Making the world of work safe: ITUC policies

Activities & priorities for 2010- 2014 Summary ITUC, mandate on OSH Activities & priorities for 2010- 2014 28 April: our shared effort, our shared success

The ITUC & Occupational Health and Safety Occupational health and safety has been at the centre of trade union history and demands. International dimension of OSH is difficult: no international body to discuss occupational health and safety, but a myriad of bodies with responsibilities on the issue (ILO, WHO, UNEP, sectoral organisations, UN bodies dealing with chemicals, etc) National centres have a very different capacity to deal with this issue

The ITUC & Occupational Health and Safety Challenges: 2.2 million work-related fatalities, including over 100,000 deaths per year from exposure to asbestos alone 270 million occupational accidents 160 million work-related diseases 50,000 children under 14 are estimated to die annually from work-related accidents and illnesses => 4% of GDP is lost globally owing to the direct and indirect cost of such accidents and illnesses. Accident and illness rate increasing in developing countries (dangerous sectors and activities such as agriculture, the timber industry, fishing and construction) Informal economic relationships => absence of any type of social protection and health and safety protection at work. Gender dimension (differing impact re: exposure to toxic substances –including effects on reproductive health, repeated cases of violence and harassment at work). Immigrants form another vulnerable group. ITUC adopted a resolution covering occupational health and safety (2010-2014).

Our actions ITUC & its affiliates committed to: - Organise campaigns to prevent death, injury and illness from the effects of chemicals or dangerous substances such as asbestos Ensure that workplace practices protect the reproductive health of women and men. Calls on all governments to ratify and apply the ILO conventions on health and safety at work, particularly ILO Convention No. 187 Concerning the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health. - Stress the need for governments to ratify ILO Convention No. 81, Labour Inspection and to strengthen the level and quality of public inspection systems in order to prevent violation of workers’ rights and of occupational health and safety, provisions particularly in unprotected irregular jobs. Promote the inclusion of occupational health clauses in collective bargaining. Work for the improvement of occupational health and safety in all countries, including as relates to exposure to hazardous chemicals, psycho-social hazards and other occupational injuries and accidents, and respond to emerging challenges through the application of the precautionary principle

Our work programme Promote ratification of standards Promote the formulation of national health and safety programmes Encourage the creation of information systems for registering and notification of accidents and illnesses Establish specific programmes for protecting the health of women & vulnerablr groups Support capacity building activities Undertake efforts to ban hazardous substances such as endosulfan and paraquat and to achieve a total world ban on the use and commercialisation of asbestos

Work plan for 2010-2012 1. Work for the Improvement of OHS in all countries, including work on "traditional" and "emerging" hazards “Products” Consultation with OHS reps in national centers in order to establish priorities Survey among OHS experts Side Event Activity on "Trade Unions make work safer" in Istanbul OHS Congress Activities Identification of relevant international bodies to be influenced Use ISO 26000 to promote worker participation and rights in company OSH activities Communication strategy Regular communications through OHS e-lists Visibility around OHS Congress Side event to be improved

Work plan for 2010-2012 2. Promote ratification of ILO conventions 155 and 168 on OHS, and worldwide recognition of 28 April Compile status of ratification Add in OHS strategy survey a component on the feasibility of C155 ratification by country and focus on "low hanging fruits" Coordination of theme selection and activities' promotion Compilation and edition of national reports for filling the website Preparation of electronic communications Post-28 April Survey Communication Strategy Regular updates on ICD via e-mail lists WMD website, in cooperation with Hazards Need to capitalise the mobilisation with better press coverage and better follow up

Work plan for 2010-2012 3.Specific programmes to protect occupational health of women & vulnerable groups, e.g. migrant workers Products A series of leaflets on good practices for dealing with OHS of vulnerable groups Activities Promote the mainstreaming of OHS issues in ITUC statements and policies for vulnerable groups Compile good practices and identify the best means to visibilise them

Work plan for 2010-2012 4. Ban asbestos worldwide, and other hazardous substances such as endosulfan & paraquat - A side event on asbestos in the OHS Congress in Istanbul Failure in Rotterdam Convention but progress in Philippines & India! Endosulfan banned 

28 April: our shared effort, our shared success 28 APRIL: International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers What?: We remember workers who died, were injued or fell ill due to unsafe, unhealthy or unsustainable work and workplaces around the world. 20 countries and territories have officially recognised 28th April (in the Asian region, only Taiwan…) 28 April has three objectives: To commemorate those who have lost their lives and their health at or because of their work To raise awareness about the risk of disease, injury or death for workers in all sectors and countries To engage all workers and unions in a positive action day for dialogue, transformation and progress on OHS

28 April: our shared effort, our shared success (2) 28 APRIL - 2011 Edition: 57 countries on board, in some hundreds of events. All Global Unions & ITUC regional offices involved. A major rallying call: “Unions make workplaces safer”

Thank You!