Remember the dead, fight for the living
by Annie Rice
Senior Specialist, Occupational Safety and Health
April 28th – the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers – is fast approaching. As in previous years, trade unions and others throughout the world are preparing activities to raise awareness about workplace accidents and illnesses, and demanding action to prevent the suffering and distress caused by such incidents.
This will be the second year that the ILO will lend its tripartite strength to the trade union initiative. Constituents are therefore invited to organize events focusing on prevention, in a manner relevant and appropriate to their countries. In 2003, a considerable increase in the number of activities in the region was experienced compared to previous years. An overview of some of last year's events may help give ideas on activities this April 28th:
Albania
A memorial meeting and safety and health discussion was organized by Alfred Topi, the ILO’s national correspondent. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, the presidents of the employers’ and workers’ organizations, and the president of the Association of Work Invalids. The tripartite discussion was covered by state television in the central news program, as well as by some private television stations.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bosnia and Herzegovina held a commemoration speech followed by a minute of silence on May 1st. The session was attended by government and employers’ representatives. The ILO press release regarding the commemoration was translated and distributed.
Bulgaria
The Confederation of Independent Trade Unions of Bulgaria (CITUB) organized a press conference and wreath-laying ceremony at a stone memorial in memory of dead and injured workers in front of CITUB headquarters. The union also sent letters of condolence to families of workers killed in work accidents. Local events were also organized.
Czech Republic
The Czech-Moravian Federation of Trade Unions organized a seminar on April 22nd opened by a minute of silence. The seminar concentrated on stress, the psychosocial aspects of workload, and promotion of health and safety at work. Representatives of government, employers and research institutes also attended.
Hungary
The National Confederation of Trade Unions organized a tripartite conference attended by representatives of all trade unions, the labour inspectorate, employers and the press. Ms Annie Rice participated on behalf of the ILO. The conference focused on employer accountability, relating the theme to legislation and practice. Attention was also called to the roles and responsibilities of all concerned. The conference was followed by a candle-lighting and flower-laying ceremony at the site of a work accident in which two workers were killed two years ago at one of the biggest shopping malls in the centre of Budapest.
Lithuania
The Lithuanian Trade Union Confederation organized a tripartite meeting and invited all workers to mark one minute of silence at noon on April 28th.
Poland
The Central Institute for Labour Protection organized an exhibition of posters and publications on occupational safety and health on the premises of the Sejm (parliament) on 22–28 April. The exhibition complemented a special session of the Labour Protection Council of Poland, which was discussing Poland’s strategy in fulfilling objectives determined by the ILO’s SafeWork programme. Ms Anna Hintz, Chief Labour Inspector, gave a speech marking April 28th at the Labour Protection Council meeting. There were also many local events organized by District Labour Inspectorates, including open days, advice centres, seminars and church services for the victims of accidents at work.
Ukraine
The Ukrainian State Committee on Surveillance over Occupational Safety and Health instituted a Week of Promotion of Safe Work Culture on 21–25 April. The Committee organized over 60 seminars and round tables with the social partners, and encouraged enterprises to hold their own events to promote the theme of the day of remembrance. In a focus on labour inspection, about 1000 surveys and inspections in enterprises were conducted during the week. Acompetition to determine the safest enterprises led to prizes being awarded to 287 workers at approximately 80 firms. There were also events to commemorate those who died at work, mainly in the mining regions of Ukraine, and financial and material assistance was provided to the families of dead or injured miners.
Constituents are encouraged to request their governments to recognize April 28th as a national observance day. Nine countries worldwide have already adopted the day as such. In this region, Bulgaria has initiated this request, and trade unions in Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania have agreed to initiate the process with their governments in 2004.
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Film about the advantages of employing persons with disabilities. As this ILO film (Fully Fit at Work) shows, not only may people with disabilities be more productive, they may actually be more skilled in some jobs than non-disabled people. Produced for the ILO by the Andrzej Wajda Master School of Film Directing.
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