 |
|
|
|
Make Safe And Healthy Work A Fundamental Right This International Workers’ Memorial Day This is the headline message from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) ahead of the International Workers Memorial Day oin 28th April 2022 (#IWEMD22)
Their press release issued on the 4th of this month, is a reminder that ALL Trade Unions across the globe organise with both international and domestic organisations to 'Remember the Dead and fight for the Living'! In the UK the TUC and Hazards Campaign are at the forefront of organising public recognition of the annual event, and the North West plays it's part with events around the region on the day. ITUC's press release said: “It’s a no-brainer. Every working person should know that they have the right to expect that everything is done to keep them safe at work.
Three years have passed since the ILO Centenary Conference agreed that this would be done. In that time around 8.1 million people have died as a result of their work, and even more now live with life-altering injuries and illnesses because their employer did not protect them. Sharan Burrow continued: “The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated beyond doubt that working people can’t wait for this any longer. Workplace deaths are preventable deaths and the latest figures show that a worker dies at least once every ten seconds. By doing this the ILO will be making a start on cutting this appalling toll of death and injuries.“ More than a fundamental right The ITUC and its affiliates are calling on governments to take action by:
“Employers must take responsibility for assessing and eradicating risks in their workplaces and in their supply chains, and consulting unions on prevention through workplace health and safety committees. “And we need the ILO to do more and address challenges like stress at work, musculo-skeletal disorders and a convention on biological hazards like Covid-19. It is urgent that Covid-19 is recognised for the workplace threat that it is. Health and safety should be the first priority at work, not an occasional after thought,” concluded Sharan Burrow. Meanwhilie in Liverpool, plans are underway to make this year's event one of the most public in it's history with both the CWU Greater Mersey Amal and the Merseyside Asbestos Victims Support Group playing a key organisaing role in developing the events for the day. Further information will be on this website as Unionsafety once again will cover the events for this year's IWMD #IWMD22 Source: ITUC / MAVS / CWU Grter Mersey Amal / Unionsafety
|
 |
“We demand that the International Labour Organization (ILO) adopts occupational health and safety as a fundamental right at work. It’s as important as freedom of association and the elimination of forced labour, child labour and discrimination in employment,” said ITUC General Secretary Sharan Burrow.