A seminar organised by the Aviation Ministry this week highlighted the importance of educating workers on safe environment for the benefit of economy and workers. Amirah Ibrahim reports What are the proper ways to apply required restrictions and criteria for safety systems and professional health in the field of air transport? The answers have been introduced this week through the sessions of a two-day seminar organised by the Aviation Ministry in cooperation with the Labour Ministry. Taking place at the Aviation Ministry headquarters in the zone of Cairo International Airport, both Aviation Minister Hussein Massoud and Labour and Immigration Minister Fathi Fikri attended the opening session on Tuesday. "Safety is a great concern to all parties involved in air transport," stated Massoud. "Those who work in the field should come under the same concept and take advantage of being part of a professional that seriously cares about safety in each detail, including their own safety," Massoud explained. Massoud indicated that the sessions had been highly targeting to improve and expand the awareness of all staff in the field about safety systems and the ideal means to secure work environment. Employees from the affiliated companies have been invited to attend the sessions where experts from labour organisations and air transport bodies lectured them. The aviation business is run by the government which possesses all 22 airports and the national carrier, EgyptAir. However, two BOT airports have been allowed over the past decade and private airlines are allowed to operate domestic and international routes. Figures show that there are almost 60,000 employed by the government through affiliated companies. The Aviation Ministry runs the business through two major bodies -- the Holding Company for Airports and Air Navigation which has five companies under its umbrella and EgyptAir Holding Company with ten affiliated companies. The national carrier has released figures a year ago showing it has more than 35,000 employed. According to Abdel Azeem Sidki, media consultant of the Aviation Minister, the ministry adopts a professional concept to educate the labour over related issues. "We have launched a series of professional workshops starting in mid February and it covered the comprehensive quality systems. This seminar covers work problems and mechanisms applied to reduce them," Sidki indicated. He added that a third workshop is to be organised within three weeks where top environment officials should be attending. "Aviation is such an expensive industry when it includes the equipment and facilities. Yet, the human factor is much more valuable and comes on top of our priorities," Massoud explained. "To work under such conditions require the labour to be qualified and highly alert with the correct means to maintain their professional health and safety and to recognise how far they can benefit from being aware of their work environment components." In his turn, Fikri highlighted the need to enhance human factor capabilities and increase labour skills and potentials. "There is a need to increase periodic and continous training on methods to maintain safety and profession health. It is important to continuously developt in a field like air transport where travel services develop and grow every day," Fikri concluded.
