The Southern Africa Construction Network (SACONET) recently concluded a workshop held in Zimbabwe. The training was attended by 26 participants (including 12 women), bringing together regional stakeholders who tackled the construction sector’s most urgent challenges, such as high physical safety risks and mounting mental health pressures. It served as a powerful call to action, affirming that worker well-being must be at the center of the industry's sustainability and growth.

The discussion titled “From Law to Life” established a clear legal foundation for occupational health and safety (OHS), emphasising workers’ right to a safe environment and reviewing international instruments, such as ILO Conventions 155 and 187. The sessions provided practical solutions for mitigating site-specific dangers, particularly through combating heat stress. The participants reviewed the Hierarchy of Controls and developed concise, enforceable clauses for CBAs mandating paid rest breaks, shade structures, and hydration protocols for outdoor workers.

The workshop then focused on the importance of psychological safety, acknowledging that the industry's high pressure, long hours, and job insecurity fuel stress and burnout. A medical doctor provided clinical insight into stress, anxiety, and burnout, leading to an active discussion on the necessity of deconstructing mental illness stigma in the workplace. The organisational interventions aimed at reducing stress at its source, manager training, and robust worker support systems were also provided to the participants.

Lastly, the participants deliberated on the challenges of organising work. There was a strong emphasis on expanding union influence to protect the most vulnerable workers. Specifically, the focus on the informal sector highlighted the difficulty in enforcing OHS standards within this large, precarious workforce. Core strategies for organising and protection, taken from the unions’ experience of the BWI Global Organising Academy and Organising for Power, were presented comprehensively. The SACOENT workshop concluded with a shared commitment from all stakeholders to actively implement these integrated strategies, moving beyond mere compliance to foster a truly safe, healthy, and sustainable future for every construction worker in Southern Africa.