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Avian Flu and the Workplace: Preparedness and Response

See also

List of Attendees:

In representation of ILO’s counterparts:

Ms. Marianne Muller (UNSIC), Mr. Sandor Beaukers (UNSIC), Ms. Katinka De Balogh (FAO), Dr. Stephen Martin (WHO), Ms. Jenny Bishop (WHO), Ms. Olga B. Jonas (World Bank), Ms. Angela Raven-Roberts (UNICEF), Ms. Anita Davies (IOM), Mr. Alan Leather (PSI), Ms. Sue Longley (IUF), Mr. Frederick Muia (IOE), Mr. Mike Muller (IATA), Mr. Muarter Kock (Health Protection Agency, UK), Mr. David Gamper (Airports Council International).

In representation of the ILO:

Mr. Stephen Pursey (Cabinet), Mr. Rashid Amjad (ED/EMP), Mr. Alfredo Lazarte-Hoyle (ILO/CRISIS), Mr. Lawrence Jeffery Johnson (EMP/TRENDS), Dr. Igor Fedotov (SAFEWORK), Mr. Donato Kiniger-Passigli (ILO/CRISIS), Ms. Anne Herbert (DIALOUGE), Ms. Chantal Dufresne (CIS), Ms. Amrita Sietaram (ACTRAV), Mr. John Woodall (SOC/POL), Dr. Sabine Beckmann (ILO/AIDS), Mr. Seiji Machida (SAFEWORK), Ms. Michelle Nahmias(SAFEWORK), Mr. Ahmad Bukhari (ILO/CRISIS).

Background:

On 27th September, 2006, the ILO hosted a Technical Workshop in Geneva on Avian Flu and the Workplace: Preparedness and Response.

The workshop attended by employers’, workers’s representatives and international agencies provided an opportunity to examine critical occupational safety and health and employment and livelihood issues in the context of the UN Action Plan, with regard to the potential spread of the Avian Flu virus. It was an occasion for the employers and workers representatives to analyze the implications of the Avian Flu and for harmonizing responses with the UN System. The workshop was also attended by the FAO, WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank (WB), IOM and the UN System Influenza Coordinator (UNSIC).

In particular this was the first instance to review the recently launched UN Action Plan specifically in the context of the world of work, by employers’ and workers’ organizations. The workshop was attended by Public Services International (PSI), International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Associations (IUF) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE).

Even though the avian flu is in and out of the media limelight, the threat posed by the Avian Flu requires immediate and concentrated attention. No country can consider itself to be safe from an Avian Flu outbreak and thus preparedness is essential. In order to prepare for the prevention of an Avian Flu pandemic and to mitigate its adverse outcomes UN Agencies have been actively working to develop preparedness plans on a global and regional level. A Consolidated Action Plan for Contributions of the UN System has been developed and was first issued in July, 2006. This is a rolling plan, which is to be updated every six months. The ILO has been invited to contribute to the next Action Plan due for revision early next year. Thus, this workshop acted as a forum for concrete suggestions to the UN System Influenza Coordinator (UNSIC) for incorporation in the Action Plan.

ILO’s tripartite structure places it in an extremely favorable position to address the concerns of governments, employers and employees with regards to Avian Flu threats. Since 2003 the poultry sector has suffered tremendous losses valuing up to $ 10 billion, due to the killing of infected livestock worldwide. Furthermore many countries have also experienced a sharp decline in local demand for poultry, which has further battered vulnerable livelihoods. For example Romania experienced an 80% decline in demand for poultry products resulting in a 40% drop in producers’ incomes for the first quarter of 2006. In 2004-2005 there has also been a decline in international poultry trade resulting from import bans by many countries on poultry products from South East Asia, which has increased international poultry prices by 20% and has also resulted in an 8% decline in global poultry trade. In addition to these losses, the threat of a pandemic further weakens already delicate structures of trade and livelihoods of backyard poultry farmers.

The World Bank estimates that a severe global influenza pandemic could result in a 3.1% decline in the global GDP costing the world economy up to $1.25 trillion in terms of economic losses. These losses would be incurred due to a loss of livelihoods and increased demand shocks for travel and tourism sectors amongst other affected segments of the economy. Furthermore, based on previous instances of influenza pandemics, it is believed that in a worst case scenario human deaths can amount to millions.

With regard to preventive action, issues of workers rights and occupational safety and health are particularly relevant to the ILO’s field of operations. Thus there is a need for capacity building and ensuring that efficient mechanisms and infrastructures are in place to combat the Avian Flu at the workplace and in times of a possible pandemic. The ILO has established regulatory frameworks and has gained valuable experience in tackling diseases such as HIV/AIDS at the workplace. Such experiences will provide invaluable in developing practices for effective prevention and control of the Avian Flu. Thus governments and the social partners with the assistance of international organizations should have appropriate structures in place strive in the advent of a pandemic.

Information campaigns will be a key tool in succeeding against the adverse outcomes of the Avian Flu. With the passage of time, an increasing number of countries are adopting transparency regarding information on the Avian Flu and are also employing public awareness campaigns. The workplace can be enlisted as an important instrument to inform the employers, workers and the general public of precautionary measures and best practices.

Main Conclusions:

It was suggested that the ILO would base its interventions according to its Decent Work Agenda. In particular the ILO’s activities will concentrate on the following issues:

  • Worker’s Rights.
  • Social Dialogue at all levels.
  • Social Protection.
  • The loss of incomes as a result of the Avian Flu.
  • The ILO will assist the UN and country efforts, while remaining in the existing framework laid down by the UN Action Plan and will endeavor to pursue programs in order to meet the seven objectives laid down in the Action Plan.
  • The ILO would thus be a part of the consolidated UN effort and would address areas of occupational health and safety, modeling for the loss of livelihoods and labour market implications and information dissemination. The ILO would also emphasize the need to address the issues of workers rights, social dialogue at all levels, social protection and the loss of incomes as a result of the Avian Flu.
  • The ILO will identify areas in which it has a comparative advantage and can add value to already existing UN efforts. One specific area would be to mobilize the social partners in gathering first hand information and disseminating it through effective channels.
  • The ILO will forward the first draft of suggestions to be incorporated in the UN Action Plan to UNSIC by mid-October, the suggestions would be built upon already available inputs and would be refined after consultations with the social partners and ILO technical units.

Further information

 
Last update: 10.09.2007 ^ top


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