World Day for Safety and Health at Work

Online Media Discussion and Briefing: Omnibus Law, Portrayal of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) and the Pandemic

The ILO will take this opportunity to raise awareness and stimulate dialogue on the importance of creating and investing in resilient OSH systems, drawing on both regional and country examples in mitigating and preventing the Spread of COVID-19 at the workplace.

Background

Since emerging as a global crisis in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts everywhere. The pandemic has touched nearly every aspect of the world of work, from the risk of transmission of the virus in workplaces, to occupational safety and health (OSH) risks that have emerged as a result of measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. Shifts to new forms of working arrangements, such as the widespread reliance on teleworking, have, for example, presented many opportunities for workers but also posed potential OSH risks, including psychosocial risks and violence in particular.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021 focuses on leveraging the elements of an OSH system as set out in the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187). The world day report examines how the current crisis demonstrates the importance of strengthening these OSH systems, including occupational health services, at both the national and undertaking level.

The ILO will take this opportunity to raise awareness and stimulate dialogue on the importance of creating and investing in resilient OSH systems, drawing on both regional and country examples in mitigating and preventing the Spread of COVID-19 at the workplace.

Objectives

  • Encourage media coverage and reportage regarding the investment on OSH, particularly related to OSH progress shown by the Indonesian government that has moved to more strategic plan and implementation.
  • Share information with and raise journalists and media organizations awareness regarding the ILO’s standards and international experiences about OSH progresses and the importance of investing on OSH to better protect both employers and workers.
  • Further discuss actions that should be taken by relevant stakeholders, including government, private sector and workers in ensuring the effective implementation of OSH national system.
  • Share good practices from various ILO’s member States employers, regarding social insurance in general and the unemployment insurance in particular as references for relevant stakeholders.