A company with many workers suffering from pneumoconiosis in Nghe An was fined more than 100 million VND.
(Baonghean.vn) - For the violation of not organizing occupational disease examinations for workers and not conducting work environment monitoring to control harmful effects on workers' health, Chau Tien Company Limited was fined a total of 116 million VND.
On October 4, the leader of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board said that the Provincial People's Committee had just issued a decision to impose administrative sanctions on Chau Tien Company Limited (Nam Cam Industrial Park, Nghi Long Commune, Nghi Loc District).
Accordingly, this company was fined 60 million VND for not conducting labor environment monitoring to control harmful effects on workers' health according to the provisions of law; stipulated in Clause 3, Article 27, Decree No. 12/2022/ND-CP dated January 17, 2022 of the Government stipulating sanctions for administrative violations in the fields of labor, social insurance, and Vietnamese workers working abroad under contracts.
The aggravating circumstance of this company is that it has committed multiple violations. Specifically, from 2017 to 2022, the company did not organize the implementation of labor environment monitoring as prescribed by law.
In addition, the Provincial People's Committee also fined the company VND56 million for failing to organize occupational disease examinations for 14 workers doing heavy, toxic, dangerous and especially heavy, toxic, dangerous work; as stipulated in Clause 2, Article 22, Decree No. 12/2022/ND-CP dated January 17, 2022 of the Government stipulating administrative sanctions in the fields of labor, social insurance, and Vietnamese workers working abroad under contracts.
The aggravating circumstance of this act is also repeated violations. Specifically, from 2017 to 2022, the company did not organize occupational disease examinations for 14 employees doing heavy, toxic, dangerous and especially heavy, toxic, dangerous work according to the law.
Previously, Nghe An Newspaper had repeatedly reported that in a short period of time, a series of workers who had been working for Chau Tien Company Ltd. were found to have pneumoconiosis; many died quickly. Workers who were being treated and relatives of the deceased filed a petition to the local authorities, requesting the company to compensate and subsidize workers with occupational diseases and ensure the rights and safety of workers. At the same time, they requested to be examined for occupational diseases, to assess the level of reduced working capacity, as well as to be supported with medical examination and treatment costs and to resolve policies for workers.
On May 12, the Provincial People's Committee decided to establish an interdisciplinary inspection team to inspect this company. The inspection results showed that from 2017 to 2022, the company did not fully comply with the provisions of the law on monitoring the working environment to control harmful effects on workers' health according to the regulations on classifying the number of workers doing heavy, toxic, dangerous and especially heavy, toxic, dangerous jobs, as well as on periodic health check-ups for workers and occupational disease detection for workers exposed to harmful factors that pose a risk of occupational diseases or doing heavy, toxic, dangerous and especially heavy, toxic, dangerous jobs and jobs.
Chau Tien Company Limited also did not prepare a record of compulsory social insurance participation within 30 days from the date of signing the labor contract, work contract or recruitment for employees working under labor contracts who are subject to social insurance participation. There is a situation where employees signed labor contracts with the company, actually worked and received salaries, but the company did not pay social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance according to the time of signing the labor contract; paid less than the prescribed time for 10 employees. Therefore, the rights in resolving insurance policies for employees are not guaranteed.
Regarding compliance with environmental laws, the inspection team discovered a series of shortcomings and limitations in this company. Specifically, the company has not prepared a report to propose granting an environmental license to the competent authority for appraisal and licensing. The collection and storage of hazardous waste is not in accordance with regulations, and hazardous waste is mixed with ordinary waste. Hazardous waste collection is not thorough. The warehouse for storing hazardous waste is not in accordance with regulations.
In addition, this company has not yet contracted with a unit that is responsible for transporting and treating ordinary industrial waste. The warehouse for storing ordinary industrial waste and domestic waste has not yet met the requirements. The internal drainage network of the industrial yard has not yet met the requirements. A drainage system has not been built for the entire factory.
In addition, chemicals such as Oxalic Acid, NaOH, Chrome Oxide Green, Boric Acid... used in production activities have not been arranged for separate storage, but are still stored in the factory. Acid vapors emitted in the factory affect the health of workers. The process of soaking and bleaching silica stone is carried out in tanks, without forced acid collection measures, rudimentary technology, and the acid vapors produced affect the health of workers. The silica stone crushing line is carried out using "field" technology outdoors, without dust collection measures.
Meanwhile, the conveyor belt transporting from the steam dryer to the fine grinding stage is an open conveyor belt, which generates dust during operation. The company has not installed a system to handle dust generated from the steam dryer and acid fumes generated from the drying process after soaking and bleaching. In the fine grinding area, a lot of fine silica dust is emitted, affecting the working environment and the health of workers.
The interdisciplinary delegation also requested Chau Tien Company Limited to be responsible for employees who have occupational diseases and work-related accidents. Accordingly, the company must fully and seriously implement the responsibilities of an employer for employees who have occupational accidents and diseases according to the provisions of Article 38 of the Law on Labor Safety and Hygiene 2015. There are other support policies for employees and relatives of employees who have occupational diseases and work-related accidents who have worked and are working at the company. Make a list of employees who have worked and are working at the company, coordinate with the Department of Health to examine and detect occupational diseases; assess the level of labor loss for employees who have occupational diseases and work-related accidents.
After the inspection results, the People's Committee of Nghe An province also issued a document requesting relevant departments and branches to direct Chau Tien Company Limited to overcome shortcomings and limitations in implementing legal regulations on labor safety and hygiene, and environmental protection; Monitor, supervise and promptly handle arising environmental issues. In case of failure to promptly overcome or failure to meet requirements, handle according to authority or recommend competent authorities to handle. Encourage, support and create conditions for Chau Tien Company Limited to change its investment goals to be environmentally friendly...