April 2024 – Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) is calling on workers, trade unions and employers to focus on addressing the risks leading to worker fatalities in various sectors.

International Workers’ Memorial Day 2024, observed on 28 April, highlights the ongoing challenge of work-related accidents and diseases despite the recognition of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) as a basic right. The theme for this year, “ENOUGH IS ENOUGH – LET’S TALK HAZARDS,” focuses on addressing the risks leading to worker fatalities in various sectors. Trade unions worldwide will collaborate with employers from 22 to 28 April  to raise awareness and strategise on preventing workplace fatalities through joint activities and rallies.

A November 2023 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) revealed alarming statistics, with nearly 3 million work-related accidents and diseases, resulting in 2.6 million deaths from diseases and 330,000 from fatal accidents. The increasing trend is deemed unacceptable, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to ensure worker rights awareness and employer responsibility in hazard identification and prevention.

What can affiliates, partners, and allies do? To read more about this, click here.