Global: La salud y seguridad debe ser un derecho fundamental en el trabajo de la OIT- CSI

Al conmemorar a los trabajadores y las trabajadoras que han perdido la vida y sufrido accidentes y enfermedades en el lugar de trabajo, los sindicatos presionan este 28 de abril con dos reivindicaciones claves para salvar vidas.

27-04-2021

  1. La primera es que la salud y seguridad en el trabajo sea considerada como un derecho fundamental por la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), junto con otros derechos como la libertad sindical, el derecho de negociación colectiva y la protección frente a la discriminación, el trabajo forzoso y el trabajo infantil. Una decisión histórica por parte del Consejo de Administración de la OIT en marzo implica que podría tener lugar durante la Conferencia Internacional del Trabajo en junio de 2022.

Sharan Burrow, secretaria general de la CSI, declaró que “Se trata de una cuestión que reviste una importancia capital y que lleva ya demasiado tiempo sin resolverse. Normas inadecuadas de salud y seguridad en el lugar de trabajo cuestan cerca de 2,78 millones de vidas cada año. Hacer que la salud y seguridad en el trabajo sea un derecho fundamental de la OIT incrementaría la responsabilidad de Gobiernos y empleadores para poner fin a esta masacre y daría además mayores medios de presión a sindicatos y representantes de seguridad en los centros de trabajo. Sólo unos malos empleadores se opondrían a ello y estamos dispuestos a luchar duro para salvar vidas”.

  1. La segunda guarda relación con la clasificación de la COVID-19 como enfermedad profesional, con vistas a proporcionar una mayor protección a la gente trabajadora y permitir el acceso a fondos de compensación para las familias de trabajadores que pierdan la vida a causa del virus y para cualquiera que lo contraiga en el trabajo. El año pasado, los sindicatos mundiales instaron a la OIT a incluir la COVID-19 en la lista de enfermedades profesionales y una encuesta inicial realizada por la CSI sobre 58 países reveló que, hasta la fecha, tan solo 26 han dado ese paso, aunque en algunos casos la cobertura quedó restringida únicamente al personal sanitario.

“La mayoría de los brotes de COVID-19 se producen en lugares de trabajo, incluyendo los centros escolares. Unos lugares de trabajo seguros resultan esenciales para frenar la propagación de la pandemia. El acceso a compensaciones en caso de contraer la enfermedad en el trabajo es especialmente importante, teniendo en cuenta que se ha cobrado ya la vida de muchos trabajadores y trabajadoras y que puede además ocasionar afecciones debilitantes de durante mucho tiempo tras la infección.

“Aunque nos felicitamos de que se dé cobertura al personal sanitario, no nos parece correcto que algunos países excluyan a otras personas como quienes trabajan en el empaquetado de carne o en almacenes, donde por culpa de una mala regulación o de la negligencia de sus empleadores se han registrado altas tasas de contagios. Todas las personas trabajadoras merecen estar cubiertas. Aquellos países que todavía no hayan tomado medidas al respecto deberían hacerlo cuanto antes, y la inclusión de la COVID-19 en la lista de enfermedades profesionales de la OIT serviría de aliciente”, añadió la Sra. Burrow.

La CSI reclama asimismo un gran impulso en la producción de vacunas contra el virus SARS-CoV-2 causante de la COVID-19, y que se eliminen todos los obstáculos, incluyendo los relativos a la propiedad intelectual y la búsqueda de beneficios, para garantizar que vacunas, pruebas, tratamientos y otras herramientas de salud pública estén disponibles para todos, sin discriminación.

Equal Times

Noticias, opinión e informes

 

 

https://www.ituc-csi.org/jornada-internacional-de-24360

Global: Health and safety must be a fundamental right at work – ITUC


As workers around the world who have lost their lives to workplace accidents and disease are commemorated on 28 April, trade unions are pressing two key demands to save lives.

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  1. Occupational health and safety must be given the status of a fundamental right by the International Labour Organization (ILO), alongside the existing fundamental rights: freedom of association, collective bargaining and protection from discrimination, forced labour and child labour. A landmark decision by the ILO Governing Body in March means this should happen at the ILO Conference in June 2022.

Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary, said: “This is an issue of the utmost importance and it has already taken too long to resolve. Poor workplace health and safety costs some 2.78 million lives every year.

“Making occupational health and safety a fundamental ILO right will increase the accountability of governments and employers to stop the carnage and give more leverage to unions and workplace safety representatives. Only bad employers would resist this and we are prepared to fight hard to save lives.”

  1. COVID-19 must be classified as an occupational disease. This would provide enhanced protection for workers and enable access to compensation funds for families of workers who die or are infected with Covid-19 at work. Last year, global unions called on the ILO to list Covid-19 as an occupational disease and an initial ITUC survey of 58 countries shows that, so far, only 26 have taken this step. In some cases this coverage is restricted to workers in the health sector.

“Most Covid-19 outbreaks happen in workplaces, including schools. Safe workplaces would play a crucial role in suppressing the spread of the pandemic.

“Access to compensation for work-related Covid-19 is especially important, in particular because it has killed many workers and can cause debilitating illness long after infection.

“While we welcome coverage of health workers, it is wrong that some countries have excluded others such as meat packing and warehouse workers who, through poor regulation and employer neglect, have seen high rates of infection.

Every worker deserves to be covered. Those countries that have failed to act must do so without further delay, and ILO listing would encourage that,” said Sharan Burrow.

The ITUC is also calling for a massive boost in the production of vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes Covid-19. This must include the removal of all barriers, including intellectual property and profit-gouging, to ensure that vaccines, tests, treatments and other public health tools are available to all, without discrimination.

https://www.ituc-csi.org/international-workers-memorial-day-2021

Macedonian Occupational Safety and Health Association marking 28 April

Macedonian Occupational Safety and Health Association since 2000 in continuity is marking the 28th of April.

Starting 2 years ago, we are planting tree for every killed at work worker. This year we will do the same, we are at 10:30 tomorrow, together with the Social Partners, we are going to plant 25 trees, and hold press conference where we are going to share with wider audience our annual Report on injuries at work for Macedonia. We are not having big event since we must follow COVID 19 measures

Milan PETKOVSKI, MSc, grad OSH eng
President

Macedonian Occupational Safety and Health Association
Македонско Здружение за Заштита При Работа
ILO-CIS collaborative center
WSO National Office

add:
Vostanichka br. 2 / 7
1000 Skopje
Macedonia

P.O. Box 908

Tel:                             +389 22 77 48 68
Mob:        +389 75 74 74 74
skype:       milan.petkovski
www:       mzzpr.org.mk

#iwmd21

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Joint statement promoting worker safety for 28 April

The Independent Trade Union of Forest, Wood Processing and Paper of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Natron Hayat, a branch of a Turkish multinational company signed a joint statement to promote #healthandsafety in the workplace.

India: Remembering workers killed, injured and disabled by their work

Wednesday 28 April is International Workers Memorial Day. An annual day of remembrance & action for workers killed, disabled, or injured by their work.
https://www.ritiriwaz.com/international-workers-memorial-day/ 
#IWMD #savelivesatwork #RememberTheDead #IWMD2021 #Safety #MayDay21 #MayDay2021 #IWMD21

 

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El Salvador: Global alliance for health and safety at work – SOICSCES

El Salvador: GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK

SOICSCES Achieves 1 Statement with Alas Builder, S.A. of C.V.
Together we recognize Health and Safety as a fundamental right.

Montenegro: Resources for 28 April from Sindikat

The Montenegro union Saveza Sindikata Crne Gore (SSCG) has produced an excellent set of resources for International Workers’ Memorial Day 2021 (#iwmd21) including graphic s and videos. All are featured below. Further details:

Vladimir Krsmanović, International Department Officer, Independent Trade Union of Health of Montenegro Confederation of Trade Unions of Montenegro

Portugal: 28 April materials prepared by UGT, Portugal

UGT, Portugal has prepared a range of materials for dissemination on Workers’ Memorial Day (#iwmd21).

Brochura 28 de abril de 2021 – Tornar a Segurança e Saúde um direito fundamental do Trabalho [PDF]

Global: Just one more day until Workers’ Memorial Day!

Join BWI as they build strong commitments worldwide between trade unions and employers in ensuring safe and healthy workplaces. Add your voices in calling the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to recognise occupational health and safety as a fundamental right of all workers. Together, let us save lives at workplaces. #SaveLivesAtWork #IWMD21

Africa: The march to demand OHS as a fundamental right is on in Africa

THE MARCH TO DEMAND OHS AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT AT WORK IS ON IN AFRICA

IUF Africa Region, under the challenging environment of COVID-19 that has devasted jobs and livelihood of workers, marks the International Workers Memorial Day (IWMD) with a Webinar.  The event will be a rededication to the struggle to push employers across the IUF sectors in Africa to invest in elimination of health and safety risks at work in the midst of COVID-19. It will be an event where IUF affiliates across the region will send a clear message that health and safety should not be relegated to the peripheries of fundamental rights but rather must be made a fundamental right at work. This demand is made with no apology.  It will be held virtually from 15h00 – 17h00 (CET).

The theme of the Webinar is “We choose to fight for an effective OHS system, amidst Covid -19, based on recognition of health and safety as a fundamental right at work: Together we shall win!!” It is an undeniable fact that the fundamental right to life is denied by poor working environment.  The tombs of millions of workers who lost their lives bear testimony to this sad fact. HEALTH BEFORE PROFIT IS STILL OUR DEMAND!! On this day, as the region remembers those who died, suffered injuries and il-heath as a result of preventable workplace hazards, demand an effective OHS system that puts the worker first and profits last. The region shall fight for the living as it demands that health and safety must be a fundamental right at work. The only choice to fight and win is what the region makes.

As the region remembers workers who lost their lives due to poor working environment, argues that any health and safety system that is not based on human rights, and hence lacking a strong voice of workers as a key element, will not be effective. IUF Africa holds the belief that core-determination on matters affecting workers, including health and safety, must be a principle underpinning an effective health and safety system. Other elements such hierarchy of hazard control and risk assessment become non-negotiable part of the system, and thus putting to shame the concept of Behaviour-Based Safety programmes.

The IUF AFRICA Region, support, without any reservation, the global call to make health and safety a fundamental right at work. It is the solemn tribute to workers who died, injured or fell ill due to exposure to preventable workplace risks.

IUF-Africa 

Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living