Creation of Industrial Safety Counsil

On 8 June, the trade union Central Obrera Departamental (COD) and the employers' organization Federacíon de Empresarios Privados de Santa Cruz (FEPSC) established the Council of Industrial Safety and Health at Work, with the aim of promoting the prevention of labour accidents and occupational diseases. The departmental health service Sedes will take care of the technical part of this new council.

The council was set up during a forum in the COD building in Santa Cruz (Bolivia) with the participation of about 120 employers and trade unionists and of representatives from CNV International and the Dutch Employers' Cooperation Program (DECP). According to both FEPSC chairman Luis Barbary and the executive secretary of COD Rolando Borda, the creation of this board is unique because it is a joint initiative of the social partners. "As employers and trade unions we have our differences, but we will continue to look for ways to bridge these differences," said Borda.

The FEPSC and COD see the establishment of the Industrial Safety and Health Council at Work as the first step in the development of a broader social dialogue between employers and employees in Santa Cruz.