Occupational safety and health

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to provide the guidance that is required for the work and working conditions. This means familiarising the employee with conditions at the workplace, the operation of machinery and other equipment, and safety regulations.

The employee has a duty to comply with instructions issued, and to notify the employer of potential hazards immediately. The employee is also entitled to decline any work assignment that seriously jeopardises the health of the employee concerned or that of other employees.

Occupational health service

The employer must arrange occupational health services for employees. New employees must undergo an introductory health inspection if the work may be hazardous or harmful to health.

Industrial accident insurance

Employees are compensated through the employer’s mandatory accident insurance scheme for accidents that occur during working hours or workrelated travelling, and for occupational illnesses.

Equitable treatment at work

Employers must treat their employees equitably in all operations, and may not discriminate between them on such grounds as sex, sexual orientation, ethnic extraction, age, state of health, trade union affiliation or opinion. Temporary and part-time employees may not be treated differently from other employees.