News

UNI Global Union today joined the call of thousands of workers and unions around the world for governments to improve work safety standards.



The call comes in recognition of International Workers’ Memorial Day, which puts the spotlight on the millions of workers who are injured or killed on the job or from job-related illnesses every year.



“This day reminds us of the many challenges we face as we try to make the working world a safer place,” said UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings. “As part of the union response to the financial crisis, we have called for the creation of quality jobs, which does not stop with fair pay and benefits but also includes a safe and healthy working environment.”



UNI has seen workplace injuries across the broad spectrum of its unions with everything ranging from repetitive stress injuries for office workers to dangerous working conditions in manufacturing environments to violence faced by security workers.



The ILO Programme on Safety and Health at Work (SafeWork) says nearly 1 million workers suffer a workplace accident every single day and over 5,500 workers die each day due to accidents or disease related to their job.



SafeWork officials fear the current economic crisis could have a significant impact on safety and health at work.



You can find more information on events in your country at: http://www.hazards.org/wmd/countrylistings.htm



To find out about the ILO SafeWork program of events: http://www.ilo.org/global/About_the_ILO/Media_and_public_information/Press_releases/lang--en/WCMS_105143/index.htm