ILO report on Safer and Healthier Working Environments

ILO report on Safer and Healthier Working Environments

News: The ILO has unveiled a report titled ‘A Call for Safer and Healthier Working Environments,’ set to be deliberated at the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work (WCSHW) in Sydney, Australia.

Background:
• The WCSHW, a prominent global conference since 1955, serves as a major platform for connecting leaders worldwide in the field of work health and safety, fostering discussions and initiatives to enhance workplace well-being.

Key Highlights:
• Approximately 30 lakh workers die annually due to work-related accidents and diseases. More than 63% of these deaths occur in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Leading causes of Deaths - Long working hours (55 hours or more per week) contributed to nearly 7.45 lakh deaths. Exposure to occupational particulate matter, gases, and fumes resulted in around 4.5 lakh deaths. Occupational injuries caused approximately 3.63 lakh deaths.
• 26 lakh work-related deaths are attributed to diseases like circulatory diseases, cancers, and respiratory diseases.
• Sectors like mining, construction, and utilities are identified as the most hazardous globally based on FOIR. FOIR is a statistical measure quantifying work-related deaths within specific occupational groups or industries.

Recommendations:
• ILO advocates five “Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work” for ensuring safety and health.
• Principles include freedom of association, elimination of forced labor and child labor, non-discrimination, and a safe working environment.

About ILO:
• The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards.
• Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is one of the first and oldest specialized agencies of the UN.
•  The ILO has 187 member states: 186 out of 193 UN member states plus the Cook Islands. It is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.
• It received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969 for its efforts in promoting social justice and labor rights.