In their address to the Council of Ministers trade unionists reiterated that t he 28 April had been declared by the ILO the World Day for Safety and Health at Work in 2003. Today it is marked all over the world. Upon the initiative of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) the trade union movement has marked 28 April as the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers worldwide since 1996.

“It is necessary to officially observe this day in Belarus as this has been done in many member-states to remember those who died at work or undermined their health,” said in the address.

According to ILO’s estimates, every day some 5,000 people on the average die of occupational accidents and diseases globally. Thus, every year occupational deaths total 2.3 million. Moreover, every year 270 million people are injured at their workplace, while another 160 million suffer from non-fatal work-related diseases.

The Belarusian union of radioelectric workers estimates that annually 8,000 people in Belarus suffer from work-related accidents and diseases - of them 250 people die and another 700 get heavy injuries. Every year 300 people report they have newly diagnosed occupational illnesses. At present, over 22,000 Belarusians get compensations for hazardous work.

Sourse: Belarusian news