The International Labor Organization (ILO) celebrates World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases worldwide. Also, April 28 is the date chosen by the global trade union movement to pay tribute to the victims of occupational accidents and diseases.

The ILO aims to raise global awareness of the magnitude and consequences of work-related accidents, injuries and diseases by placing workers’ health and safety at the top of international agendas and supporting action at all levels.

This year 2018, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work and the World Day against Child Labor joined in a joint campaign to improve the safety and health of young workers and put an end to child labor. The ILO explains that there are 541 million young people working from 15 to 24 years old, more than 15 percent of the global workforce and suffer up to 40 percent more occupational injuries than adult workers over 25 years.

This campaign highlights the vital importance of these challenges and improves the safety and health of young workers to promote decent youth employment and link these efforts in the fight against hazardous child labor and all other forms of child labor.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations encompasses a global action plan with specific performance goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. The ILO adopts the Agenda, encourages member countries to create a commitment to all the campaigns carried out.

The Sustainable Development Objective no. 8 refers in particular to the promotion of “sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all,” and its goal 8.8. It focuses on “protecting labor rights and promoting a safe and secure work environment for all workers, including migrant workers, particularly migrant women and people in precarious jobs”. In relation to goal 8.8. Countries are asked to report on the following indicator: “Frequency rates of fatal and non-fatal occupational injuries, by sex and immigration status”. Goal 8.7 focuses on ending all forms of child labor by 2025. In order to achieve these goals for the benefit of future generations of the labor force, a concerted and integrated approach is required to eliminate child labor and the promotion of a culture of prevention in the field of safety and health at work.

Source: International Labor Organization