Workers’ unions worldwide are pressing the International Labour Organisation (ILO) with their demands for health and safety to finally become a globally recognised fundamental principle and right at work.

“Every working person should know that they have the right to expect that everything is done to keep them safe at work. It’s as important as freedom of association and the elimination of forced labour, child labour and discrimination in employment,” noted Sharan Burrow, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

The ITUC said that three years have passed since the ILO Centenary Conference in 2019 agreed that this would be done.

During that time over eight million people have died due to their work, and even more now live with life-altering injuries and illnesses because their employer did not protect them. A final decision is expected at ILO’s 2022 conference in June.

According to Burrow, “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.”

To press its case, ITUC is urging unions worldwide to again take up the issue of health and safety as a fundamental right on International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April. The global union body is also pressing for other improvements.

“Employers must take responsibility for assessing and eradicating risks in their workplaces and supply chains, and to consult unions on prevention through workplace health and safety committees,” Burrow said. “We need the ILO to do more and address challenges like stress at work, MSDs and a convention on biological hazards like Covid-19. It is urgent that Covid-19 is recognised as a workplace threat.”