More than 2 million workers lose their lives in the line of duty every year, mainly due to work-related accidents or illnesses. Africa as a continent is the most affected by this scourge that ruins the daily lives of workers. The situation is bad, despite occupational health and safety conventions and standards, and the advent of the covid-19 pandemic has made it worse.
For these reasons, in the context of the celebration of the International Workers’ Memorial Day, ITUC-Africa calls on African governments to ratify and implement not only the core conventions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on occupational health and safety, but also the requirement for occupational health services [for all] and proper compensation.
" We recognise that workers who have passed away in the line of duty and due to unsafe and unhealthy workplaces, have left us with responsibility, that of working to eliminate the risks that threaten lives at work." said the General Secretary of ITUC-Africa, Comrade Kwasi Adu-Amankwah in a statement issued today.
The Memorial Day focuses on eliminating the risks that threaten lives at work.
The full statement can be found below or on : https://www.ituc-africa.org/IMG/pdf/statement_iwmd22.pdf
