Approximately 2.9 million workers die annually worldwide due to accidents at work and occupational diseases and at least 402 million people are yearly injured at the workplace. In Moldova, the State Labor Inspectorate in 2021 recorded 627 workplace accidents that involved 664 persons. Seventy-eight persons died, the National Trade Union Confederation (NTUC) stated on the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work and the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers that are celebrated on April 28, IPN reports.

“This year, we are urged by ILO to focus activities on the strengthening of social dialogue for developing a culture of safety and health at work, as it is provided in ILO Convection No. 187 on the framework for the promotion of occupational safety and health that was ratified by the Republic of Moldova in 2009,” said the Confederation, noting the national workplace health and safety culture is a right to a safe and healthy place of work.

The trade unions note that the International Trade Union Confederation urged to promote the workplace health and safety culture as a fundamental right within the annual International Labor Conference.

In this connection, NTUC calls on Moldova’s Parliament, President, Government and National Employers Confederation to work out and adopt a national workplace safety and health program, to ensure financial resources for assessing working conditions and preventing professional diseases and accidents at work and to create inoffensive work environment.

The trade unions also ask to class infection with COVID -19 as an occupational disease, to support the committees for safety and health at work, to improve the social assistance and protection systems and promote the annual examination of the occupational safety and health situation in the meetings of the national commission for collective consultations and negotiations.