C’River Assembly Passes Safety Of Workers Bill

The Cross River State House of Assembly has passed a Bill  to safeguard the lives of Cross Riverians working in construction and allied industries.
Tagged, the Cross River State Safety of Workers Bill 2020, is a private member bill, sponsored by Rt. Hon. Charles Ekpe, representing Akamkpa II, which seeks to guarantee the safety and health of employees in construction, production and allied industries.
The Bill was passed sequel to the report of the House Committee on Commerce, Industries, PPP and Privatization, which was earlier mandated to engage stakeholders for inputs at the public hearing stage.
In his presentation the Chairman of the Committee, Hon Chris Mbu-Ogar, explained that the Bill provided a legislative framework to ensure that immediate and adequate medical treatment is available for employees of these companies while on official duties.
Mbu-Ogar observed with dismay the unfortunate situation where some workers in course of performing their official functions, suffer numerous cases of deformities without adequate compensation adding that under this law, employers were mandated to collaborate with
government agencies to organize health seminars for the purpose of educating and training workers.
The House earlier dissolved into the Committee of a Whole to deliberate on the report before reverting to the Assembly to pass the bill after which the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Eteng Williams directed the clerk, Barrister Bassey Ekpenyong to forward clean copies of the Bill to the Governor for his assent.

Friday Nwagbara, Calabar