Nearly 30 lakh workers die every year globally owing to work related accidents and disease according to new report prepared by the ILO. More than 63%of these deaths are reported from the Asia-Pacific region.
- Exposure to long working hours (55hours or more per week) was the biggest Killer with almost 7.45 lakh people dying of it in 2016.
- Exposure to occupational particulate matters, gases and fumes (4,5 lakh deaths) and occupational injuries (3.63 lakh deaths)
Minning, quarrying, construction and utilities sectors were the three most hazardous sectors globally.
ILO conventions:
So far 79 out of the 187 countries have ratified the ILO occupational safety and health convention 2006. India has not yet ratified the conventions.
In the wake of Uttarkashi tunnel collapse in which 41 workers were trapped, the central trade unions have urged the union government to ratify the conventions.
A report said that rate of trachea, bronchus and lung cancers attributed to occupational exposure to chromium doubled between 2000 to 2016.
The rate of non-melanoma skin cancer increased by over 37% between 2000 and 2020.
The report also recommended five categories of fundamental principals and rights at work for ensuring safety and health at work, these are:
- Freedom of association and effective recognition of right to collective bargaining.
- Elimination of all form of forced or compulsory child labour.
- Abolition of child labour.
- Elimination of discrimination in respect of employment.
- Occupation and safe and healthy working environment.