UN experts urge ILO to back safe
and healthy work conditions as a ‘fundamental’ right
GENEVA (13 June 2019) – UN experts
today urged the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to immediately
recognise and adopt safe and healthy working conditions as one of its
fundamental principles and rights at work.
“Millions of workers around the
world suffer from diseases and disabilities due to unsafe and unhealthy
conditions of work. It is estimated that
approximately two million workers die prematurely each year because of an
unsafe or unhealthy workplace,” the experts* said as the ILO held its centenary
conference in Geneva.
“Safe and healthy working
conditions have been explicitly recognised under the International Covenant on
Economic Social and Cultural Rights since 1966 as a fundamental aspect of the
right to just and favourable conditions of work. However, despite ILO Convention 155, the
right to safe and healthy working conditions is not among the “Fundamental
principles and rights at work” recognised by the ILO.” The draft “ILO Centenary
outcome document,” currently under discussion, proposes that ILO recognise
occupational safety and health as a fundamental principle and right at work.
The independent experts said States
and businesses had repeatedly expressed commitment to the UN Guiding Principles
on Business and Human Rights, which includes a duty and responsibility to
protect the health and safety of workers.
“It is regrettable, however, that
some employers and their representative organisations are attempting to block
recognition of the right to safe and healthy working conditions as one of ILO's
fundamental rights and principles, calling into question the depth of the
private sector's commitment to respect human rights.
“It is long overdue that the ILO
recognises the right to safe and healthy working conditions as one of its
fundamental principles and rights at work. The ILO’s recognition is essential
to help end the exploitation of workers who are forced to choose between a
paycheque and their health. It would be
a fitting tribute to the millions who have lost their lives as a result of this
abhorrent choice.”
ENDS
(*) The UN experts: Mr. Baskut
Tuncak, Special Rapporteur on human rights and toxics ; Mr Dainius Pῡras, Special Rapporteur on the
right to health; Ms Hilal Elver, Special Rapporteur on the right to food; Mr.
Philip Alston, Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights; Ms.
Urmila Bhoola, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, includingits causes and consequences; Mr. Surya Deva (Chairperson), Ms. Elżbieta Karska
(Vice-Chairperson), Mr. Githu Muigai, Mr. Dante Pesce, and Ms. Anita
Ramasastry, Members of the UN Working Group on human rights and transnationalcorporations and other business enterprises
The Special Rapporteurs and
Independent Experts are part of what is known as the Special Procedures of the
Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest body of independent
experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name of the Council’s
independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that address either specific
country situations or thematic issues in all parts of the world. Special
Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not
receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or
organization and serve in their individual capacity.
For more information and media
requests, please contact: Ms Lilit Nikoghosyan (+41 22 917 9936 /
lnikoghosyan@ohchr.org) or write to srtoxics@ohchr.org
For media inquiries related to
other UN independent experts please contact Mr. Jeremy Laurence, UN Human
Rights – Media Unit (+41 22 917 9383 / jlaurence@ohchr.org
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