"DEREGULATION IS NOT THE ANSWER"
Regulation and enforcement are the best ways to ensure healthy and safe working environments, argue IMF and IFBWW general secretaries.
GENEVA: On the eve of the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, International Metalworkers’ Federation general secretary Marcello Malentacchi and International Federation of Building and Wood Workers (IFBWW) argue that regulation and enforcement are the best ways to ensure a safe working environment.
"Many governments and employers are seeking to deregulate standards and bring in voluntary behaviour-based safety programmes," writes Marcello Malentacchi in his latest opinion column.
"However, overwhelming evidence shows that inspection and enforcement, backed up by meaningful penalties for endangering life and limb, are far more effective ways of delivering workplace safety improvements," he writes.
Marcello Malentacchi also calls on the International Labour Organisation (ILO), an official sponsor of the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, to put an end to the myth that deregulation will result in safer workplaces.
"The ILO and its global programme on health and safety, known as Safework, should play a vital leadership role in destroying the myth that deregulation is best," states Marcello Malentacchi.
Anita Normark, general secretary of the IFBWW also supports this view. "We do not agree with the ILO's approach of promoting Safety Culture and behavioural safety programmes. We want a rights based approach, we need trade union recognition, reasonable rights of access to workplaces to recruit, organise and represent on health and safety, as well as the establishment of trade union safety reps and joint trade union-management workplace safety committees," she said.
"In our increasingly globalised economy, health and safety standards must not fall to the lowest common denominator. Competing with China and India must not result in matching their shameful fatality rates," writes Marcello Malentacchi.
"Globalisation should be about enforcing the same high standards everywhere, not making work equally treacherous."
The World Congress on Safety and Health at Work is an international forum where specialists gather every three years to exchange ideas, and research on occupational health and safety. It is taking place in the U.S., September 18 to 22.
A copy of Marcello Malentacchi’s opinion column is published on the IMF website.
For further information about the World Congress on Safety and Health at Work go to: www.safety2005.org [September 15, 2005]
