Making workplaces safer and healthier: Boosting strategic trade unions actions

An Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) training program is imperative for workers across all sectors and regions, especially in Asia Pacific, as this region frequently catches global attention due to significant industrial accidents and disasters. Given the enormous economic ramifications for workers, businesses and governments, the significance of addressing OSH deficits is urgent and necessary. Globally, there are 2.9 million preventable deaths and 402 million occupational injuries each year, with 7.13% of these incidents occurring in the Asia Pacific region, resulting in staggering costs (ILO, 2022). These deficits contribute to an annual loss of 5.4% in GDP. These facts underscore the need for comprehensive OSH training to mitigate workplace risks and safeguard workers and economies. In June 2022, ILO constituents reaffirmed their commitment to safety and health by adding "a safe and healthy working environment" to the fundamental principles and rights at work. Convention C155 and its corresponding Protocol (OSH) and C187 (Promotional Framework for OSH) were designated as fundamental Conventions. This reinvigorated global efforts to enhance workplace safety and health, highlighting the central role of the ILO in this field. This four-week online training programme contributed to enabling trade unions to fulfil their indispensable role play in advocating for essential components of OSH, including ratifying OSH conventions, shaping national OSH frameworks, addressing issues such as violence and harassment (VH), and strengthening their participation in enterprise-level OSH committees through partnerships and negotiations. OBJECTIVES The four-week online regional workers’ academy aimed to equip trade unions with the knowledge and skills to strategically leverage OSH as FPRW to promote and enhance workplace safety and health. Specifically, it aimed to enbale participants to: • initiate trade union actions regarding ratification of C187 and 155, national OSH legislations, OSH management systems, profiles and programmes. • perform crucial trade union functions in workplace safety and health, encompassing negotiation, advocacy, labour inspection, and OSH reporting to safeguard workers’ well-being, • design and implement trade union strategies to realize safer workplaces, including actions to: • address hazards like climate change and expand OSH protection to informal, small businesses, and self-employed workers, • influence national OSH infrastructure, including regulations, compliance mechanisms, health services, data availability, and SDG indicator 8.8.1 reporting. CONTENT The online course covered three (3) main thematic subjects: • OSH as a Fundamental Principle and Right at Work (FPRW) • National frameworks for safer and healthier workplaces • Addressing violence and harassment through enterprise-level osh measures The four-week course consisted of an estimated 40 hours of synchronous and asynchronous online learning, which included tasks such as participation in webinars, completion of self-guided learning modules, online interaction and collaboration, and submission of assignments application of learning plans, among others. PEDAGOGICAL APPROACHES This four-week online academy was hosted on the eCampus (the ITCILO eLearning platform) and on Zoom. It offered flexible and inclusive learning, accommodating busy participants, including those with limited mobility or work commitments. Interactive digital facilitation and learning tools were employed to enhance the online learning experience, mirroring in-person training. The training blended synchronous and asynchronous learning methodologies to maximise learning opportunities. NUMBER OF HOURS: 32