace safe and healthy
Many people are of the view that good health implies the absence of diseases and the availability of healthcare facilities that help us treat sicknesses and diseases that we may suffer from time to time.
People may not be sick or suffer from diseases but may still be found to be unhealthy due to the circumstances in which they may find themselves at the workplace. Unfavourable workplace creates implications far beyond the emotional well-being of employees.
A crucial aspect of fair treatment in the workplace involves having a genuine concern for your employees’ mental and physical health. Therefore, we should ensure that every employee has a safe workspace and a healthy work-life balance.
Maintaining a healthy work-life balance or harmony is not only important for health and relationships, but it can also improve employees’ productivity, and ultimately performance.
It is for this reason that management and staff are often advised or encouraged to create a conducive atmosphere for effective work. Inconducive atmosphere may threaten the health of people at their workplaces.
When this happens, the workers may not find themselves in a good mood to increase productivity. Such a situation ought to be avoided to make workers happy and productive.
For example, employees who have disability may likely need certain accommodations offered them in order for them to perform their duties well. Poor workplace conditions can lead to unmotivated employees, poor productivity, and an increased risk of accidents.
Depending on how bad the conditions are, an employer may also be in violation of labour regulations, which could cause substantial legal issues.
The situation where some unfriendly managers and chief executives shout at their subordinates does not augur well for sound workplace ethics. Every worker deserves special respect from management so as to ensure encouragement and recognition.
Even in a situation where workers are wrong, senior management will have to show motherly and fatherly love in taking corrective measures to avoid a recurrence.
No one should constitute himself into a terrible dictator whose only purpose at the workplace is to shout at workers, as well as victimise and punish them unfairly.
The most important resource or asset at the workplace is the group of people who work there. Without such people, not much can be achieved, which explains why the staff in any organisation must be treated with respect.
Victimisation, favouritism, discrimination, and dictatorial tendencies cannot result in good works or productivity. Fair treatment rather can have a greater impact on employee turnover than you may imagine.
In light of all this, let us show respect to one another at the workplace, irrespective of our status or position, so that together we can join forces to increase productivity and thereby move the country forward.
If we all pursue this idea, we will end up making everyone happy at the workplace.
Editorial
Promote welfare of African children
The African Union hosts the annual International Day of the African Child on June 16 to increase awareness of the rights and ongoing struggles of African children.
Additionally, the day offers a forum for talking about and addressing topics including healthcare, education, and safety from exploitation and abuse.
It began in 1976 when students in Soweto, South Africa, were killed for demonstrating against inequality and injustice in education.
Since children have rights that must be upheld, the African Day celebration is appropriate because it serves as a poignant reminder to our communities to put children’s needs first, ensuring that they develop and realise their full potential.
Most importantly, it pushes people, governments, and communities to address pressing issues like child labour, inadequate education, and to ensure safe, healthy environments.
This year’s theme, “Planning and budgeting for children’s rights: progress since 2010,” is no exception to the efforts done thus far by governments, individuals, parents, and others to advance the welfare of children.
In addition to their rights to nutritious food, medical care, secure housing, and high-quality education, children also require emotional support, safety, and protection from danger in order to flourish.
Children’s physical, mental, and social development depends on these necessities, yet far too many continue to be denied their rights and go without food, housing, water, or health care.
While eating, sleeping, playing, and learning are all important aspects of a child’s growth, some children do not find these activities enjoyable. Such children work independently to make ends meet although their parents are responsible for that role,
Many people and organisations have put a lot of effort into making sure that children’s rights are outlined, upheld, and safeguarded; thus, everyone must keep fighting for children’s rights.
The Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC) was created in 1989 as a result of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which served as the foundation for all legal norms pertaining to children’s rights. This is the first international agreement with legal force that covers all human rights.
Therefore, a multifaceted strategy encompassing legal frameworks, education, community involvement, and tackling systemic challenges is needed to assure the preservation of children’s rights.
Laws that safeguard children from abuse must be put into place and upheld, public awareness of children’s rights and protection must be increased, and safe spaces must be established in institutions and communities.
Let us all work together to defend the rights of African children.
Editorial
Employ pros at local government level to address sanitation issues
Dear Editor,
In a car on my way to work on Tuesday, I listened to an interview on sanitation on a radio station which a local government expert said that most of the people that handled waste management issues at the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, were not waste management professionals but health professionals.
According to the speaker, this has contributed to the failure to address the sanitation problems, especially at the local level.
These health professionals who have been tasked to oversee waste management are only occupied with the health related dangers but have no clue on the issues at hand.
I felt very sad and found it disturbing as to why people without professional training in waste management is given responsibilities in a field alien to him.
Waste management involves a lot of processes, including segmentation of waste products as well as recycling.
Employers must know that waste management professionals at the local level was important as it helps making decisions ton how to combat it.
This is not a problem at the local government level alone. It is something across the various sectors.
Maybe this is the time for us as a country to start recruiting qualified professionals to occupy their respective fields to bring their competence to the table to solve whatever problem persist.
It is clearly a case of putting ‘square pegs in round holes.’ I believe it is about time we change that narrative and employ professionals who are qualified to find solutions to our waste management conundrum.
Baba Hafiz, Kasoa
