The International Labour Organization (ILO) recently released a report titled ‘A Call for Safer and Healthier Working Environments’ that recommends ways to improve workplace safety. This report will be discussed at the 23rd World Congress on Safety and Health at Work (WCSHW) taking place in Sydney, Australia. The WCSHW, established in 1955, gathers leaders from over 120 countries to discuss work health and safety issues.
The Current Workplace Safety Climate: Key Findings
The ILO report highlights alarming statistics. An estimated three million workers around the globe lose their lives to work-related incidents and illnesses each year, with over 63% of these occurring in the Asia-Pacific region. The leading causes of death include long working hours, exposure to particulate matter, gases, and fumes, and occupational injuries. Industries identified as the most hazardous globally are mining and quarrying, construction, and utilities.
The Fatal Occupational Injury Rate (FOIR)
FOIR is a statistical measurement used to quantify the number of deaths due to work-related accidents or injuries within a specific occupational group, industry, or geographic region. The report indicates high FOIR in sectors such as mining, quarrying, construction, and utilities.
ILO Conventions and Ratification
To date, only 79 of the ILO’s 187 member countries have ratified its Occupational Safety and Health Convention and 62 countries have ratified the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006. India has yet to ratify either convention despite recent calls by Central Trade Unions in light of the Uttarkashi tunnel incident.
Work-Related Diseases
The report reveals that a large portion of work-related deaths – about 2.6 million – are due to diseases linked to work, including circulatory diseases, malignant neoplasms (cancerous tumours), and respiratory diseases. There is a surge in trachea, bronchus, and lung cancers attributable to chromium exposure, and an increase in cases of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure.
Decrease in Certain Health Risks
On a positive note, deaths due to exposure to asthmagens and particulate matter have decreased by over 20%.
ILO’s Recommendations for Workplace Safety
ILO suggests implementing five “Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work” to improve safety and health at workplaces. These principles include freedom of association, the right to collective bargaining, abolition of forced labour and child labour, elimination of employment discrimination, and maintaining a safe and healthy working environment.
About the International Labour Organization
The ILO is a unique tripartite United Nations agency bringing together governments, employers, and workers from 187 member states to collaborate on devising labour standards and policies. Established in 1919 and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the ILO works towards promoting decent work conditions for all women and men. The organization received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1969.
Understanding the ILO Conventions: A UPSC Civil Services Examination Question
In 2018, a question on the UPSC Civil Services Exam related to ILO’s Conventions 138 and 182, which are mainly about eliminating child labour. In 2017, the Union Cabinet of India approved the ratification of these conventions. This was a step towards prohibiting and eliminating the worst forms of child labour, which aligns with the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2016. India has so far ratified six out of eight core ILO conventions.