From Suntimaven we commemorate April 28 as a Day of Struggle, where we promote the proper use of personal protective equipment and avoid workplace accidents.
Category Archives: Resources
Peru: Día internacional en memoria de las víctimas de accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades profesionales – Fetraceppe PERU [Video]
Día internacional en memoria de las víctimas de accidentes de trabajo y enfermedades profesionales – Fetraceppe PERU
Guatemala: SINCS-G Guatemala se suma a la campaña de la ICM este 28 de abril para promocionar lugares de trabajo seguros y sanos
SINCS-G Guatemala joins the ICM campaign this April 28 to promote safe and healthy workplaces.
No more work accidents!
Panamá: La salud laboral no se vende, se defiende – BWI
Panama: “Occupational health is not sold, it is defended”
In the closing act of the campaign for health and safety in the construction of Panama, held this week in the project Institute of the Insured of the Suntracs Panamá participated 390 workers, workers, union representatives of the sections of the Caja de Seguro Social Panamá , representatives of the Panama Chamber of Construction Mitradel Panamá , the Ministry of Labor Capac Panamá , the Directorate of Occupational Health of the Social Security Fund, the management of Constructora Rigaservices S.A. RIGA (the project building company) as well as ICM BWI Global Union .
With the slogan “3 MILLION WORK-RELATED DEATHS PER YEAR ENOUGH! , LET’S TALK ABOUT RISK” The leadership of SUNTRACS calls on companies, government, and workers themselves to step up efforts to reduce the risks of accidents and deaths at work that cause fatalities and injuries every year. According to International Labour Organization ILO exceeds 3 million a year and since 1992 the figure has reached 388 fatalities in Panama.
Philippines: Filipino workers mark #IWMD24, assert that ‘safe work builds better’ – BWI, ALU-TUCP, BUBCW, PTGWO-TUCP & Panday-Buhay Workers’ Association
Close to 200 Filipino workers gathered today to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day under the theme: “Enough is Enough.” The joint event brought together BWI Philippine Affiliates, including the Associated Labor Union (ALU-TUCP), the National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW), the Philippine Trade and General Workers’ Organisation (PTGWO-TUCP), as well as the Panday-Buhay Workers’ Association of the Habitat for Humanity.
As candles were lit in honour of workers who lost their lives at work, the trade unionists trooped to the Occupational Safety and Health Center. Ambet Yuson, General Secretary of BWI, emphasised that one workplace accident is one too many already, reiterating the urgent need to advocate against wrong and unsafe practices in the construction industry. “The government’s advocacy is ‘Build Build Build,’ but it seems safety is being overlooked. Perhaps a better slogan would be ‘Safe Work, Build Better,'” he stated.
Dave Noonan, BWI Vice President for the Asia Pacific, shared his personal journey as a former construction worker, urging Filipino workers to fight for their rights.
Other BWI global leaders, such as Patrick Vandenberghe and Thomas Janson, underscored the importance of understanding rights, acknowledging the risks posed by the climate crisis, and intensifying advocacy efforts.
Asia Pacific: Across Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Cambodia, BWI Affiliates unite in commemorating International Workers’ Memorial Day.
Turkey: TARIM ORMAN-IS outdoor training for forestry workers on 28 April
TARIM ORMAN-IS from Türkiye held an outdoor OHS training session with 70 participants to speak about the hazards and how to gear up against them. In Türkiye, every year more than 300 forestry workers are killed at work and TARIM ORMAN-IS has been conducting such open-air OHS training for forest workers for years now to raise awareness on measurements and protective equipment to save lives. #letstalkhazards #iwmd24
Brazil: Abril Verde – Evento do Dia 28 Abril
USA: BlueGreen Alliance | New Report Highlights Worker Safety Actions Under Trump, Biden Administrations
“Workers’ Memorial Day honors the workers who didn’t come home at the end of their shift,” said BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director Jason Walsh. “It’s also the day we can commit ourselves to a future where every worker is able to say goodbye to their families before their shift with the safe assumption that they will be returning home healthy at the end of the day. We should expect our leaders to prioritize that.”
The new report builds on a September 2020 BlueGreen Alliance report—Misled: The Impact of the Trump Administration’s Agenda on Working Families and the Environment—which provided an analysis of a range of policy actions made by the Trump administration. In the new report the organization revisits those policy actions related to worker health and safety and sets them alongside actions from the Biden administration.
Asia Pacific/Philippines: On April 28 Fishworkers Solidarity remembers commercial tuna fishing workers lost at sea
On International Workers’ Memorial Day, April 28, the IUF-affiliated Fishworkers Solidarity, a member organization of SENTRO, remembered the commercial tuna fishing vessel workers who died or who were “lost” at sea and remain unaccounted for.
Among those remembered on April 28, were workers on tuna fishing vessels who died at sea but whose death was not considered a workplace death. This includes Perfect Aldo who died onboard on January 10, 2020, Arnel Abada who died at sea from pneumonia on June 12, 2021, and Noneto Romero who died onboard from cardiac arrest on November 5, 2022.
Perfect Aldo died onboard the tuna fishing vessel on January 10, 2020
Tuna fishworker, Arnel Abada, died at sea from pneumonia on June 12, 2021
Also remembered are those that the commercial tuna industry and authorities simply declare as “missing” at sea. This includes Gerir Rulete, missing since September 3, 2014. After a decade his family still cannot find peace and his death has not been recognized as work-related.
Tuna fishworker Gerir Rulete, “missing” since September 3, 2014
Warren Poncardas has been “missing” since August 21, 2003. After 21 years his family too cannot find peace. This is another death while working that is not officially work-related.
The families of Roger Maglasang, Carlos Dejillo, Marvin Villaroya, Ricky Longgarit, and Roy Maglasang were all told that their husbands, fathers, brothers were missing at sea on August 24, 2003. Twenty-one years later, they remain unable to bury their loved ones; unable to declare them dead. As a result, their families are denied the certainty – the truth – that they died while working at sea. They are also denied the insurance they are entitled to for the work-related deaths of their loved ones.
Along with Gerir Rulete and Warren Poncardas, Roger Maglasang, Carlos Dejillo, Marvin Villaroya, Ricky Longgarit, and Roy Maglasangare are among the Unknown Workers killed and forgotten by an irresponsible and reckless commercial tuna industry.
On April 28, Fishworkers Solidarity called for urgent action by the government, employers and the commercial fishing industry to take responsibility for the health and safety of fishworkers throughout the tuna industry and to save lives.
The full text of the statement is below:
Fishworkers’ Solidarity Stands United on International Workers’ Memorial Day: Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living
International Workers’ Memorial Day, 28 April 2024
Fishworkers’ Solidarity reaffirms its commitment to honoring the memories of those who have lost their lives in the pursuit of their livelihoods, while steadfastly advocating for the safety and well-being of all workers in the fishing industry.
This solemn day serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by countless individuals who have tragically lost their lives due to occupational hazards and unsafe working conditions. From treacherous waters to inadequate safety measures, fishworkers often face perilous situations in their daily endeavors to provide sustenance for communities worldwide.
Today we remember the countless number of fishworkers who were lost out in the sea and remain “missing”. This year alone, we have identified at least 8 fishworkers who are considered “missing”, and that’s just for General Santos and the Saranggani Bay area alone. One wonders, do our government even keep track of these things?
We stand in solidarity with those who continue to endure hazardous working environments and demand accountability from stakeholders responsible for ensuring workplace safety. With the guiding principle of “Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living,” Fishworkers’ Solidarity underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to prioritize the safety and rights of fishworkers everywhere.
This International Workers’ Memorial Day, Fishworkers’ Solidarity calls upon governments, employers, and industry leaders to:
Fully realize the our aspiration for “responsible fisheries and sustainable development” by enhancing the full participation of fishworkers in the whole decision-making process related to fishery resources.
Stop all proposals to amend the Fisheries Code and instead focus all government resources, including that of the non-government sector, on the a whole-of-government, full and effective implementation of the present provisions of the amended Fisheries Code to address illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing including the full implementation of the vessel monitoring system, with data provided to local governments and enforcement agencies.
Enhance safety regulations and enforce stringent measures to prevent accidents and fatalities in the fishing industry.
Provide adequate training, resources, and protective gear to empower fishworkers to carry out their duties safely.
Foster collaborative initiatives between stakeholders to address systemic issues and promote a culture of safety and respect within the industry.
Recognize the invaluable contributions of fishworkers to global food security and uphold their fundamental rights to fair wages, decent working conditions, and social protection.
Together, let us honor the memory of those we have lost by advocating for meaningful change and ensuring that no worker faces unnecessary risks in the pursuit of their livelihood.
Fishworkers’ Solidarity remains unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding the lives and dignity of all fishworkers, today and always.
Through collective action and advocacy efforts, we strive to address the challenges facing fishworkers and promote sustainable practices in the fishing industry. Join us in our mission to create a safer and more equitable future for all fishworkers.
