United against work-related deaths: Record-breaking number of actions for IWMD 2024
With a record-breaking 273 actions spanning 41 countries, BWI and 95 of its affiliates have united on a global scale during the month of April to commemorate Workers’ Memorial Day and to speak out against work-related deaths. These activities, ranging from workplace site visits to nationwide campaigns, have made a significant impact in raising awareness and advocating for safer working conditions.
Some of the highlights of BWI affiliates' various IWMD actions worldwide were:
- SINTRACOM-LONDRINA, Brasil, mobilised during the whole month of April with worksite visits and OHS inspections and gave trainings workplaces, bringing information about the necessity of working with health and safety. On 28 April, they organised a silent protest in an avenue in Londrina, distributing 232 crosses which symbolised the number of workers who lost their lives due to work-related accidents in Paraná’s construction sector in 2022. At the end of the campaign, Denilson Pestana, BWI Regional Vice President, recorded an episode of his TV Show reporting the activities.
- CGIL and UIL, Italy launched a national strike on 11 April against workplace deaths. The action lasted for 4 hours for all private sectors, excluding the public sector, and 8 hours for construction workers. Zero workplace deaths, fair tax reform, and a new social business model were the three objectives of the strike.
- CMWEU and its federation CTSP, Mauritius, organised a protest participated by more than 1,100 workers to commemorate IWMD. During the march, the organisations highlighted the plight of women, youth, and migrant workers in the construction and committed to continuing to push for workers' OHS and other fundamental rights.
- SERBUK, Indonesia, conducted a number of national activities, as well as regional legal seminars, and plan-level meetings regarding fundamental OSH rights for workers and socialisation of the history of IWMD.
- FETRACEPPE of Peru produced a song and a video that honoured those whose lives were lost due to work-related accidents and committed to fighting until all workplaces become healthy and safe.
Finally, as a global knowledge product, BWI launched its Hazard Series, a series of eight (8) briefings on the health and safety risks in our sectors. The briefings give recommendations on how to address and manage the risks based on the Codes of practice negotiated by BWI at the ILO for Construction and Forestry.
The publications are now available in six languages and will be available in other languages upon request from affiliates, to be used for continuous awareness raising about the hazards in our sectors. Download them here.