BWI Affiliates in Nepal and Bangladesh demand the recognition of occupational health and safety as a fundamental right of workers. #IWMD2022
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Philippines: Building workers protest low paid, unsafe work on 28 April
The National Union of Building and Construction Workers (NUBCW) commemorated the International Workers Memorial Day 2022 last 24 April 2022 in Quezon City, Philippines. In attendance are NUBCW local members from Evergreen Mfg Corp. Regular project-based Employees Union (EMCRPEU), Women Welders Guild (WWG), and Association of Women Workers in the Construction Industry (AWWCI). NUBCW Secretary General, Santiago Nolla, lead the discussion on the current status of Filipino workers, and the Occupational Health and Safety laws in the Philippines. The members also echoed their concerns that most workers in the Philippines are underpaid yet the work is hard and dangerous. Women workers see that discrimination and harassment are still rampant, especially in the construction industry, that is why mainstreaming women in the construction industry plays an important role in eradicating this problem. #iwmd22
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Unions declare businesses should not be killing!
28. April is the International Day of Remembrance and Action for the workers killed, disabled, and injured at work
Syndicates around the world are taking action and organizing rallies and protest marches to make the right to healthy and safe work places recognized as a fundamental right of workers. Activities are held throughout the week featuring this day.
Nowadays we know all about occupational hazards and all the measures and laws aimed at preventing workplace-related deaths, injuries and illness. Despite this, more than a hundred thousand workers in construction, forestry and timber processing lose their lives annually in completely preventable “accidents”
Unions of the world, including BWI members, are determined to take something about this. Independent Syndicate of Forestry, wood processing and paper BiH will also join this campaign.
Adequate results will be achieved when unions and administrations work together on joint issues of health and safety at work in order to have fatalities-free workplaces and areas of work where there are risks of professional b illnesses and accidents subject to intensive warning and prevention activities.
In memory of our members and other workers who have passed away, we are committed to our goal, which is that the International Labor Organization (MOR) recognizes the right to healthy and safe workplaces as a fundamental right of workers. The global concentration for such a change will encourage those responsible for the implementation of appropriate standards of health and safety at work and discourage those states and companies that want to achieve market competitiveness based on poor conditions and practices.
We will achieve this with collective actions and other initiatives on this day, as well as on the days before and after World Day of Safety at Work.
What can we do?
1. Collect signatures for the Declaration of Healthy and Safe Workplaces. Signatures are being collected from employers, employer organizations and government institutions.
2. To hold joint activities at the workplace where the employer has already signed the declaration.
3. Distributing BWI posters and pamphlets on Work Safety and Health (BZR) as a fundamental right.
4. Conduct trainings on safety equipment, trainings and seminars at workplaces
5. To visit workplaces and conduct inspections regarding safety and health at work.
6. Coordinate mass rallies and demonstrations in front of companies in order to protest dangerous working conditions and poor safety statistics.
7. Holding memorial rallies for those who lost their lives or were injured on the job.
During this week, the activity activism will be documented with photos, videos, press releases and social media posts using hashtags: #IWMD2022 • #imwd22 Twitter
Turkey: Unions condemn the high rate of workers’ deaths
BWI Turkish affiliates AGAC-IS, CIMSE-IS, ORMAN-IS and TARIM ORMAN-IS under the umbrella of YOL-IS marked the International Workers’ Memorial Day by gathering and issuing a statement to condemn the high rate of workers’ deaths especially in BWI industries.
The statement noted that “After a strong union struggle, it has been a decade since an independent OHS law came into force in Turkey. However, OHS measures at the implementation level remains as a very problematic topic as in 2021, 2,170 workers died in Turkey as a result of work accidents. One-fifth of the deaths occurred in the construction industry. It is also noteworthy that children and migrants are among those who lost their lives.
The Turkish Union of Road Construction and Building Workers – YOL-IS organized this year’s commemoration event with the participation of BWI affiliated unions from the woodworking, forestry and building materials industries on April 28, in order to draw the public attention to high level of worker deaths and to demand healthy, safe and decent working conditions for all.
The demands are clear: In order not to cause new occupational murders, a mentality change should be made in OHS, and the understanding of “human and worker safety first” should be adopted. ILO Conventions on health and safety should be brought into national legislation in accordance with their spirit, in order for the OHS laws to be fully implemented and the legal basis for the field to be provided precisely. Obstacles to trade union rights and organizing should be removed. Subcontracting should be abolished. OHS committees established in workplaces should be organized as democratic structures, and those should be given sanction authority. The number of labor inspectors should be increased and workplace inspections should be effective. April 28 should be officially recognized and announced as the day of mourning and remembrance.
Burkina Faso: FTBBF a commémoré la Journée internationale de commémoration des travailleurs 2022 ce 28 avril 2022
La Fédération des travailleurs du bâtiment et bois du Faso (FTBBF ) a commémoré la Journée internationale de commémoration des travailleurs 2022 ce 28 avril 2022 à Ouagadougou, au Burrkina Faso. Les travailleurs étaient réunis à l’entreprise Fadoul Technibois pour réclamer auprès de l’OIT que la Santé et Sécurité au Travail devienne un droit fondamental pour le travailleur.the federation of Faso Building and Timber Workers (FTBBF) commemorated the International Day of Commemoration of Workers 2022 this April 28, 2022 in Ouagadougou, Burrkina Faso. Workers were gathered at the Fadoul Technibois company to demand with the ILO that Health and Safety at Work becomes a fundamental right for the worker.
Poland: 28 April event report from OPZZ
Dear Colleagues,
We would like to share with you the OPZZ’s activities to memorialise Workers’ Memorial Day.
Today two hundred eighteen candles were lit under the OPZZ headquarters building in Warsaw. It is a tribute to the 218 victims of accidents at work in 2021.
In front of the OPZZ building, 218 candles were lit to symbolise the victims of last year’s accidents at work, emphasise the importance of worker participation and stress the role of social dialogue in creating a safety culture at work.
A press conference on safety and health at work was also held.
Andrzej Radzikowski, President of the OPZZ, said: These burning candles symbolise those who died at work. In 2021, it was 218 people. Today, we particularly remember the miners who died in recent days in the Pniówek and Zofiówka coal mines. He said: we honour their memory and express our sincere condolences to their families.
Practice and statistics show that in workplaces where trade unions and the social labour inspectorate actively operate – safety at work has higher standards, and employees are better protected. The time has come for a systemic debate on working conditions in Poland, especially given new threats and challenges resulting from technological progress – continued Andrzej Radzikowski. – Digitalisation of work processes and technological changes have increased the risk of psychosocial problems at work.
Previously unseen phenomena have appeared, such as blurring traditional boundaries between work and private life, limiting the employee’s right to disconnect from the phone and the Internet, or the lack of social interaction. Workplace stress is an ongoing challenge. The number of cases of mental disorders is increasing.
Andrzej Radzikowski drew attention to the fact that the number of victims of accidents at work in Poland is increasing. In 2021, almost 70,000 workers suffered accidents at work – 10% more than the year before, and 218 people died at work.
As a society, we still bear the enormous social costs of accidents resulting from more than 2.5 million days of incapacity to work and the high medical and social costs of post-accident disability.
We trade unionists are hurt by pathologies in the labour market, which have a terrible impact on work safety. Without their elimination, there will be no improvement in safety – stressed Andrzej Radzikowski.
Best regards,
Magdalena Chojnowska
International department of the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) https://www.opzz.org.pl/en/about-us/opzz/
Philippines: CDPC joins in celebrating International Workers’ Memorial Day
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The Center for Development Programs in the Cordillera, Inc. (CDPC) joins in celebrating the World Day for Health and Safety at Work!
#healthatwork #madewithrespect #28April #IWMD22 #RightToHealth
Nigeria: TCCESSA marks 28 by drawing attention to the many worker deaths in building collapses
Global/Switzerland: BWI world board action calls for OHS as a fundamental worker right
A day before the marking of International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD), 35 participants of BWI’s World Board Meeting held a solidarity action at the iconic Broken Chair monumental sculpture in Geneva, Switzerland to push for the recognition of healthy and safe workplaces as a fundamental workers’ right. They were joined by representatives from UN1A, a trade union representing private sector workers in Switzerland.
The solidarity action expressed the demand of the 2022 International Labour Conference (ILC) to make OHS a fundamental right. It also expressed support for ILO Convention No. 155 on Occupational Safety and Health (1981) and ILO Convention 161 on Occupational Health Services (1985), which BWI called as “core OHS conventions” and necessary pillars for the recognition of workplace health and safety as a right. #IWMD2022
Source: BWI website • #iwmd22
Panama: El trabajo no deberia mater! – SUNTRACS
The National Union of Workers of Construction and Similar Industries (SUNTRACS), one of the leading trade union forces in Panama, joins BWI in marking this year’s International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April. Waving their red flags and chanting slogans, they called for safer and healthier workplaces for workers worldwide. #IWMD2022