Individuals and associations over the country Nepal are feeling the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and reacting in like manner. Numerous organizations are as of now actualizing strategies to minimize the potential spread of the infection and protect their workers — which, during a general wellbeing crisis, ought to be their top need. Be that as it may, employers should likewise survey their employee’s remuneration protection arrangements and get ready to record guarantees inside the occasion that their workers get COVID-19.
Protecting Banks and Financial Institution’s Employees Health
While COVID-19 is a wellbeing emergency that must be overseen basically by medical specialists, banks and financial institution have a crucial role to play in keeping working environments safe and speaking with employees. Banks should concentrate on assisting with easing back the infection’s spread. Among different activities, managers may encourage employees to remain at home if they’re feeling sick or if a family member is wiped out. They may likewise consider permitting employees to work from home more often. In addition, regular health check-up of employees who are attending office and are in contact with customers must be arranged by banks.
Depending on direction from legitimate sources, for example, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, banks ought to fortify suggestions planned for advancing great cleanliness, including urging employees to:
- Oftentimes wash their hands with cleanser and water or use alcohol based hand sanitizers to kill any infections.
- When Coughing and sneezing, tissue paper must be used which must be disposed safely.
- Keep distance of at least three feet with customers and other employees.
- Avoid touching nose, ear and mouth.
What if an employee wants to remain at home as a precautionary measure?
Employees who wants to remain at home as a safety measure (however who are not coordinated to by bank) need to come to an arrangement with their banks that best suits their workplace. Managers can make arrangement of working from home (if it is possible alternative) or taking some type of paid or unpaid leave, for example, yearly leave.
Legal Perspective
The Labor Act 2017 “Labor Act” and Labor Regulations 2018 “Labor Regulation” requires employers to:
- Formulate policy for occupational health and safety of employees (the “OHS Policy”).
- Establish a committee with responsibility to review and implement plans for occupational health and safety (the “OHS Committee”). The committee shall consist of eight members having representation from employer and employee;
- Ensure safe environment by making appropriate safety and health provisions at the workplace;
- Provide necessary personal safety equipment to employees;
- Provide awareness and necessary information, notice or training relating to the safety and health to employees.
The OHS Committee is required to be formed in entity which employ 20 or more employees. OHS Committee is responsible for:
- Providing strategic advice related to health and safety of employees
- Reviewing the OHS Policy
- Evaluating the arrangement made on the occupational health and safety and
- Informing Labor Office in the event of non-compliance of OHS.
The entities which have not established the OHS Committee should consider establishing the Committee as the first step and then plan and agree to the safety measures to be taken in the workplace through the Committee. The entities which employ less than 20 employees may also consider forming this Committee.
In this way, banks and financial institution must make necessary arrangement for prevention and control of contagious disease in the workplace and prohibit any employee suffering from any contagious disease from attending the work during the period of medical treatment. Nepal Rastra Bank must come up with proper policies to protect the employee’s right and health.
