Countries need to put in place sound and resilient occupational safety and health (OSH) systems to minimize the risks for workers in future health emergencies, the International Labour Organization (ILO) said in a report released on Tuesday, marking the annual World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
This will require investment in OSH infrastructure and integrating it into overall national crisis emergency preparedness and response plans, so that workers' safety and health is protected, and the business continuity of enterprises is supported, the ILO said in a press release issued on the day.
The report entitled "Anticipate, prepare and respond to crises. Invest now in resilient OSH systems" examines risk prevention and management in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and analyzes other health and safety risks associated with the changing work arrangements arising from virus control measures.
There could be no clearer demonstration of the importance of a strong and resilient occupational safety and health environment, commented ILO Director General Guy Ryder.
Recovery and prevention will require better national policies, institutional and regulatory frameworks, properly integrated into crisis response frameworks, he also said.
"The second wave of the pandemic is sweeping across Bangladesh as we mark World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021. Many hundreds of thousands of workers continue to work hard to keep the society and the economy functioning. The occupational safety and health of all workers in all industries must be a national priority,” said Tuomo Poutiainen, country director of ILO Bangladesh.
The ILO has helped develop a national Covid-19 OSH guideline which was approved and published by the Labour and Employment Ministry in Bangladesh. The safety of workers and business sustainability can both be secured if the measures recommended in this guideline are implemented across all industries and workplaces, Poutiainen also said.
In the absence of protection such as sick leave or unemployment benefits, millions of workers are forced to make a cruel choice between their health and their livelihoods, which not only puts them at risks but also others they come in contact with. The current crisis highlights the need for equitable, inclusive and human-centred responses, said the ILO country director.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, workers in specific sectors (such as emergency, health and social care) have been particularly vulnerable to the risk of infection. According to data cited in the report, 7,000 health workers have died since the beginning of the crisis, and 136 million health and social care workers are at risk of contracting Covid-19 through work.
The crisis has also taken a toll on their mental health: one in five healthcare workers globally has reported depression and anxiety symptoms.
Teleworking, which has been essential in limiting the spread of the virus, maintaining jobs and business continuity and giving workers increased flexibility, has also blurred the lines between work and private life, the report said.
The report said that small and micro-sized enterprises have often found it hard to meet official OSH requirements because many lack the resources to adapt to the threats posed by the pandemic.
In the informal economy, many of the world's 1.6 billion workers, especially in developing countries, have continued working despite lockdowns, restrictions on movement and social interaction, and other measures. This has put them at high risk of catching the virus, yet most do not have access to basic social protection, such as sick leave or sick pay, the ILO's release added.