Dr Tsuyoshi Kawakami, ILO-EASMAT Senior Specialist on OSH, gave a presentation on the ILO SafeWork InFocus programme and its activities for the informal sector. It is estimated that all work-related deaths amount to more than 1.2 million annually. There are more than 250 million injuries and more than 160 million occupational diseases. ILO estimates that more than 4 % of GNP are lost because of occupational injuries and diseases. To improve safety and health, the ILO has launched a "SafeWork InFocus programme" which aims at:

• protecting workers in hazardous jobs
• expanding coverage to the informal sector
• promoting workers’ health and well-being
• demonstrating that protection pays.

Industrially developed countries and developing countries have different priorities in safety and health. Priorities in industrially developing countries are "stress", "aged workers", "workers’ right to know", "chemicals", "ergonomics", "occupational safety and health management systems", and "health services". Priorities in safety and health in industrially developing countries are: "agriculture", "hazardous occupations like construction and mining", ‘major hazards control", "small enterprises", "informal sector", "occupational diseases reporting", and "safety, health and child labour".

To meet the needs of workers and employers, new trends had emerged in safety and health legislation. More attention is being paid to cover all occupations, including the informal sector. Clear national policies are being developed. For example, Thailand is now developing its own five-year national safety and health plan. Direct support to workplace actions is encouraged by strengthening self-regulation by enterprises. Tripartite cooperation in safety and health is promoted because active participation of both workers and employers are the key to the success of safety and health improvement. In Asia, there is a clear trend to develop comprehensive safety and health laws covering all occupations. Malaysia is the first Asian country to have enacted the Safety and Health Act covering all occupations in 1994. ILO assist countries to implement such laws, for example, in Malaysia training materials and checklists are being developed for labour inspectors, covering the agricultural, forestry, fishing, service and transportation industries as well as the self-employed.

ILO member states have developed international labour standards on OSH. The ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155, 1981) is the most important. It requires governments to set clear national policies and legislation and to provide effective labour inspection services. Employers need to establish safety and health programmes to ensure safe and healthy work environments. Workers need to cooperate with employers’ safety and health programmes and they have a right to participate in safety and health improvements.

In Asia, positive developments include the ratification of the ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155, 1981) by Vietnam in 1994 and by Mongolia in 1998, as well as the ratification of the ILO Chemicals Convention (No. 170, 1990) by China in 1995. The Philippines ratified the Safety and Health in Mines Convention (No. 176, 1995) in 1998. In addition, several countries - Malaysia, Fiji and Hong Kong - have a labour legislation covering most occupations.