Over 30 people died during the performance of their official duties only in the period January-May 2023, according to the data of the Executive Agency “Main Inspection for labor“ (IA GIT). For the same period of the current year, their number is 19.
„When we realize that occupational safety rules are not an administrative burden, but save human life, then we will reach the much-desired zero traumatism,” said Agency director Ekaterina Asenova during a forum in Yambol.
Only 5% of the 8,300 reports filed last year in the GIT were from workers and concerned dangerous working conditions. The rest are related to unpaid or delayed wages and benefits, non-compliance with working hours, overtime.
Construction is the sector in which the most occupational accidents are observed, and therefore the Agency has directed its focus precisely in this economic sector. Checks in the so-called “risk enterprises“ are also among the most frequently checked by GIT inspectors. The most affected are two groups of employees – those who have long experience and have the self-confidence that they can easily handle the work, and the others are young employees who have just joined, who suffer injuries mainly due to lack of experience, the Agency concluded.
„As of today, there are 350 labor inspectors in the country, and according to the data of the National Statistical Institute, there are about 2.3 million jobs. There is no way to limit occupational injuries if we do not all unite together - state, social partners , employers and workers to solve this problem”, said Asenova.