TAG: GS 2: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
THE CONTEXT: Recently, the International Labour Organization (ILO) report revealed an alarming statistics of work-related fatalities globally, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety measures and comprehensive health protocols in workplaces.
KEY FINDINGS:
- Global Work-Related Deaths:
- Approximately 30 lakh workers lose their lives annually due to work-related accidents and diseases.
- The Asia-Pacific region alone accounts for more than 63% of these fatalities.
- Leading Causes of Deaths:
- Long working hours, exposure to occupational hazards like particulate matter, gases, and fumes, followed by occupational injuries, are the major contributors to these fatalities.
- Occupational Risk Factors:
- Exposure to long working hours (55 hours or more per week) stands as the most significant risk factor, resulting in approximately 7.45 lakh deaths.
- Work-related diseases contribute to a significant number of fatalities, with circulatory diseases, malignant neoplasms, and respiratory diseases being the primary causes.
- ILO Conventions and Ratification:
- Only 79 out of 187 member countries have ratified the ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention (No. 155), and 62 countries have ratified the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187).
- India has yet to ratify both conventions.
- Work-Related Diseases and Occupational Hazards:
- Most deaths (26 lakh) are due to work-related diseases, while 3.3 lakh deaths result from work accidents.
- Occupational exposure to certain elements like chromium, asbestos, and other hazards has contributed to a rise in diseases like lung cancer, mesothelioma, and skin cancer.
Recommendations:
- The report emphasizes “Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work” for ensuring safety and health at workplaces.
- It encompasses the freedom of association, elimination of forced labor and child labor, eradication of employment discrimination, and the provision of a safe working environment.
Implications:
- The data underscores the need for robust safety frameworks and collective efforts to prevent work-related fatalities and illnesses.
- Ratification of ILO conventions and adherence to safety protocols are crucial to ensuring a safer working environment globally.
- The rise in occupational diseases due to exposure to various hazards necessitates more stringent safety measures and increased awareness regarding health risks in specific industries.
Overall Assessment:
- The report serves as a stark reminder of the imperative to prioritize occupational safety and health standards universally.
- It stresses the significance of international collaboration and adherence to fundamental rights at work to mitigate the alarming rates of work-related deaths and diseases.