Burkina Faso Advances Toward a Legal Framework for Occupational Health and Safety in Public Administration

Ouagadougou, November 18, 2025 - The Ministry of Public Service, Labor and Social Protection (MFPTPS), through the Directorate General of Social Protection (DGPS), has launched a two-day pre-validation workshop dedicated to the draft decree on occupational health and safety (OHS) within the Burkinabe public administration.

The opening session was presided over by the Ministry’s Secretary-General, Suanyaba Rodrigue Oboulbiga, who emphasized the government’s determination to strengthen the protection of workers across public institutions.

In his remarks, Mr. Oboulbiga recalled that the initiative reflects the State's commitment to preserving human capital, which he described as essential to productivity, institutional efficiency, and sustainable development. He noted that the future decree aims not only to clarify and unify the legal framework governing workplace safety but also to reinforce prevention mechanisms across all public bodies.

“Work can be a source of fulfillment, but it also exposes men and women to risks that can affect their physical and mental well-being,” he warned.

The Secretary-General pointed out a significant imbalance between the public and private sectors: while the private sector already operates under a clear legal framework ensuring safe working conditions, public administration remains far behind, with fragmented and insufficient legislative provisions in place.

To illustrate the urgency of reform, Mr. Oboulbiga cited data from the Autonomous Pension Fund for Civil Servants (CARFO). In 2023 alone, 608 workplace accidents and occupational illnesses were recorded among civil servants.

“While compensation mechanisms are well-established, prevention remains the weak link of our system,” he acknowledged, urging participants to contribute constructively and propose actionable improvements.

Throughout the workshop-held on November 18 and 19-participants will examine several key areas, including:

Universal norms related to specific workplace risk factors

Accident prevention requirements tailored to public administration

This pre-validation marks a decisive step toward establishing a comprehensive and coherent OHS framework, with the potential to significantly improve working conditions for thousands of civil servants nationwide.