News, articles and statements

October 2011

  1. Feature story

    Inequities in health care access in the European region

    06 October 2011

    The objective of providing universal health coverage is high on the agenda of countries in the broader European region, yet vulnerable groups often do not have full access to health services, according to Dr. Xenia Scheil-Adlung, Health Policy Coordinator at the ILO’s Social Security Department. ILO Online spoke to Dr. Scheil-Adlung, who has published a study looking at the situation in the region, which includes the European Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States and Central and Eastern Europe.

September 2011

  1. Press release

    World Congress calls for a renewed commitment to build a preventative safety and health culture

    15 September 2011

    The XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work – the largest gathering of health and safety experts in the history of the Congress – held its closing session on Thursday, concluding that decent work is safe work and calling for a renewed commitment to build and maintain a global culture of prevention.

  2. Press release

    XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work to focus on building healthier and safer workplaces

    12 September 2011

    The XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work – the world’s largest gathering of health and safety experts – opened in Istanbul with the aim of strengthening global commitment to a culture of safety and health at work amid the ongoing challenges of global economic uncertainty.

  3. Feature story

    Questions and Answers on global trends and challenges on occupational safety and health

    12 September 2011

    The XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work to be held in Istanbul on 11-15 September provides a major forum to discuss the latest safety and health challenges in the world of work. ILO Online spoke with Seiji Machida, Director of the ILO’s Programme on Safety and Health at Work and the Environment (SafeWork), about the Congress and the challenges ahead.

August 2011

  1. Media Advisory

    XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work: 11-15 September 2011

    17 August 2011

    Some 3,000 policy-makers, experts, industry and labour leaders from over 100 countries are to gather in Istanbul, Turkey, from 11-15 September for the XIX World Congress on Safety and Health at Work.

June 2011

  1. Article

    The impact of pesticide exposure on child labourers in agriculture

    22 June 2011

    The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO held a side event during the conference (on 22 June at 13:00) to highlight the impact of pesticide exposure on children, and child labourers in particular. ILO News spoke to Paola Termine, ILO Technical specialist on child labour in agriculture, who is also coordinating the International partnership for cooperation on child labour in agriculture, ahead of the meeting.

  2. Video News Release

    India: Working Together to End Hazardous Child Labour

    10 June 2011

    Around 115 million boys and girls under the age of 18 are involved in hazardous child labour. Making a change is possible. In India both employers and trade unions are actively involved in the fight against child labour, especially when it comes to keeping children out of hazardous work.

  3. Feature story

    Monitoring hazardous child labour in Tajikistan

    10 June 2011

    Labour inspectors often find it difficult to reach out to informal economy workplaces where hazardous child labour occurs most frequently. According to this year’s ILO report for World Day Against Child Labour, child labour monitoring (CLM) systems are a powerful means to support labour inspectorates.

  4. Press release

    World Day Against Child Labour 2011 – ILO calls for urgent action against hazardous forms of child labour

    10 June 2011

    In a new report issued for World Day Against Child Labour, the International Labour Organization (ILO) warns that a staggeringly high number of children are still caught in hazardous work – some 115 million of the world’s 215 million child labourers – and calls for urgent action to halt the practice.

May 2011

  1. World Day against Child Labour, 12 June 2011

    From child labourer to child advocate: How Rodel succeeded in leaving the mineshaft

    26 May 2011

    More than half (53 per cent) of the 215 million child labourers worldwide do hazardous work. While their number is increasing among older children, aged 15-17, progress is being made for younger children, aged 5-14, says the latest ILO report on child labour “Children in Hazardous Work”. Some of them succeed in leaving the dark tunnel of a mineshaft or other dangerous workplaces, as the example of Rodel from the Philippines shows.

  2. Video

    Kukes miners learn about their rights in health and safety at work

    17 May 2011

    Vlahna Village, like many in the region of Kukes, has been highly affected by youth migration, a prevalence of under-employment and informal working practices. However, thanks to new direct investment from abroad, the nearby Vlahna Mine, home to the second largest chromium reserve in Albania and one of the largest in Europe, is being put to productive use once more following its closure in 2006. To ensure the transition from informal to formal employment, 40 miners are receiving training in occupational safety and health as part of their recruitment, to ensure improved working conditions and long-term job security for the local community. The training programme has been realized thanks to the One UN Joint Programme Youth Employment and Migration, funded by the Government of Spain through the MDG Achievement Fund.

  3. Article

    Questions and answers on Children in hazardous work

    10 May 2011

    The 2011 World Day Against Child Labour will provide a global spotlight on hazardous child labour. The ILO’s most recent global estimate is that 115 million children are involved in hazardous work. This is work that by its nature or the circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm children’s health, safety or morals.

April 2011

  1. Statement

    The declaration of the International Commission on Occupational Health (ICOH) on the occasion of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work

    28 April 2011

    ICOH renews its call for joint actions for developing occupational health and safety programmes meeting the changing needs at the workplace in globalizing economy. ICOH expresses warm congratulations on the 92nd Anniversary of the ILO and its leadership role in the improvement of conditions of work and social justice throughout the world.

  2. Press release

    28 April:World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

    28 April 2011

    On 28 April at ILO headquarters in Geneva, the Bureau for Workers’ Activities held a ceremony to commemorate workers killed and injured at work.

  3. Article

    ILO training keeps Fiji green and clean

    28 April 2011

    April 28th is observed globally as World Day for Safety and Health at Work. Waste collectors in Fiji have reason to celebrate this day, because, thanks to a new ILO programme combining ‘green’ environmental support measures with occupational safety and health (OSH) practices, they are enjoying better, safer and greener working conditions. By Surfaka Katafono, National Programme Officer, ILO Country Office for Pacific Island Countries.

  4. Video interview

    World Day for Safety and Health at Work: A Video Message from Seiji Machida, Director of SafeWork, ILO

    28 April 2011

  5. News

    Chile ratifies ILO Convention 187 on the promotional framework for Occupational Safety and Health

    27 April 2011

    The Government of Chile has delivered to the International Labour Organization the instrument of ratification of ILO Convention No. 187 concerning the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health.

  6. Statement

    Message by Juan Somavia on the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work

    26 April 2011

    On this Day we recall that every year around 337 million people are victims of work accidents and more than 2.3 million people die because of occupational injuries or work-related diseases.

  7. Press release

    World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2011 - Worldwide events to focus on safety and health management systems for prevention and control of risks at work

    26 April 2011

    Events will be held around the world to mark the annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work this year, amid a renewed effort by the International Labour Office (ILO) to emphasize the value of occupational safety and health management systems for continually improving prevention and control of risks at work.

  8. Article

    World Day for Safety and Health at Work - OSH Management system: A tool for continual improvement

    26 April 2011

    Each year, governments, employers and workers mark the World Day for Safety and Health. This year’s theme for the day is “Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Management System: A tool for continual improvement”. Improvement is in fact needed: according to ILO data, an estimated 337 million workplace accidents and 2.3 million deaths occur per year, or some 6,300 deaths every day. ILO Online examines how OSH management systems can make a difference.