World day of health and safety at work

April 28th is a special day for safety and health at work around the world. People spend most of their time in the work environment and a changing world people are getting more and more involved in their work. Generally, there is a rule of working 8 hours a day, which is one-third of 24 hours. Even in the most ordinary cases, working people spend a third of their day at work, while in overtime or other deadlines, more time is spent in office or work. Moreover, those who go for foreign employment live abroad for many years, they spend most of their time in a working environment.

The condition of safety and health of the person who spends the most time in such work or work must be good and of good quality. Thousands of workers around the world are still forced to work in hazardous and risky environments. Various airlines are neglecting safety and flying their employees daily in old and dilapidated crafts while health workers are forced to work amid various harmful radiations in a risky manner. From ordinary workers to professionals with special skills, they are forced to work in a way that is unsafe and harmful to their health. Even in Nepal, the bodies of many foreign workers are returned to the coffins every day and most of the deaths are due to insecurity and an unhealthy environment at work abroad. Many such issues are discussed and advocated today. Various trade unions and professional rights associations today take to the streets with rallies and meetings to spread awareness on the issue. The International Labor Organization (ILO) is very active all over the world and communicates various world-class programs and communication materials. However, most of these events are being held virtually, for this year.

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are aimed at improving the working environment for workers around the world by 8.08 out of 10.

The Corona outbreak puts health workers at an even greater risk of infection. Work Safety and Health Day Strong advocacy is also being made for the safety of health workers at the highest risk of corona infection in 2021.

In Nepal too, it is necessary to start taking various initiatives and steps for the safety and health of Nepalis working at home and abroad, and it is important to pay attention to the proper lobbying and implementation of the steps taken. What is needed today is an egalitarian working environment and a reduction in the risk of safety and health rather than services or products made by compromising with people's lives.

There should be an environment where people can go to work and return safely, and there should be no shortage of health and safety of the workers. Compulsory health and life insurance is a must for workers in hazardous work and foreign workers.

Since emerging as a global crisis in early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has had profound impacts everywhere. The pandemic has touched nearly every aspect of the world of work, from the risk of transmission of the virus in workplaces to occupational safety and health (OSH) risks that have emerged as a result of measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. Shifts to new forms of working arrangements, such as the widespread reliance on teleworking, have, for example, presented many opportunities for workers but also posed potential OSH risks, including psychosocial risks and violence in particular.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2021 focuses on leveraging the elements of an OSH system as set out in the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187). The world day report examines how the current crisis demonstrates the importance of strengthening these OSH systems, including occupational health services, at both the national and undertaking levels.
Utmost wishes on World day of health and safety at work.

Suyog Dhakal