Unions remember 2.2 million workers who died ‘because of employer neglect’

Unions will mark International Workers Memorial Day this Friday (28 April) by commemorating those who died “because an employer decided their safety just wasn’t a priority”.

The two main themes the unions will be pushing this year under the banner of health and safety are ‘union workplaces are safer workplaces’, and ‘ban asbestos worldwide’.

Unions from Australia to Zimbabwe will hold rallies to push for greater health and safety measures in workplaces across the world.

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UN body, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), estimates the global death toll from work-related incidents and disease was 2.2 million in 2004-05. This is 10% higher than three years ago.

The ILO said that, while fatalities have fallen in industrialised nations, they are on the rise elsewhere, particularly in Asia.

More on International Workers Memorial Day www.hazards.org/wmd