What type of
worker does occupational health and safety apply
to ?
For 40 years, the World
Movement of Christian Workers has been working
to promote the value and dignity of work. It has
been campaigning for decent work for all and the
promotion of a new society. This is why we are
pleased that the ILO is at the forefront of this
struggle, which will lead public and private authorities
to implement policies that will offer real opportunities
for access to decent work throughout the world.
Our membership is spread throughout 75 countries
in the world. It carries out activities with workers
who, for the month part, are from the working
class. These thousands of women and men work in
different sectors of the informal economy, the
fishing sector, free zones, and so on. They are
migrant workers, clandestine workers, volunteers
and child workers, just to name a few.
These thousands of men, women and children are
denied their rights to occupational safety and
health. Yet, there is no doubt that they are contributing
to the economic development of the country in
which they work and, consequently, to the world
economy.
Allow us, from this rostrum, to cite just one
example, that of the motorcycle taxi drivers:
there are thousands of them working in the countries
of the South transporting, on a daily basis, thousands
of workers who commute between home and work.
These workers - both drivers and passengers -
are exposed to risks daily without helmets or
protective clothing. They are violently run over
or gradually poisoned by exhaust fumes - those
of you who have visited the beautiful City of
Cotonou can confirm this. They are among the 5,000
workers who die each day.
An ILO study has shown that 5,000 workers lose
their lives every day as a result of an occupational
accident. This means that for the 17 days that
we are here for this 93rd Session of the International
Labour Conference, which once again is debating
whether there should be a Convention that States
should ratify and implement, 85,000 men, women
and children will die as a result of occupational
accidents due to the lack of occupational safety
and health. This appalling situation is undeniable
proof that workers' protection is a binding right,
which brooks no delay. We can act now, without
further delay!
Imagine a week in which, day after day, 5,000
persons die as a result of occupational accidents
in London, Paris, New York, Sydney and Tokyo:
that would be 25,000 workers in one working week.
How long would it take the international community
to come up with a lasting solution to this appalling
situation? We are convinced that it would take
them less than two hours.
Inspired by these legitimate and democratic expectations,
which are widespread throughout the world, and
faced with the humanitarian disaster of 85,000
persons dying in a matter of 17 days, allow me,
from this rostrum, to echo the stifled voices
of these tens of thousands of people from the
working classes. These workers, who are human
beings, with as much dignity as you and I, call
upon the constituents of the ILO, as of now, to
ensure that occupational safety and health is
a lasting reality for each worker, without restriction,
because each worker,
without distinction of class, is worth more than
ail the gold in the world !
Thank you.
Brigitte NDONG
General Secretary, World Movement of Christian
Workers
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