Category Archives: Countries

Philippines: IOHSAD marks Workers’ Memorial Day

IOHSAD marks Workers’ Memorial Day, remembers workers who died due to work and pushes government to protect Filipino workers’ lives

As the world commemorates this year’s Workers’ Memorial Day, safety organization Institute for Occupational Health and Safety Development, together with the illegally dismissed workers of Golden Fortune Techno Built Inc., remember the construction workers who have died due to work. more

32 reports of 28 April activities in Latin America and The Caribbean

BWI has reported an enormous number and range of 28 April activities across Latin America and the Caribbean:

  1. FENATIMAP (Peru): Work stoppage at 1 workplace. Meeting with workers to talk about OSH and to conmemorate workers killed or injured at work in the past.
  1. SITRAFAPESA (Peru): They participated in the meeting about accidents prevention called Peru’s Congress. 3 of their leaders were trained in the creation of commissions against industrial accidents.
  1. SINTRACESANLO (Peru): Meetings at workplaces  with the presence of the employees. They were talking about the importance of OSH and April 28th.
  1. SUNTIMAVEN (Venezuela): Stoppages and meetings in the companies were they have Collective Bargaining: Caracas, sawmills Chaguaramas, broom factory Palma Real CA, Sawmill Caucagua CA, Furniture Bima.
  1. FETRAMECOL (Colombia): Talk at their headquarters with the assistance of their trade unions in Bogota. They discussed techniques of first aid and assistance in case of accidents. Resources like coast2coast, from where a first aid course could also be taken, were discussed. Completed the action with 1 minute of silence in commemoration of those killed in accidents.
  1. FECOTECMAC (Colombia): They held a commemorative session for the dead and injured workers and gave a talk at its headquarters about OSH in construction.
  1. SINTRA-SKINCO COLOMBIT (Colombia): They participated of a national march in honor to April 28th.
  1. FETICOM-SP (Brazil): Participated in a state mobilization.
  1. FETICOM-SC (Brazil): Organized their annual mobilization of OSH called “Movida”.  Pamphlets about OSH and accident prevention has been delivered throughout the month of April to workers and construction companies. Distributed those pamphlets during and after the mobilization.
  1. FETRACONSPAR (Brazil): Organized their VI Seminar of Improving Health and Safety at Work.
  1. STICC-POA (Brazil): Organized their 4th Seminar Valuing Work and Life: the pillars of a just society.
  1. FETRACOMPA (Brazil): Developed actions in Batista Campos Square in Belén. Provided information with the logo of the BWI and FETRACOMPA. Used a car with sound to explain the global significance of April 28th.
  1. SINTEPAV-BA (Brazil): Participated in the march in Salvador Bahía. As part of their program of action on health and safety they: conducted advertising (“No more accidents”) that contributes to greater awareness and reducing accidents; are conducting their annual seminars (which this year 2015 will be completed with the 7th edition); look for collaboration with public bodies (MTE, MPT); directed supervision at construction Works to check working conditions and compliance with the terms OSH; are proving technical assistance in the preparation of the reports of hazards and unsanitary conditions in companies.
  1. SINTRAICCCM (Brazil): Developed activities in Cuiabá, Várzea Grande, San Antonio Leverger and Rondonópolis. Actively participated in the “Green Abril” program, which took place between April 07th and 28th by the New Trade Union Central of Workers (NCST-MT), the Federation of Industries of Mato Grosso (FETIEMT) and the Trade Union Technical Safety at Work of Mato Grosso (SINTES-MT), in collaboration with the SINTRAICCCM. Attended the allusive program to the International Workers Memorial Day of the Regional Labor Court (TRT-MT), between April 27th and 29th, with a stand of the trade union and provided orientation in relation to workers’ health.
  1. FENATCO (Haití): Will organize a press conference about this campaign and April 28th meaning. National mobilizations. Meetings with workers and companies businesmen. Creation of brochures and flyers about April 28th and 25 kilos.
  1. SEBI (Curazao): They performed their activities on May 1st (all together with the International Workers Day). Had a meeting to discuss the relevant trade union action to prevent accidents and illnesses in the workplace. They offered a Conference mass for all workers, with the presence of high officials and members will participate. Then participated of the national march with banners in the streets of the city; visited two busts and make 2 minutes of silence to commemorate those workers who have died during their labors.
  1. BIU (Bermuda): Held a Health and Safety Conference. And Mr Nisbit gave a radio interview about the deceased workers and the importance of April 28th for the trade union movement  at Hott 107.5 FM.
  1. UNATROPYT (Costa Rica): Will place a commemorative plaque at one of their certifiqued construction works.  That plaque will honor all workers who died because of accidents at work, worldwide. Will organize a stoppage (of 1 hour), with the presence of one Labor Inspector that will certify that every OSH regulations are correct. During the stoppage they will have meetings with workers on site.
  1. SUNTRACS (Costa Rica): Will organize a stoppage (between 30 minutes to 1 hour), with the presence of one Labor Inspector that will certify that every OSH regulations are correct. During the stoppage they will have meetings with workers on site.
  1. FENTICOMMC (Dominican Republic): Will organize their annual Workshop on Occupational Health and Hygiene.
  1. FETRACOM (Dominican Republic): They participated in the 3rd National Congress of Occupational Hazards organized by its Trade Union Confederation (on April 27th), in order to promote a culture of prevention against accidents in the workplace.
  1. SINCS-G (Guatemala): Will organize a socialization campaign about April 28th with flags and banners at strategic points in Guatemala. They´ll organize as well a tripartite activity about OSH with representatives from the Local Government, employers and SINCS-G trade union leaders.
  1. SUNTRACS (Panama): They have created radio and TV spots about April 28th and accident prevention. Also organized a national press conference promoting their campaign for this year. On April 28th they´ll perform national mobilizations.
  1. SITICEDPA (Panama): Stoppage and meeting with workers at the cement plant about OSH.
  1. FITCM-N (Nicaragua): Workshop about OSH with representatives of the Health and Safety Committees on different companies.
  1. SNSCAASC (Nicaragua): Performed an assembly on site with 250 employees and the presence of the Ministry of Labour and representatives of the company where they did the stoppage.
  1. SOICSCES (El Salvador): Organized meetings with workers at workplace and participated of the national march.
  1. UOCRA (Argentina): Will organize assemblies and meetings with construction workers and delegates. Will deliver brochures and posters about April 28th and about the main risks of our industry. At different workplaces they have placed posters about the occupational risks of the use of amianto and its biological hazards. They have designed and placed a banner about the defense OSH at its website. Created and lauched an advertising spot on their channel “Building TV”. Will place a commemorative plaque and will spread an awareness message about April 28th on social networks.
  1. UECARA (Argentina): Will participate in the Argentina Week of Health and Safety at Work, holding an exhibition about the policies developed over the last year on OSH, the projects and the work plan initiated in this 2015 by the trade union. Will deliver on the stand different brochures and materials about OSH, and will offer to the public interactive games for educational purposes and a medical space for the control of blood pressure and vital signs.
  1. SINTRAIGCMA (Paraguay): They participated at the Worker Week: between April 27th to May 1st, and at the national mobilizations. Also gave a OSH panel to all workers.
  1. FETRACEM (Chile): Stoppage and meetings in workplaces about OSH, through its affiliates.
  1. FETRACOMA (Chile): They developed assemblies in various construction sites and created a promotional poster for the campaign.

Fiji: Monitoring of workplace standards crucial – FTUC

On April 28th, tripartite partners of the ILO met together for a workshop on the themeJoin in Building the Culture of Prevention on OHS” to mark International Workers’ Memorial day.  More than 100 participants attended the programme including delegates from PNG. FTUC was represented by 10 participants, some of whom traveled from Levuka. The guest speaker from FTUC  was Mr. Rouhit Karan Singh, the Assistant National Secretary. Below is the speech that was delivered in the evening programme where the OHS awards were announced. more

Latin America: Miners deserve better

To mark International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April, mining unions in several countries in Latin America, representing over 130,000 mineworkers, are taking coordinated action to demand the ratification and full application of ILO Convention 176. more

Irish agency gives safety reps a boost

On Workers Memorial Day the Irish Health and Safety Agency published a new free 278 page book for all Irish health and Safety Representatives • Facebook 

Global: ITF unions act on container safety on Workers’ Memorial Day

Members from the dockers’, road transport workers, railway workers and seafarers’ sections were part of 28 April activities highlighting the ITF container safety campaign. The issue of toxic gases in containers tied in with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) theme for IWMD – removing exposure to hazardous substances at work. more

Albania: BSPSH activities on 28 April

 

A message from Gezim Kalaja President of BSPSH:

albania 28 april 4

 

Today  on 28 April the National Council of BSPSH for these important day  BSPSH had a special event  ( The Union of the Independent Trade Unions of Albania) and all other federations of BSPSH  as well as   Independent Trade Union of Albanian Miners,  Independent  Trade Union of Albanian Education Independent  Trade Union of Albanian Health, Independent Trade Union of Albanian Telecom ,  -Independent Trade Union of Albanian Typography ,  Independent Trade Union of Civilian Employees of  Defense and Order,  Independent Trade Union of Industry and Textiles , Independent Trade Union of  Tourism  and Food Chemistry , -Independent Trade Union of Albanian Artists , -Independent Trade Union of Albanian Energy  , -Independent Trade Union of Albanian Construction Workers and Public Works     , – Independent Trade Union of Albanian Prision Police, -Independent Trade Union of Albanian Transmission System Operator.

We emphasized the role of the the trade union to promotes the prevention of occupational accidents  , to fight for our  workers , to have better conditions at the work place , and of course to have secure life, and to return safety home in their families , at their children .

The question was how to reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries , especially for the miners , for worker construction ect.  How to improve legislation according to EU directives and to implement the ILO  Conventions and directives .Also for the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured we hold 1 minute of silence in memory  of the workers which are not between us !!

In solidarity

President of BSPSH

Gezim KALAJA

Georgian unions protest at the ministry over safety ‘crisis’

Due to the number of lethal accidents in Georgia in the last year, we are in a crisis, says union confederation GTUC. Workplace trauma caused 30 fatalities and 32 serious injuries. Majority of these accidents are occurring at building sites and factories producing construction supplies. Following these professions is the metallurgical, chemical and quarry; energy production; petroleum and coal production; communications; railway; metro (subway); and other fields of labor. The mines and quarries of Tkibuli and Chiatura are also in a critical condition and prone to numerous risk factors.

These statistics are caused by numerous factors such as: an oversight agency of the government such as the ones in all of the western developed nations does not exist (Georgian government’s National Labor Inspection agency was abolished in 2006); technical oversight agency does not have representatives in the fields that are considered to be difficult, hazardous and dangerous; employer and employees are to settle the issues relating to compensation between themselves in cases of occupational injury; court cases and investigation of occupational injuries takes anywhere from 2 to 4 years; financial and organizational-technical priorities pertaining to lawyers are noticeably in favor of employers; the new law on “controlling technical dangers” does not have perspective in terms of implementation since a powerful system that could enforce health checks prior to and periodically during the employment does not exist, which means that the employee must periodically visit the doctor on his own and usually finds out about an occupational disease he or she incurred after it is too late to treat and the individual is practically handicapped.

The union thinks that a formation of governmental oversight agency (Labor Inspection) is necessary in order to improve the situation faced by the workers. This agency should be organized and modernized. It is necessary to foresee the trade union’s function as a social oversight organization within the law. The fact of the matter is that the critical situation that exists in the labor safety and health does not leave space for ignorance and neutrality.

On the 28th of April, Georgian Trade Unions Confederation will organize a performance-protest in front of the Ministry of Economy. Afterwards, the organization shall hold a mourning service in one of the churches of Tbilisi in order to honor those who suffered a fatal end while performing their occupational duties.

See Anabella Rosemberg’s blog in Equal Times

Global: Sesionará mañana encuentro sindical de constructores

Su agenda está relacionada con el Jornada Internacional de Conmemoración (JIC) de los Trabajadores Fallecidos y Heridoso.

El II Encuentro Sindical por la Unidad de acción de los Trabajadores, del sector de la construcción, será inaugurado mañana con la presencia de representantes de 17 países, anunciaron en esta capital sus organizadores.

Carlos Antonio de Dios Oquendo, secretario general del Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Construcción (SNTC) de Cuba, informó a la AIN que la mayoría de los delegados proviene de Brasil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, República Dominicana, Panamá y Uruguay.

Los restantes son de Australia, Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte, Bélgica, Francia y Suiza.

Todos intervendrán en el desfile por el Primero de Mayo, Día Internacional de los Trabajadores, en la Plaza de la Revolución José Martí, en un bloque de 30 mil obreros, aunque en las otras provincias la participación de los afiliados también será masiva, aseguró Oquendo.

Señaló que la promoción de la integración latinoamericana, la solidaridad, la cooperación por la justicia social y la equidad entre los integrantes del sector, constituyen los temas esenciales de la reunión de mañana.

Una de las sesiones de esta última será en la Unidad Empresarial de Base de Ariguanabo, de la Empresa Mixta Aguas de La Habana, en el municipio de San Antonio de los Baños, de la provincia de Artemisa; y la segunda en el Contingente de la Construcción Raúl Roa García, en La Habana.

En ambos encuentros estarán dirigentes del SNTC, de la Federación Latinoamericana de Trabajadores de la Construcción, Madera y Materiales de Construcción (FLEMACON) e Internacional de Trabajadores de la Construcción y la Madera (ICM), según el programa.

También asistirán directivos de la Unión Internacional de Trabajadores de la Construcción y la Madera, y de la Federación Sindical Mundial (FSM).

 

Hungary: Video from Liga of the 28 April action “Do not go through it!”