Workers’ safety takes centre stage as ILO ends confab
21 June 2022 |
4:09 am
Enhancing the work environment to guarantee safety of workers was at the fulcrum of decisions that were taken at the 110th International Labour Conference organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
Guy Ryder. Photo: TWITTER/GUYRYDER
Enhancing the work environment to guarantee safety of workers was at the fulcrum of decisions that were taken at the 110th International Labour Conference organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The tripartite confab added safety and health to Fundamental Principles and Rights at work. The landmark decision means that all ILO member states commit to respecting and promoting the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment, whether or not they have ratified the relevant conventions.
Until now, there have been four categories of Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work – freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining; the elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour; effective abolition of child labour; the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
The decision by the conference means that occupational safety and health will become the fifth category. The fundamental principles and rights at work were adopted in 1998 as part of the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. Under the declaration, ILO member states, regardless of their level of economic development, commit to respect and promote these principles and rights, whether or not they have ratified the relevant conventions.
Each of the fundamental principles is associated with the most relevant ILO conventions. The new fundamental conventions will be the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No.155), and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187).
The conference also approved eight amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), which focuses on the rights and working conditions of seafarers. These amendments had been negotiated and adopted in May 2022 by seafarers’, shipowners’ and government representatives during the fourth meeting (Part II) of the Special Tripartite Committee of the MLC, 2006.
The new provisions, expected to enter into force in December 2024, will contribute to enhancing the living and working conditions of seafarers around the world, based on some of the lessons learned during the pandemic.
The ILC’s General Discussion Committee on decent work and the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE) adopted conclusions complemented by a resolution.
The conclusions’ 16 points include an important definition of the SSE and provide guidance on promoting the SSE within the context of decent work.
The committee also requested the ILO to develop a strategy and action plan on decent work and the social and solidarity economy, to be presented to the ILO’s Governing Body at its November 2022 session.
The conference was also a high-level world of work summit, which had ‘Tackling multiple global crises, promoting a human-centred recovery and resilience,’ as a theme.
Discussions focused on the urgent actions needed to address the labour and social consequences of the current crises, and the use of human-centred approaches to support peace, resilience and inclusive development, in particular for the most vulnerable populations.
Speaking at the opening of the summit, Director-General of ILO, Guy Ryder said: “While the picture is bleak and the outlook uncertain, we must not lose sight of our vision for a better future of work. The hopes and dreams of millions depend on us. We cannot let them down. Together, we must deliver on our promise of a better, fairer, more inclusive, future for all. We must renew our efforts to create decent work opportunities, especially for the most vulnerable groups.”
In a separate segment, the summit also featured addresses by the Presidents of the Republic of Seychelles, Wavel Ramkalawan, and Honduras, Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmientos. Both addressed the most pressing issues shaking up the world of work.
Speaking of the exclusion generated by the capitalist system, Castro Sarmientos emphasised the problems faced by small producers, adding “In this system of exclusion, women, girls and boys are the most affected.”
“Our message should be one of hope. Our actions and policies should present hope for our people, while we fight the scourges of corruption, exploitation and injustice,” said Ramkalawan.
Expectedly, the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) has welcomed the new addition the adoption of occupational health and safety as the fifth fundamental principle and right at work.
ITUC noted that the change is the first extension of workers’ fundamental human rights in a quarter of a century. It revealed that over three million workers a year die because of their work and tens of millions more suffer injuries and ill health, describing this as a victory from a sustained three-year campaign by trade unions, professionals and practitioners and victims’ families.
Reacting to the development, ITUC General Secretary, Sharan Burrow said: “The COVID-19 pandemic showed beyond doubt that action was needed to protect workers who are all too often forced to choose between their health and their livelihood. No one should die just to make a living.
“Workers and unions around the world have marked International Workers’ Memorial Day every 28 April mourning the dead and fighting for the living. Now we should celebrate this win and get down to making these rights effective.”
ITUC added that unions will now campaign to increase the number of countries ratifying and implementing all ILO health and safety conventions, giving workers the right to consultation over risk assessments, eradication of toxic chemicals and toxic work organisation including long hours, as well as free protective equipment and training and the right to refuse dangerous work.
It hinted that global unions will also campaign to extend access to occupational health services beyond the 20 per cent of workers worldwide who currently have it, as well as universal sick pay from day one, more powers for union workplace safety reps and more joint safety committees.
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