El Salvador: 28 April statement from SOICSCES

El 28 de abril se conmemora el Día Internacional en Memoria de las Víctimas de Accidentes y Enfermedades Laborales, una fecha para honrar a quienes han perdido la vida o la salud en su trabajo. Como SOICSCES, nos unimos a esta conmemoración para recordar que la seguridad laboral es un derecho, no un privilegio. Más que recordar, este día busca crear conciencia sobre la importancia de la prevención en todos los espacios laborales. Es un llamado a gobiernos, empresas y trabajadores a unir esfuerzos para evitar tragedias y garantizar condiciones dignas. Recordamos a los que ya no están y seguimos luchando por proteger a los que siguen adelante.

Facebook reel

April 28 marks the International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Accidents and Occupational Illness, a date to honor those who have lost their life or health on the job. As SOICSCES, we join this commemoration to remember that occupational safety is a right, not a privilege. More than remembering, this day seeks to raise awareness about the importance of prevention in all workplaces. It is a call to governments, companies and workers to join forces to avoid tragedies and ensure dignified conditions. We remember those who are no longer with us and continue to fight to protect those who move on.

Germany: DGB 28 April statement – ‘Work is about people. Not numbers!’

Am 28. April ist Workers Memorial Day. Wir gedenken weltweit der Beschäftigten, die bei der Arbeit erkrankt oder zu Tode gekommen sind. Für uns ist klar: Jeder Arbeitsunfall ist einer zu viel und muss verhindert werden. Arbeit darf nicht krank machen und schon gar nicht tödlich sein! Es geht um Menschen und nicht um Zahlen! Wir stehen gemeinsam für sichere und gute Jobs. Das heißt auch, Risiken zu minimieren und für mehr Arbeitsschutz zu sorgen. Die Verlängerung der Arbeitszeit erhöht das Risiko von Arbeitsunfällen. Also: Hände weg vom 8-Stunden-Tag! Arbeitsschutz stärken! #WorkersMemorialDay #1Mai26 #StarkMitUns

On the 28th. April is Workers’ Memorial Day. We remember those working people around the world who have fallen ill or died on the job. It is clear for us: every accident at work is one too many and must be prevented. Work must not make you sick and not even be fatal! It’s about people, not numbers! We stand together for safe and good jobs. This also means minimizing risks and ensuring more safety at work. Prolonging working hours increases the risk of accidents at work. Well: hands off 8 hr day! Strengthen workplace safety! #WorkersMemorialDay #1May26 #StrongWithUs

Pakistan: PFBWW marks Workers’ Memorial Day with meetings at major dam sites

BWI affiliate PFBWW marked Workers’ Memorial Day through three workplace meetings held at Tarbela Dam, Balakot Dam and Mohmand Dam. The discussions focused on workplace safety and the risks faced by workers on large infrastructure projects, reinforcing the importance of protecting labour conditions at high-risk construction sites.

Sri Lanka: NTUF marks Workers’ Memorial Day with workplace discussions

BWI affiliate NTUF marked Workers’ Memorial Day through workplace discussions aimed at raising awareness of occupational safety and the importance of protecting workers.

Sweden: Unions mark workers’ memorial day through social media and commemorations

Byggnads, GS and Elektrikerna marked Workers’ Memorial Day through social media posts and posters, including a memorial in Stockholm shared online. LO/SBTF held an event featuring candles representing workers who lost their lives on the job and workers’ shoes symbolising missing colleagues, alongside related social media activity and news article: För dem som inte kom hem från jobbet.

Palestine: 75 workers were killed at work in Palestine last year

جدّدت دائرة السلامة والصحة المهنية في اتحاد نقابات عمال فلسطين، اليوم، التزامها بالدفاع عن حق العمال في بيئة عمل آمنة وصحية، مؤكدة أن هذا الحق “أصيل ولا يقبل التنازل أو التأجيل”، وذلك بمناسبة اليوم العالمي للسلامة والصحة المهنية.

وأوضحت الدائرة، في بيان صحفي، أن هذا اليوم يأتي في ظل تحديات متفاقمة يواجهها العمال الفلسطينيون، في ظل الأوضاع الاقتصادية الصعبة وضعف الالتزام بمعايير السلامة في بعض مواقع العمل، ما يزيد من حجم المخاطر المهنية ويعرّض حياة العمال للخطر.

وكشف البيان عن استشهاد 74 عاملًا خلال الفترة من 1 كانون ثاني/يناير 2025 وحتى 30 كانون أول/ديسمبر 2025، توزّعوا بواقع 20 عاملًا داخل سوق العمل في الضفة الغربية، وعامل واحد نتيجة استهداف في البحر، و14 عاملًا أثناء محاولتهم الوصول أو العودة إلى أماكن عملهم، و39 عاملًا داخل أراضي الـ48. كما سُجّل استشهاد 18 عاملًا نتيجة إطلاق النار عليهم أو أثناء الاعتقال أو الملاحقة أو خلال اقتحام أماكن عملهم.

وأشار البيان إلى سقوط 47 “شهيد لقمة عيش” منذ 7 أكتوبر 2023 وحتى نهاية عام 2025، في ظل استمرار المخاطر التي تهدد العمال الفلسطينيين في مختلف أماكن عملهم.

وأكدت الدائرة أن السلامة المهنية ليست خيارًا، بل “مسؤولية وطنية وأخلاقية وقانونية”، داعية إلى تضافر الجهود من أجل حماية العمال وتعزيز بيئة العمل الآمنة.

ودعت إلى التطبيق الفعلي والرقابة الصارمة على معايير السلامة والصحة المهنية في مختلف القطاعات، وتحميل أصحاب العمل مسؤولياتهم الكاملة في توفير مستلزمات الوقاية، إلى جانب تعزيز دور الجهات الرقابية وتفعيل أدوات التفتيش والمساءلة، ونشر الوعي الوقائي عبر برامج تدريبية مستمرة تستهدف العمال وأصحاب العمل.

كما شددت على أهمية مواءمة التشريعات الوطنية مع المعايير الدولية بما يضمن حماية أوسع للعمال.

وختمت الدائرة بيانها بالتأكيد على استمرار الاتحاد في النضال النقابي من أجل صون كرامة العامل الفلسطيني وحماية حياته وتعزيز شروط العمل اللائق، تحت شعار:

“سلامة العامل… أساس الإنتاج، وكرامته… عنوان العدالة.”

The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions renews its commitment to protecting workers and reveals that 74 workers were killed during 2025.

The department explained, in a press statement, that this day comes in light of the worsening challenges faced by Palestinian workers, in light of the difficult economic conditions and weak adherence to safety standards in some work sites, which increases the extent of occupational risks and exposes workers’ lives to danger.

The statement revealed the martyrdom of 74 workers during the period from January 1, 2025 to December 30, 2025, distributed as follows: 20 workers within the labor market in the West Bank, one worker as a result of targeting at sea, 14 workers while trying to reach or return to their workplaces, and 39 workers within the 1948 territories. 18 workers were also killed as a result of being shot, arrested, pursued, or stormed into their workplaces.

The statement indicated that 47 “livelihood martyrs” fell from October 7, 2023 until the end of 2025, in light of the continuing risks threatening Palestinian workers in their various workplaces.

The department stressed that occupational safety is not an option, but rather “a national, ethical and legal responsibility”, calling for concerted efforts to protect workers and promote a safe work environment.

She called for the effective implementation and strict oversight of occupational safety and health standards in various sectors, holding employers fully responsible for providing preventive measures, strengthening the role of regulatory authorities, activating inspection and accountability tools, and spreading preventive awareness through ongoing training programs targeting workers and employers.

She also stressed the importance of harmonizing national legislation with international standards to ensure broader protection for workers.

The department concluded its statement by emphasizing the Union’s continued union struggle to preserve the dignity of the Palestinian worker, protect his life, and promote decent work conditions, under the slogan:

“Worker safety… the basis of production, and his dignity… the title of justice.”

Denmark: 3F marks Workers’ Memorial Day with social media awareness campaign

BWI affiliate 3F marked Workers’ Memorial Day through a social media campaign and publication of its own poster, raising awareness of workplace safety.

Mauritius: CMWEU marks Workers’ Memorial Day with dialogue and demonstration

BWI affiliate CMWEU marked Workers’ Memorial Day with a panel discussion involving government ministries, health and safety stakeholders and federation sisters unions CTSO focusing on occupational health and safety standards and the impact of weak enforcement. The union also joined a street demonstration in Rosehill demanding safety improvements, inclusion of migrant workers and addressing climate change impacts on the workplace. Roughly 1,000 workers were involved across both activities.

Zimbabwe: ZCATWU marks Workers’ Memorial Day with heat stress and climate protection focus

BWI affiliated union ZCATWU  marked Workers’ Memorial Day through awareness meetings in Masvingo and Harare focused on heat stress and the need for climate-protective clauses in collective bargaining agreements and sector policies. Workers were also encouraged to strengthen negotiations at workplace and national level.

Nigeria: NUCECFWW marks Workers’ Memorial Day with focus on decent work and climate risks

BWI affiliate the National Union of Civil Engineering, Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) marked Workers’ Memorial Day through an awareness campaign and workplace action focused on decent work and climate-related occupational health risks, including heat stress. Workers shared experiences and recommendations, and the union also participated in a federation pre-May Day lecture. Over  300 workers were involved in 28 April activities.

Remember the dead, fight like hell for the living