Hazardous working conditions fall under ILO Spotlight

The 93rd Session of the International Labour Conference has revealed shocking statistics of work-related injuries and fatalities. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) tabled a report that points to the high incidence of unsafe and unhealthy work environment worldwide to the Committee on Occupational Safety and Health.

According to new estimates the number of job-related accidents and illnesses claim more than 2 million lives annually, while 270 million accidents and 160 million illnesses occur over the same period worldwide. This costs the global economy four percent of the GDP annually. The ILO says these figures appear to be rising because of rapid industrialisation in some developing countries.

On Friday last week the Tripartite Committee on Occupational Safety and Health, consisting of 43 employer representatives, 71 government representatives and 73 worker delegates voted for the adoption of a Convention supported by a Recommendation, as a promotional framework for occupational safety and health. The ILO Convention is binding to member-states.

Thirty African states, including South Africa, voted for the adoption of a Convention supported by a recommendation as a means of promoting a safe and healthy work environment. The Employers’ group chaired by South Africa’s Casper Lotter, an International Adviser on Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) opposed the Convention and Recommendation. The group along with the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia and New Zealand recommended that a less binding, and less constraining instrument be used in promoting a safe and a healthy working environment.

South Africa listed Mining, Construction, Steel and Agriculture as high-risk areas. The South African delegation to the OHS Committee told the Committee, that the government was giving the OHS high priority, and that advocacy and awareness campaigns as well as inspection blitzes were being carried out regularly. This was coupled with continuous training of Inspectors.

The 93rd Session of the Conference kicked off on Tuesday last week and will run until 16 June. Minister of Labour in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Basim Khalil Alsalim, was elected as the new president.

During this session delegates will consider a wide range of issues, including efforts to end the global scourge of forced labour, trends in working hours, occupational safety and health, decent work for young people, the situation of workers in the occupied Arab territories, Myanmar and other countries, and working conditions in the world’s fishing sector.

The Conference will also take up the programme and budget proposals of the ILO for the 2006-07 biennium.

The gathering has drawn over 4 000 delegates, including Heads of State, labour ministers and leaders of workers’ and employers’ organizations from most of the ILO’s 178 member States.

Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana who is the current Chairperson of the African Union Labour and Social Affairs Commission will address the Conference on Monday, 6 June.