Dubai World Expo 2020
Social dialogue and occupational safety and health vital to decent work in the construction sector - ILO
At Dubai’s World Expo 2020, ILO officials joined in welcoming an agreement between a Belgium-based multinational construction company and trade unions to promote decent work in the sector.
DUBAI (ILO News) - ILO officials participated in a ceremony to mark an international agreement between a multinational construction company and global trade unions to protect workers and enhance occupational safety and health across the company’s projects.
The agreement had previously been signed by the Belgium-based BESIX construction company, and Building and Woodworkers' International (BWI) and its affiliates the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions of Belgium and the General Labour Federation of Belgium.
Held during Belgium Day at World Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE, the event promoted a “Declaration for safe and healthy workplaces”. BESIX Group, Belgian trade unions FGTB and CSC, and BWI officially called upon the Belgian government to support the recognition by the ILO of health and safety at work as a fundamental right. Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Labour Pierre-Yves Dermagne expressed his strong support to this call. He said that he hopes that the Belgian model of social dialogue can inspire others.
The ceremony took place in the presence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar and employer and trade union representatives.
ILO officials Deputy Regional Director for Arab States Peter Rademaker, Brussels Office Director Lieve Verboven, and Senior Labour Migration Specialist for Arab States Ryszard Cholewinski attended the event on behalf of the ILO.
“It is heartening to see Belgium’s tripartite constituents promote social dialogue, a proud Belgian tradition,” Rademaker said in his address to event participants. “We believe that social dialogue is both a means and an end in itself, underpinning many of the Sustainable Development Goals. Worker-management cooperation has proven to be effective to reduce accidents at the workplace, to improve working conditions for the employees and to maintain competitiveness. Social dialogue requires strong social partners, able to represent the voices of workers and employers effectively,” he continued.
Rademaker called on more companies to follow the example set by BESIX and the global unions. Occupational safety and health is a critical issue in the construction sector, he said, including in the Arab States region where the ILO is actively engaging with employers, workers and governments to jointly advance SDG Goal 8 on Decent Work.
“I thank Belgium as a strong supporter of the ILO. Our Organization recognizes the positive role Belgium plays in the ILO’s governance, as well as its support to the Decent Work Agenda in multilateral cooperation,” Rademaker concluded.
The agreement had previously been signed by the Belgium-based BESIX construction company, and Building and Woodworkers' International (BWI) and its affiliates the Confederation of Christian Trade Unions of Belgium and the General Labour Federation of Belgium.
Held during Belgium Day at World Expo 2020 in Dubai, UAE, the event promoted a “Declaration for safe and healthy workplaces”. BESIX Group, Belgian trade unions FGTB and CSC, and BWI officially called upon the Belgian government to support the recognition by the ILO of health and safety at work as a fundamental right. Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Labour Pierre-Yves Dermagne expressed his strong support to this call. He said that he hopes that the Belgian model of social dialogue can inspire others.
The ceremony took place in the presence of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, UAE Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation Dr. Abdulrahman Al Awar and employer and trade union representatives.
ILO officials Deputy Regional Director for Arab States Peter Rademaker, Brussels Office Director Lieve Verboven, and Senior Labour Migration Specialist for Arab States Ryszard Cholewinski attended the event on behalf of the ILO.
“It is heartening to see Belgium’s tripartite constituents promote social dialogue, a proud Belgian tradition,” Rademaker said in his address to event participants. “We believe that social dialogue is both a means and an end in itself, underpinning many of the Sustainable Development Goals. Worker-management cooperation has proven to be effective to reduce accidents at the workplace, to improve working conditions for the employees and to maintain competitiveness. Social dialogue requires strong social partners, able to represent the voices of workers and employers effectively,” he continued.
Rademaker called on more companies to follow the example set by BESIX and the global unions. Occupational safety and health is a critical issue in the construction sector, he said, including in the Arab States region where the ILO is actively engaging with employers, workers and governments to jointly advance SDG Goal 8 on Decent Work.
“I thank Belgium as a strong supporter of the ILO. Our Organization recognizes the positive role Belgium plays in the ILO’s governance, as well as its support to the Decent Work Agenda in multilateral cooperation,” Rademaker concluded.