Wales TUC – don’t forget workers’ health and safety as we reopen economy

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Shavanah Taj, Wales TUC General Secretary

Wales TUC has today renewed its call for workers’ health and safety to be at the centre of plans to reopen the Welsh economy.

This call comes following a Welsh Government press conference in which Eluned Morgan MS , Minister for International Relations and the Welsh Language, announced that rules designed to keep people safe will be enforced by the police. She also clarified that businesses flouting the rules could be forced to close.

Wales TUC General Secretary Shavanah Taj welcomed Welsh Government’s announcement but raises concerns about workers in the hospitality sector being put at risk:

 “We strongly welcome Welsh Government’s cautious approach to easing lockdown and reopening sectors such as indoor hospitality, something we have previously called for to be done safely. We are concerned that as we reopen, some employers may ignore or place less emphasis on the health and safety of their staff.

“We are glad that Welsh Government shares our concern for worker safety. Unfortunately, Ministers cannot always rely on employers to do the right thing, so we are encouraged by Welsh Government’s tough stance on bad bosses.”

The Minister referenced the intelligence gathered by the Wales TUC through its health and safety whistleblowing form, promising to act on the information provided.

Shavanah Taj has welcomed this promise on behalf of the trade union movement in Wales.

“Workers’ health matters more than profit. Trade unions’ work with Welsh Government is key to understanding where employers are not complying with guidance and are putting workers, and the public, at risk.

“Our confidential whistleblowing form has already received hundreds of responses since the start of lockdown, from people working across Wales in many different industries.

“It’s important that people know their rights at work, and our website (www.tuc.org.uk/wales) holds a wealth of accessible information, including how to find the right trade union for you. We encourage anyone concerned about their health and safety to speak to their trade union or fill in our anonymous whistleblowing form.”

Wales TUC’s form can be found at www.tuc.org.uk/news/covid-19-health-and-safety-concerns-work.

All information will be anonymously shared with Welsh Government and the Health & Safety Executive (HSE). Respondents do not need to be members of a trade union; they just need to be working in Wales.

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TUC Cymru – Peidiwch ag anghofio  iechyd a diogelwch gweithwyr   wrth i ni ailagor yr  economi

Heddiw, adnewyddodd TUC Cymru  eu galwad i iechyd a diogelwch gweithwyr fod wrth wraidd cynlluniau ailagor economi Cymru.

Daw’r alwad hon yn dilyn cynhadledd i’r wasg gan Lywodraeth Cymru lle cyhoeddodd Eluned Morgan  MS, Gweinidog y Gymraeg a Chysylltiadau Rhyngwladol, y bydd rheolau a luniwyd i gadw pobl yn ddiogel yn cael eu gorfodi gan yr heddlu. Eglurodd hefyd y gallai busnesau sy’n diystyru’r rheolau gael eu gorfodi i gau.

Croesawodd Ysgrifennydd Cyffredinol TUC Cymru Shavanah Taj cyhoeddiad Llywodraeth Cymru ond codwyd pryderon am weithwyr yn y sector lletygarwch sy’n cael eu rhoi mewn perygl:

“Rydym yn croesawu’n fawr y ffordd ofalus y mae Llywodraeth Cymru yn mynd ati i leihau’r cyfyngiadau ac ailagor sectorau fel lletygarwch dan do, rhywbeth rydym wedi galw amdano’n ddiogel yn y gorffennol. Rydym yn pryderu y  bydd rhai cyflogwyr, wrth i ni ailagor, yn anwybyddu neu’n rhoi llai o bwyslais ar iechyd a diogelwch eu staff.

“Rydym yn falch bod Llywodraeth Cymru yn rhannu ein pryder am ddiogelwch gweithwyr. Yn anffodus, ni all Gweinidogion ddibynnu bob amser ar gyflogwyr i wneud y peth iawn, felly mae safiad caled Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyflogwyr gwael yn ein calonogi.”

Cyfeiriodd y Gweinidog at yr wybodaeth a gasglwyd gan  TUC Cymru drwy ei ffurf chwythu’r chwiban iechyd a diogelwch, gan addo gweithredu ar sail y wybodaeth a ddarparwyd. Mae Shavanah Taj wedi croesawu’r addewid hwn ar ran mudiad yr undebau llafur yng Nghymru.

“Mae iechyd gweithwyr yn  bwysicach nag elw. Mae gwaith undebau llafur gyda Llywodraeth Cymru yn allweddol i ddeall lle nad yw cyflogwyr yn cydymffurfio â chanllawiau ac maent yn rhoi gweithwyr,  a’r cyhoedd, mewn perygl.

“Mae ein ffurflen chwythu’r chwiban anhysbys wedi derbyn cannoedd o  ymatebion ers dechrau’r cyfnod clo, gan bobl sy’n gweithio ar draws Cymru mewn llawer o wahanol ddiwydiannau.

“Mae’n bwysig bod pobl yn gwybod beth yw eu hawliau yn y gwaith, ac mae ein gwefan (www.TUC.org.uk/wales) yn dal cyfoeth o wybodaeth hygyrch, gan gynnwys sut i ddod o hyd i’r undeb llafur cywir i chi. Rydym yn annog unrhyw un sy’n poeni am eu hiechyd a’u diogelwch i  siarad â’u hundeb llafur neu i lenwi ein ffurflen chwythu’r chwiban.”

Gellir dod o hyd i ffurflen TUC Cymru ar www.TUC.org.uk/news/covid-19-Health-and-Safety-concerns-work.

Bydd yr holl wybodaeth yn cael ei rhannu’n ddienw â Llywodraeth Cymru a’r Awdurdod Gweithredol Iechyd & diogelwch (HSE. Nid oes angen i ymatebwyr fod yn aelodau o undeb llafur; y cyfan sydd angen iddynt ei wneud yw gweithio yng Nghymru.


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