Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer
THE FINDINGS of an audit of health and safety standards in the country's sugar industry should be made public within a month.
Word of this development came yesterday during a visit to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security by officials of the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The audit, conducted by ILO expert, Frank Muchiri, was
commissioned last July by the Government. This followed a string of accidents at sugar estates and factories, resulting in seven deaths.
Following discussions yesterday with a visiting delegation from the ILO, Labour Minister Horace Dalley told The Gleaner that he was already studying a draft of Muchiri's report, but was awaiting the final document, which should be submitted by the ILO within a month.
DRAFT REPORT
"I have the (draft) report ... and although it is not a final report, I have shared it with social partners and I'll be giving a copy of the report to the sugar industry officials - the three sugar factories that are involved," he said.
Following that, Mr. Dalley said that he would be meeting with industry stakeholders to examine the audit report "to look at ways to improve the safety standards in the sugar industry."
The Labour Minister said the final report will be made available to the public.
