Workers' Memorial Day

Held on : 28th April

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), across the world:

• Each year, more than two million women and men die as a result of work-related accidents and diseases.
• Workers suffer approximately 270 million occupational accidents each year, and fall victim to some 160 million incidents of work-related illnesses.
• Hazardous substances kill 440,000 workers annually – asbestos claims 100,000 lives.
• One worker dies every 15 seconds worldwide. 6,000 workers die every day. Work kills more people than wars.

According to American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in working conditions. But the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains enormous. Each year, thousands of workers are killed and millions more are injured or diseased because of their jobs. The unions of the AFL-CIO remember these workers on April 28, Workers Memorial Day. Workers' Memorial Day, takes place annually around the world on April 28, an international day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled, injured or made unwell by their work.

History

Workers' Memorial Day was formed as a result of efforts of CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) and AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations). Workers' Memorial Day was started by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) in 1984. The Canadian Labour Congress declared an annual day of remembrance in 1985 on April 28, which is the anniversary of a comprehensive Workers Compensation Act (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board), passed in 1914. American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) formed in 1955, observed the first Workers Memorial Day on April 28, 1989.

In 1991, the Canadian Parliament passed an Act respecting a National Day of Mourning for persons killed or injured in the workplace; making April 28, an official Workers’ Mourning Day. April 28 was chosen by Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) because it is the day the first Workmen's' Compensation Act  came into effect in Canada. Since 1989 trade unions in the USA, UK, Asia, Europe and Africa have organised events on and around 28 April. IWMD was adopted by the Scottish TUC (Trades Union Congress) in 1993, followed by the TUC in 1999. The 28th April is recognised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) as International Workers' Memorial Day. During 2001 the ILO, part of the United Nations, recognised Workers' Memorial Day and declared it Global Health and Safety Day and in 2002 the ILO announced that 28 April should be an official day in the United Nations system. On April 28, 2003, the International Labour Organization (ILO) started observing the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.

Events

• Every year, people in hundreds of communities and at work sites recognize workers who have been killed or injured on the job. Trade unionists around the world mark April 28 as an International Day of Mourning. Events are held on the day to commemorate those who have died whilst at work.

• Literature in the form of posters, pamphlets, brochures, leaflets etc. are distributed and placed at strategic points to raise the awareness about the safety of workers.

• Public events like speeches, multi faith religious services, laying wreathes, planting trees, unveiling monuments, balloon releases and laying out empty shoes to symbolise those who have died at work are held on this day.

• Media also promotes the day through news articles and broadcast programs.

Themes - Themes as per ILO observation:

2003 - Safety and Health Culture In a Globalized World.
2004 - Creating and Sustaining a Safety Culture.
2005 - Creating and Sustaining a Preventative Safety and Health Culture.
2006 - Decent Work - Safe Work - HIV/AIDS.
2007 - Safe and Healthy Workplaces - Making Decent Work a Reality.
2008 - My life, my work, my safe work: Managing risk in the work environment.
2009 – Health and life at work: A basic human right.

Alternate Names - International Workers' Memorial Day, International Commemoration Day (ICD) for Dead and Injured, World Day for Safety and Health at Work, World Safety Day at Work.