Tag Archives: #iwmd28

2026, 2026 Global, Events listing, Gallery

Global: BWI report – Record-breaking global mobilisation pushes workers’ safety demands worldwide

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Two weeks after International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD), workers across the globe continue to send a clear message: “Remember the dead, fight for the living.”

This year, BWI affiliates marked IWMD with a record-breaking 305 activities organised by 86 affiliates in more than 47 countries, demonstrating the growing strength of the global movement for safer and healthier workplaces.

Under BWI’s global campaign focus on heat stress and extreme weather risks, affiliates organised workplace trainings, rallies, memorial ceremonies, bargaining initiatives, policy discussions, and awareness campaigns that mobilised thousands of workers across every region.

While the global focus this year was on heat stress and extreme weather risks, affiliates also used IWMD to commemorate victims of occupational accidents and diseases, raise awareness on psychosocial risks and mental health, strengthen occupational safety structures, and push for broader workplace protections.

The actions below are only some examples of the extraordinary mobilisation carried out by BWI affiliates worldwide.

Global Action

At the international level, BWI also brought workers’ concerns directly to the Meeting of Experts on occupational safety and health in extreme weather events and changing weather patterns in Geneva, the tripartite experts at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) reached consensus on a first-ever set of measures to address the impacts of extreme weather on workers and enterprises.

At the BWI Global Young Workers Forum in Utøya, Norway, young union leaders marked IWMD with discussions on bringing heat stress and climate risks into collective bargaining and strengthening demands for agreements that protect workers. The Forum also held a minute of silence honouring workers lost due to unsafe work and victims of political violence.

A major coordinated initiative entered the IFA with the Acciona Group, in which IWMD activities took place across Spain, the Philippines, Brazil, Chile, Italy, Panama, Peru, the Netherlands, and Mexico. Activities included workplace safety discussions, awareness sessions on working in heat, psychosocial risks and wellbeing, prevention campaigns, and commemorative moments honouring workers who lost their lives.

Africa and the Middle East: Workplace Awareness and Worker Engagement

Across Africa and the Middle East, affiliates used IWMD to bring occupational safety discussions directly into workplaces and communities.

  • In Tunisia, FGBB brought together 99 workers to discuss physical and mental health at work, highlighting the growing importance of psychosocial risks and workers’ well-being alongside broader occupational safety concerns.
  • In Kenya, KUPRIPUPA, KETAWU, and KBCTFIEU organised workplace awareness meetings and site visits focused on occupational health and safety concerns in construction and manufacturing workplaces.
  • In Uganda, UBCCECAWU held IWMD activities at Zhongmei Engineering Company, discussing labour standards, worker safety, and occupational health protections in road construction.
  • In Ghana, CBMWU organised workplace safety awareness activities, while GCQMWU highlighted psychosocial risks and the psychological working environment faced by workers.
  • In Nigeria, NUCECFWW joined workers at CBC Global Construction in Abuja to discuss occupational accidents, workplace safety, and prevention measures.
  • In Zimbabwe, ZCATWU organised worker meetings in Masvingo and Harare, focusing on occupational health and safety awareness and workers’ rights.
  • In Mauritius, CMWEU held panel discussions with government institutions and OHS stakeholders before participating in a public demonstration with 900 participants in Rosehill, calling for stronger workplace protections.

Affiliates in Tunisia, Lebanon, and Jordan also organised workplace outreach, awareness activities, and worker discussions on occupational safety and health.

Europe: Memorial Activities and Public Campaigns

Across Europe, affiliates organised memorial activities, public awareness campaigns, and discussions on workplace safety and mental health.

  • In Ukraine, PROFBUD organised an OSH conference and training with international experts, on asbestos awareness, Crane and lift safety, and traffic control, as well as prepared union statements, awareness activities, and commemorations honouring workers killed or injured at work.
  • In Bulgaria, PODKREPA publicly called for stronger workplace protections and safer working conditions in the construction sector.
  • In Italy, FILCA CISL, FILLEA CGIL, and CGIL/FILLEA organised rallies, memorial activities, workplace campaigns, and tributes honouring workers who lost their lives due to occupational accidents and diseases.
  • In the UK, Unite organised commemorative events in Liverpool, Bridgwater, Belfast, and Tower Hill, raising concerns around occupational fatalities, psychosocial risks, stress, mental health, and workers’ wellbeing.

Affiliates in Sweden, Georgia, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Denmark, Turkey, and Spain also marked IWMD through rallies, statements, member meetings, posters, and social media campaigns.

Latin America and the Caribbean: Training, Prevention, and Organising

Across Latin America and the Caribbean, affiliates combined worker education, prevention campaigns, and commemorative activities.

  • In Brazil, unions organised Green April mobilisations, webinars, workplace awareness campaigns, and prevention initiatives addressing occupational safety and workers’ health, highlighting how climate change is transforming occupational health and safety into a central collective bargaining issue.
  • In Peru, FTCCP carried out one of the region’s largest IWMD programmes, including seminars, livestreams, videocasts, social media campaigns, and virtual trainings on occupational safety, hazard identification, fall prevention, and workplace risks.
  • In Argentina, UOCRA organised campaigns on occupational health, psychosocial risks, work at height, and prevention measures in construction workplaces. At the SIDERSA plant in San Nicolás, union OHS teams conducted workplace assessments involving around 350 workers.
  • In the Dominican Republic, unions combined practical occupational safety training with a candlelight ceremony commemorating victims of occupational accidents and diseases.
  • In Panama, SUNTRACS organised workplace assemblies and occupational health and safety discussions across construction projects linked to protections secured through collective agreements.
  • In Chile, workers participated in workplace prevention campaigns and awareness activities focused on occupational safety and well-being.

Asia-Pacific: Grassroots Mobilisation and Worker Education

Across the Asia-Pacific, affiliates mobilised thousands of workers through training, awareness campaigns, organising activities, and commemorations.

  • In Pakistan, PFBWW organised IWMD meetings and awareness activities at Tarbela Dam, Balakot Dam, and Mohmand Dam, bringing workers together to discuss occupational safety, workplace risks, and the importance of prevention and worker protection.
  • In India, unions organised workplace discussions, rallies, seminars, poster campaigns, and district-level mobilisations focused on occupational safety, workers’ rights, and workplace wellbeing. SGEU alone mobilised around 1,000 women members.
  • In Nepal, CAWUN, ANCWU, and CUPPEC organised worker meetings and awareness discussions on occupational safety and health.
  • In Indonesia, SERBUK and other affiliates carried out extensive activities, including OSH trainings, workplace visits, youth campaigns, climate justice discussions, and awareness sessions on workers’ safety and wellbeing.
  • In Malaysia, STIEU organisers met migrant workers in several workplaces to discuss occupational safety, organising, and workers’ conditions, while TEUPM held discussions linked to the Too Hot To Work campaign.
  • In the Philippines, NUBCW organised simultaneous OSH trainings, awareness discussions, campaign reels, and worker mobilisations during May Day activities.
  • In Cambodia, affiliates organised training, outreach campaigns, and awareness activities on occupational safety and workers’ health.
  • In Australia, CFMEU and ETU commemorated workers who never returned home from work while renewing calls for stronger workplace protections.

From Awareness to Agreements

Across all regions, IWMD 2026 demonstrated a growing determination among workers and unions to strengthen occupational safety protections through organising, education, bargaining, and collective action.

From memorial ceremonies and psychosocial risk campaigns to workplace trainings and climate-related advocacy, affiliates reinforced one common

message: work-related deaths, injuries, and illnesses are preventable.

Let’s Keep Up the Momentum

The struggle for safer and healthier workplaces does not end on 28 April.

BWI calls on all affiliates to continue organising, educating, bargaining, and fighting for enforceable protections for all workers.

Because every worker has the right to go to work—and come home safely.

ORGANISE.
BARGAIN.
WIN PROTECTION.

 

2026, 2026 Albania, 2026 Europe, Events listing, News

Albania: KSSH në kuadër të 28 Prillit – Ditës Botërore të Sigurisë dhe Shëndetit në Punë

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May be an image of bicycle and text that says "GINDIKATAVET CNE KSSH ANANA TE SHQIPERISE KONFEDERATA E SINDIKATAVE 1991 ITUC CSI IGB DITA BOTERORE E SIGURISE DHE SHENDETIT ΝE PUNE 28 PRILL Let's make LetsmakeAlworkforworkers AI work for workers O TIME DELIVER RIGHTS FORALL WORKERS! RIGNTS TIME TIMETO TO DELIVER RIGHTS TIME!! DELIVET JELIVER RIGHTS PLATFORM WORKERS 智田精集 PADTEIN NERKERS BICHTS"

English translation below

KSSH within the framework of April 28 – World Day of Safety and Health at Work.

April 28, recognized internationally as World Workplace Safety and Health Day, represents a moment of reflection, awareness and engagement for all working actors.

Established by the International Labor Organization (ILO), this day aims to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, putting the lives and dignity of employers at the center.

At the same time, for the global trade union movement, April 28 is a day of remembrance and honor for all those workers who have lost their lives or been injured in the workplace. It is a call for justice, responsibility and continuous improvement of working conditions.

In the Albanian context, this day takes on special importance, especially in the framework of the country’s integration processes towards the European Union. European standards in the field of occupational safety and health are not just a formal obligation, but a necessity for sustainable economic and social development.

Occupational safety and health constitute a system of preventive measures that aim to preserve the lives, physical integrity and mental well-being of employers.

The objectives of this system are clear: promoting the overall well-being of employees, preventing occupational diseases, protecting against risks, and adapting work to the skills of the individual.
However, the reality in our country shows that there is still much to be done.

KSSH has played an active and positive role in promoting preventive policies, developing strategies and raising awareness, their implementation in the field remains problematic.

In particular, the Labor Inspectorate continues to face serious challenges in the performance of its functions. The lack of effective controls, limited capacities and, in some cases, tolerance to violations, have led safety standards in many sectors to fall far from European requirements.

This situation endangers not only the lives of the employers, but also the credibility of the institutions and the European integration process of the country.

International statistics are alarming: every year in the European Union, over 5,500 people die in accidents at work, while another 159,000 die as a result of occupational diseases. These numbers clearly show that workplace safety is not a suburban issue, but a top priority.

The basic principle of the European approach is clear: “Prevention is better than cure”. This means continuous risk analysis, investing in safe technology, improving working conditions and educating employers.

A safe working environment is not created by chance – it requires political will, institutional responsibility and close cooperation between state, employers and unions.

In this direction, the work of KSSH should be valued as a positive example of institutional dedication. Through its initiatives, KSSH has contributed to bringing Albanian legislation closer to European one and to promoting a preventive culture in the workplace.

However, this work must be supported and complemented by concrete and effective actions by implementing structures, in particular by the Labour Inspectorate.

April 28 should not remain just a symbolic day. He should serve as a point for concrete reflection and action. Every accident prevented is a life saved. Every implemented security measure is a step towards a more just and humane society.

Finally, the message is clear: a country that aims European integration must guarantee European standards even in the workplace. Because true development is not measured only by economic growth, but by the protection of the life and dignity of every employer.

2026, 2026 Europe, 2026 Portugal, Events listing, News

Portugal: Comunicado da UGT – 28 abril | Combater os Riscos Psicossociais no Trabalho: Vamos garantir um Ambiente de Trabalho Saudável

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Comunicado da UGT – 28 de abril de 2026 | Combater os Riscos Psicossociais no Trabalho: Vamos garantir um Ambiente de Trabalho Saudável

Neste Dia Internacional em Memória dos Trabalhadores Vítimas de Acidentes de Trabalho e Doenças Profissionais, 28 de abril 2026, a UGT associa-se ao movimento sindical internacional e apela a uma ação urgente para enfrentar a crise global dos riscos psicossociais no trabalho – atualmente uma das principais causas de morte, doença e sofrimento para trabalhadores e trabalhadoras, em todo o mundo.

 

De acordo com dados da OIT, mais de 840 mil pessoas morrem, todos os anos, devido a problemas de saúde relacionados com riscos psicossociais, entre os quais se destacam as elevadas exigências no trabalho, insegurança no emprego, longas jornadas de trabalho, desregulação de horários, reduzidas perspetivas de progressão na carreira e o assédio no local de trabalho.

Esses riscos psicossociais encontram-se associados ao aumento da probabilidade de condições graves de saúde, tais como doenças cardíacas, AVC e transtornos mentais, incluindo o suicídio.

O Relatório da CSI publicado no dia de hoje mostra a dimensão deste problema:

  • As longas horas de trabalho são responsáveis por cerca de 745.000 mortes por ano.
  • Há pelo menos 70.000 suicídios relacionados com o trabalho anualmente.
  • Perdem-se 12 mil milhões de dias úteis todos os anos devido à depressão e à ansiedade.
  • O burnout afeta cerca de um em cada cinco trabalhadores a nível global.
  • Os riscos psicossociais estão ligados a mais de 10 por cento dos casos de doenças cardíacas, depressão e suicídios.

Não obstante estes riscos psicossociais não serem novos, as atuais transformações no mundo do trabalho, incluindo a digitalização, a inteligência artificial e o trabalho remoto operam alterações ainda mais nefastas no ambiente de trabalho psicossocial.

Os riscos psicossociais tornaram-se um dos desafios mais significativos para a Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho no mundo moderno do trabalho, tornando urgente melhorar o ambiente de trabalho psicossocial, por forma a proteger a saúde mental e física dos trabalhadores e trabalhadoras.

A UGT, ciente da necessidade de serem encetados esforços para o combate aos riscos psicossociais relacionados com o trabalho, reitera as suas reivindicações:

– Reconhecimento das condições de saúde mental como doenças profissionais. A UGT entende ser urgente o reconhecimento de patologias relacionadas com os riscos psicossociais, ainda não entendidas como doenças profissionais e que têm obrigatoriamente de ser incluídas na atualização da Lista das Doenças Profissionais, tendo em conta que existe uma relação direta entre a exposição a riscos psicossociais no local de trabalho e as suas consequências na saúde mental e física dos trabalhadores.

– Pugnar pela definição e implementação de medidas concretas que, claramente, prevejam os aspetos relacionados com a organização do trabalho e o combate aos riscos psicossociais, designadamente, a violência, o assédio e os problemas de saúde mental em geral, tornando-se urgente a previsão de medidas concretas para mitigar estes impactos negativos.

– Reputamos a necessidade de se avançar para a adoção de Diretiva da UE sobre os riscos psicossociais/saúde mental, em consonância com a CES, que clarifique o dever dos empregadores na prevenção e no tratamento destes riscos e a sua responsabilidade na organização do trabalho, de modo a criar boas condições psicossociais para os trabalhadores.

– Pugnar por um investimento, a nível nacional, em saúde mental. De acordo com a OMS a definição de saúde mental é “o estado de bem-estar no qual o indivíduo realiza as suas capacidades, pode fazer face ao stresse normal da vida, trabalhar de forma produtiva e frutífera e contribuir para a comunidade em que se insere”, deve ser definida uma abordagem que vise conceber e realizar intervenções destinadas a promover uma boa saúde mental e a prevenir doenças mentais no trabalho.

– Pugnamos, ainda, pela efetiva participação dos trabalhadores e dos representantes dos trabalhadores na conceção e implementação de medidas no local de trabalho que visem combater os problemas de saúde mental; pela efetiva  clarificação das obrigações dos empregadores para avaliar e mitigar sistematicamente os fatores de risco psicossociais e pela obrigação de os empregadores fixarem metas para reduzir o stresse relacionado com o trabalho, pelo acesso à formação de todos os trabalhadores e  formação especializada para os gestores prevenirem riscos psicossociais no  trabalho.

– Continuar a promover a ação sindical na área dos riscos psicossociais (stresse laboral, burnout, depressão crónica, fadiga crónica, depressão e assédio, etc.), nomeadamente no que respeita à caraterização, identificação e análise deste tipo de riscos, com o objetivo de habilitar os quadros sindicais para a intervenção concreta e direta nos locais de trabalho, seja através da ação reivindicativa, seja mediante o apoio individual aos trabalhadores afetados.

Hoje, como sempre, a UGT associa-se às centenas de centrais sindicais que, em mais de 120 países, estão de luto pelos seus trabalhadores vitimados mortalmente por acidentes de trabalho e doenças profissionais.

Também neste Dia, a UGT associa-se às centenas de centrais sindicais que, por todo o mundo, se erguem na luta por condições de trabalho e de vida digna para todas trabalhadoras e todos os trabalhadores.

Prestamos Hoje homenagem aos 154 trabalhadores que perderam a vida a desempenhar a sua atividade profissional, durante o ano de 2025.

Terminamos reforçando a mensagem da CSI de que neste 28 de abril, lembramos os mortos – e lutamos pelos vivos. O trabalho não deve custar vidas.

 

Deve proteger Vidas, Dignidade e Saúde Mental.

 

Departamento de Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho

https://www.ugt.pt/noticias/artigo/comunicado-da-ugt-28-de-abril-de-2026-combater-os-riscos-psi/6728

Comunicado da UGT – 28 de abril de 2026 | Combater os Riscos Psicossociais no Trabalho: Vamos garantir um Ambiente de Trabalho Saudável

Neste Dia Internacional em Memória dos Trabalhadores Vítimas de Acidentes de Trabalho e Doenças Profissionais, 28 de abril 2026, a UGT associa-se ao movimento sindical internacional e apela a uma ação urgente para enfrentar a crise global dos riscos psicossociais no trabalho – atualmente uma das principais causas de morte, doença e sofrimento para trabalhadores e trabalhadoras, em todo o mundo.

 De acordo com dados da OIT, mais de 840 mil pessoas morrem, todos os anos, devido a problemas de saúde relacionados com riscos psicossociais, entre os quais se destacam as elevadas exigências no trabalho, insegurança no emprego, longas jornadas de trabalho, desregulação de horários, reduzidas perspetivas de progressão na carreira e o assédio no local de trabalho.

Esses riscos psicossociais encontram-se associados ao aumento da probabilidade de condições graves de saúde, tais como doenças cardíacas, AVC e transtornos mentais, incluindo o suicídio.

O Relatório da CSI publicado no dia de hoje mostra a dimensão deste problema:

  • As longas horas de trabalho são responsáveis por cerca de 745.000 mortes por ano.
  • Há pelo menos 70.000 suicídios relacionados com o trabalho anualmente.
  • Perdem-se 12 mil milhões de dias úteis todos os anos devido à depressão e à ansiedade.
  • O burnout afeta cerca de um em cada cinco trabalhadores a nível global.
  • Os riscos psicossociais estão ligados a mais de 10 por cento dos casos de doenças cardíacas, depressão e suicídios.

Não obstante estes riscos psicossociais não serem novos, as atuais transformações no mundo do trabalho, incluindo a digitalização, a inteligência artificial e o trabalho remoto operam alterações ainda mais nefastas no ambiente de trabalho psicossocial.

Os riscos psicossociais tornaram-se um dos desafios mais significativos para a Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho no mundo moderno do trabalho, tornando urgente melhorar o ambiente de trabalho psicossocial, por forma a proteger a saúde mental e física dos trabalhadores e trabalhadoras.

A UGT, ciente da necessidade de serem encetados esforços para o combate aos riscos psicossociais relacionados com o trabalho, reitera as suas reivindicações:

– Reconhecimento das condições de saúde mental como doenças profissionais. A UGT entende ser urgente o reconhecimento de patologias relacionadas com os riscos psicossociais, ainda não entendidas como doenças profissionais e que têm obrigatoriamente de ser incluídas na atualização da Lista das Doenças Profissionais, tendo em conta que existe uma relação direta entre a exposição a riscos psicossociais no local de trabalho e as suas consequências na saúde mental e física dos trabalhadores.

– Pugnar pela definição e implementação de medidas concretas que, claramente, prevejam os aspetos relacionados com a organização do trabalho e o combate aos riscos psicossociais, designadamente, a violência, o assédio e os problemas de saúde mental em geral, tornando-se urgente a previsão de medidas concretas para mitigar estes impactos negativos.

– Reputamos a necessidade de se avançar para a adoção de Diretiva da UE sobre os riscos psicossociais/saúde mental, em consonância com a CES, que clarifique o dever dos empregadores na prevenção e no tratamento destes riscos e a sua responsabilidade na organização do trabalho, de modo a criar boas condições psicossociais para os trabalhadores.

– Pugnar por um investimento, a nível nacional, em saúde mental. De acordo com a OMS a definição de saúde mental é “o estado de bem-estar no qual o indivíduo realiza as suas capacidades, pode fazer face ao stresse normal da vida, trabalhar de forma produtiva e frutífera e contribuir para a comunidade em que se insere”, deve ser definida uma abordagem que vise conceber e realizar intervenções destinadas a promover uma boa saúde mental e a prevenir doenças mentais no trabalho.

– Pugnamos, ainda, pela efetiva participação dos trabalhadores e dos representantes dos trabalhadores na conceção e implementação de medidas no local de trabalho que visem combater os problemas de saúde mental; pela efetiva  clarificação das obrigações dos empregadores para avaliar e mitigar sistematicamente os fatores de risco psicossociais e pela obrigação de os empregadores fixarem metas para reduzir o stresse relacionado com o trabalho, pelo acesso à formação de todos os trabalhadores e  formação especializada para os gestores prevenirem riscos psicossociais no  trabalho.

– Continuar a promover a ação sindical na área dos riscos psicossociais (stresse laboral, burnout, depressão crónica, fadiga crónica, depressão e assédio, etc.), nomeadamente no que respeita à caraterização, identificação e análise deste tipo de riscos, com o objetivo de habilitar os quadros sindicais para a intervenção concreta e direta nos locais de trabalho, seja através da ação reivindicativa, seja mediante o apoio individual aos trabalhadores afetados.

Hoje, como sempre, a UGT associa-se às centenas de centrais sindicais que, em mais de 120 países, estão de luto pelos seus trabalhadores vitimados mortalmente por acidentes de trabalho e doenças profissionais.

Também neste Dia, a UGT associa-se às centenas de centrais sindicais que, por todo o mundo, se erguem na luta por condições de trabalho e de vida digna para todas trabalhadoras e todos os trabalhadores.

Prestamos Hoje homenagem aos 154 trabalhadores que perderam a vida a desempenhar a sua atividade profissional, durante o ano de 2025.

Terminamos reforçando a mensagem da CSI de que neste 28 de abril, lembramos os mortos – e lutamos pelos vivos. O trabalho não deve custar vidas.

 Deve proteger Vidas, Dignidade e Saúde Mental.

 Departamento de Segurança e Saúde no Trabalho

https://www.ugt.pt/noticias/artigo/comunicado-da-ugt-28-de-abril-de-2026-combater-os-riscos-psi/6728

2026, 2026 Europe, 2026 Spain, Events listing, News

Spain: UGT conmemora el Día Mundial de la Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo

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UGT conmemora el Día Mundial de la Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo

El sindicato ha pedido la aceleración del trámite parlamentario para ratificar la modificación de la Ley de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales aprobada hoy en el Consejo de Ministros

La Unión General de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores ha celebrado, con motivo del Día Mundial de la Seguridad y la Salud en el Trabajo, unas jornadas bajo el nombre “Este 1º de Mayo, UGT exige salud. La Ley no nos protege, el Siglo XXI exige cambios”. En las jornadas, celebradas en Alcalá de Guadaira, Sevilla, se ha recordado a las víctimas de accidentes laborales y enfermedades profesionales y se ha puesto de manifiesto la necesidad de abordar cuestiones como la prevención del suicidio en el ámbito laboral y el reconocimiento del cáncer de origen laboral. 

En la semana que se celebra el 1º de mayo, UGT ha querido recordar que la prevención debe ser una pieza fundamental en la mejora de los derechos de la clase trabajadora y que urge la actualización de una ley de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales, que se aprobó hace más de 30 años y que, sin duda, no contempla muchos de los nuevos riesgos a los que están expuestas las personas trabajadoras. 

Precisamente hoy, el Consejo de Ministros ha aprobado el Anteproyecto de Ley, que recoge el acuerdo alcanzado en materia de prevención de riesgos laborales por el Gobierno y los sindicatos para la modificación de la actual Ley de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales y del Reglamento de los Servicios de Prevención. Más de 700 personas están muriendo en accidente de trabajo cada año, y ello hacen que la actualización de dicha ley sea una obligación de la sociedad en su conjunto. 

El texto, que ahora comenzará su trámite parlamentario, pretende adaptar la normativa a la nueva realidad del mercado de trabajo, ya que dota de perspectiva de género y edad a la gestión preventiva y se abordan los desafíos que conllevan las transiciones digital, climática y demográfica desde un enfoque amplio e integral. A este respecto, obliga a revisar la evaluación de riesgos en los casos de cambios en las condiciones de trabajo que supongan la aparición de nuevos riesgos, incluidos los derivados del cambio climático, de la digitalización o de las nuevas formas de organización de trabajo. Además, con la modificación de la Ley de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales se alcanzará una mejora en la gestión de los riesgos psicosociales de origen laboral, ya que fomenta las evaluaciones de riesgos psicosociales. Otra novedad es que la vigilancia de la salud, además de incluir el estado físico, también debe contemplar el estado mental. 

Por otro lado, se incluye la definición de violencia y acoso laboral en línea con el C190 de la OIT, ratificado por España. En esta definición se establece que dichas conductas pueden suceder una sola vez o de manera reiterada e incluye la realizada a través de las nuevas tecnologías o por uso de algoritmos o IA. Además, se incluye el compromiso del Gobierno de aprobar una norma para la gestión de los riesgos psicosociales de origen laboral, como ya existe para otros riesgos. 

Respecto a la digitalización, además, especifica que en la evaluación de riesgos se deben incluir los factores de naturaleza organizativa, es decir, aquellos relacionadas con las condiciones de trabajo, las características de la tarea y la organización del tiempo de trabajo, entre otros, y se incluye el derecho a la desconexión digital. Para abordar los riesgos laborales derivados del cambio climático, el Anteproyecto de Ley establece que entre las medidas de emergencia se deben contemplar la actuación frente a catástrofes y otros fenómenos meteorológicos adversos y, además, se amplía la definición de riego grave e inminente.  En cuanto a los riesgos derivados de la transición demográfica, el texto dota de perspectiva de edad a la gestión preventiva. Esto va a permitir adaptar el trabajo a la persona. Además, se establecen las actividades prohibidas a menores de edad, entre los que se encuentran aquellas que impliquen exposición a actos o representaciones de carácter pornográfico o violento o trabajos que superen objetivamente las capacidades físicas o psicológicas de los menores.

La modificación normativa dota también de perspectiva de género, promoviendo la eliminación de desigualdades entre hombres y mujeres en el ámbito preventivo. Además, se refuerza la protección de las mujeres embarazadas o en periodo de lactancia natural ya que, entre otros, se establece la obligación de realizar una evaluación específica una vez comunicado el embarazo, en la que se tengan en cuenta tanto las condiciones de trabajo existentes como el estado de salud.

En cuanto a los cambios que afectan a la gestión preventiva, se elimina la posibilidad de que el empresario/a asuma personalmente la actividad preventiva en empresas de hasta 25 personas trabajadoras, reduciéndose a 10 personas en plantilla; se refuerza la figura del trabajador designado y se reduce la ratio de plantilla para que las empresas tengan obligación de constituir un servicio de prevención propio. También se incluyen los protocolos de adaptación al puesto de trabajo tras ausencia prolongada por motivos de salud, en los que deberán recogerse las adaptaciones que deban realizarse para la reincorporación, así como la actualización de la formación preventiva en casos de ausencias superiores a 6 meses. 

En cuanto a la formación en materia preventiva, se refuerzan tanto la presencialidad y los contenidos y se incluye la bonificación de la formación obligatoria de PRL a las empresas de menos de 10 personas trabajadoras. Para ayudar a integrar la cultura preventiva en las PYMES, se crea la figura del Agente Territorial de Prevención, con funciones en empresas que tengan menos de 10 personas trabajadoras y que no tengan representación legal de las personas trabajadoras. Además, se aumenta el crédito horario de los delegados y delegadas de prevención en un 20% y se reconoce el derecho a consulta sobre la elección de la Mutua y del Servicio de Prevención Ajeno.

UGT considera inaplazable que en este 2026, declarado como año de la Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo, se apruebe la reforma de la Ley de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales. La sociedad y la clase trabajadora lo necesita urgentemente, por lo que el sindicato pide al conjunto de fuerzas políticas que debatan anteponiendo la seguridad y salud de la clase trabajadora sobre otro tipo de criterios. La protección de la salud y de la vida en el trabajo están en riesgo. La nueva Ley debe adaptarse a los nuevos tiempos y proteger a quien cada día sale a ganarse la vida.

Consulta todas las imágenes del acto

Fuente: UGT

https://www.ugt.es/ugt-conmemora-el-dia-mundial-de-la-seguridad-y-salud-en-el-trabajo

2026, 2026 Asia-Pacific, 2026 Australia, Events listing, News

Australia: A reminder that mental health is part of workplace safety

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April 28 is International Workers Memorial Day— a time when unions, workers, and families gather in every state and territory to remember those who have lost their lives as a result of workplace injury or illness, and to renew the commitment to safer workplaces.

In 2026, the theme is Fighting Psychosocial Hazards at Work – a powerful reminder that workplace safety is about more than just physical risks.

What are psychosocial hazards?

Psychosocial hazards are aspects of work that can cause psychological harm. They include common workplace challenges such as excessive workloads, low job control, lack of role clarity, bullying, harassment, and exposure to traumatic events or material.

For decades, workplace health and safety focused primarily on physical risks such as machinery, hazardous materials, and unsafe working environments. While these are still important, there is now a much stronger understanding about the effects of psychological harm at work, making it equally relevant to the conversation about workplace safety.

According to Safe Work Australia’s Key Work Health and Safety Statistics 2025, the number of serious mental health injury claims increased by 14.7% in a single year, from 15,300 to 17,600 in 2023-24. Mental health conditions now account for 12% of all serious claims, the highest percentage ever recorded. Over the past decade, serious psychological claims have increased by 161%, the highest growth of any injury category [1].

The impact is also more severe. Workers with a psychological injury are absent from work for an average of 35.7 weeks, nearly five times longer than other serious injury types, and the financial costs are significantly higher. The median compensation cost is $67,400, compared to $16,300 for other injuries [1].

Where Australian workers are right now

The workplace conditions driving these numbers are well documented. The most common causes of psychological harm are harassment and workplace bullying (33.2%), work pressure (24.2%), and exposure to violence and aggression (15.7%). These are not individual issues. They are shaped by how work is designed, managed and led. [1].

Beyond compensation data, the broader picture is equally concerning.  Recent survey data shows nearly half of Australian workers report experiencing some level of burnout, and a significant number are losing sleep due to work-related stress [2]. These are not personal failures; they are symptoms of workplace issues that have not been properly identified or addressed.

Safety applies to the whole person

International Workers Memorial Day exists to remind us that going to work should not come at the cost of a person’s health.

Under Australian work health and safety laws, employers have the same legal duty to protect workers from psychological harm as they do physical risks. This means identifying and addressing psychosocial hazards at work. In practice, that includes examining workload, job design, leadership behaviours and whether workers feel safe to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.

The primary goal is prevention. The evidence is clear: improving workplace cultures and work design reduces absenteeism, increases productivity, and boosts retention.

What good work looks like

All workers, health and safety representatives, managers, and employers play a role in recognising psychosocial hazards before they cause injury. The tools and frameworks exist to create mentally healthy workplaces. The evidence base is growing. What matters now is action

That is how we honour the workers we have lost and create the conditions that prevent future harm.

Sources: [1] Safe Work Australia, Key Work Health and Safety Statistics Australia 2025. [2] CMHAA, Leading Mentally Healthy Workplaces Survey 2025.

2026, 2026 Europe, 2026 UK, Events listing, News

UK: Overworked health staff report stressed out, says UNISON

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A third of employees in the UK National Health Service (NHS) have taken time off for mental health issues in the past year with many staff talking about reaching “breaking point”, according to the union UNISON.

A survey of health workers, including nurses, occupational therapists and paramedics, has also found more than four in five (85%) have experienced stress at work over the past 12 months.

UNISON says the findings – based on responses from more than 19,000 staff and released during the union’s annual health conference in Edinburgh and released two weeks ahead of the psychosocial hazards-themed International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April – paint a grim picture when the NHS workforce is under pressure to reduce waiting lists.

Staff say stress has had a significant impact on their mental and physical health, with symptoms including anxiety, PTSD, panic attacks, migraines, and sleep disturbance.

Some have experienced high blood pressure, stress-related vomiting, dizziness and breathlessness, according to the findings of the union survey. One NHS worker even reported suffering a heart attack due to understaffing and high workloads.

Many described reaching breaking point, feeling exhausted and overwhelmed by sustained levels of stress. This has affected their relationships and family lives, with some reporting suicidal thoughts, UNISON says.

NHS workers also described taking antidepressants and beta-blocker drugs, as well as undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling.

Almost a quarter (23%) of those taking sick leave didn’t tell their employer the real reason for their absence from work. Of those, most said they did not feel their manager would support them, while concerns about stigma and not wanting colleagues to know were also common.

Counselling, medication or other forms of support had been sought in the past year by more than one in four (28%) of those under stress. Almost two thirds (65%) of those who had taken time off for stress reported feeling that they were under pressure to come to work, despite feeling mentally unwell. This adds strain to an already overstretched workforce, UNISON says.

UNISON head of health Helga Pile said: “Such high levels of stress in the NHS should be ringing alarm bells. Staff who care for others are being pushed to the point that they’re becoming unwell themselves.” She added: “Government and employers must do more to help staff with their mental health, including providing fast-track access to treatment and moving away from punitive and counter-productive absence policies.”

Unison news release

2026, 2026 Global, 2026 resources, Events listing, News, Resources

Global: 840,000 deaths a year linked to psychosocial risks at work – ILO

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More than 840,000 people die each year from health conditions linked to psychosocial risks, such as long working hours, job insecurity, and workplace harassment, according to a new global report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). These work-related psychosocial risks are mainly associated with cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, including suicide.

The report also finds that these risks account for nearly 45 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost annually, reflecting years of healthy life lost due to illness, disability, or premature death, and are estimated to result in economic losses equivalent to 1.37 per cent of global GDP each year.

The report, The psychosocial working environment: Global developments and pathways for action, highlights the growing impact of how work is designed, organized, and managed on workers’ safety and health. It warns that psychosocial risk factors—including long working hours, job insecurity, high demands with low control, and workplace bullying and harassment—can create harmful working environments if not properly addressed.

Read more on the ILO webpages

2026, 2026 Europe, 2026 UK, Events listing, News

UK: Take part in International Workers’ Memorial Day – TUC briefing, campaign pack and events listing

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Every year more people are killed at work than in wars. Most don’t die of mystery ailments, or in tragic “accidents”. They die because an employer decided their safety just wasn’t that important a priority.

International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) 28 April commemorates those workers.

Attend a local #IWMD event

Trade unions and organisations are putting on #IWMD events across the country. Find one near you or if you’re organising one add it to our list.

Hold a one minute silence

Join union activists across the country by taking part in a one minute silence at 12.00 to remember all those who have died because of their work.

Share your tributes

Honour those we have lost and pay respects by submitting a tribute on the International Workers Memorial Wall. 

Spread awareness for #IWMD

Use the hashtag #IWMD on social media channels to help spread the word about the day and why you’re getting involved. We have produced a range of graphics for you to use and share. This campaign pack includes a selection of images to use on social media, and posters for you to print at home or print professionally.

2025, 2025 Africa, 2025 Mauritius, Events listing, News

Mauritius: 28 April marked with an investigation into the psychosocial hazards of AI

BWI affiliate CMWUE will launch a IWMD campaign with a full day educational workshop followed by an end of day new conference.  The news conference will deliver a 28 April message from the union  to workers and other  communities nationwide. Additionally, the CMWUE will participate in a tripartite seminar examining the impact of Artificial Intelligence  on workers’ health, focusing in particular on the psychosocial hazards.

2024, 2024 Europe, 2024 Moldova, Events listing, News

Moldova: To mark 28 April FS Sindenergo organised a month-long series of worker safety and health activities

In the context of the World Day of Safety and Health at Work, marked annually on April 28, FS Sindenergo organized a series of activities related to health and safety at work this month.