Focus on worker protection, IOSH urges

IOSH is particularly advocating for greater protections for women, people with disabilities, migrant workers, indigenous communities and those employed under non-standard contracts.

Dr Ivan Williams Jimenez, senior policy and public affairs manager at IOSH, said better protection of human rights must always include labour rights and occupational safety and health protections.

He said: “This year’s theme for Human Rights Day emphasises the significance and relevance of human rights in our daily lives. IOSH’s presence at the recent 13th United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights last month reaffirmed our strong commitment to advocating for human rights within the business context. This entails not only improving governance and laws but also providing greater protections for marginalised individuals.

“Many governments and businesses are actively working to uphold human rights by implementing bans on products that are wholly or partially made using forced labour. This is being achieved through binding social clauses in international trade agreements, through the elaboration of national action plans on business and human rights and promoting responsible investment.”

Human Rights Day is marked every year on 10 December to commemorate the day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 

It is now two-and-a-half years since the International Labour Organization (ILO) added a safe and healthy working environment to the list of fundamental principles and rights at work. IOSH supported this move and urges Member States to implement relevant international conventions.

Dr Williams Jimenez added: “At IOSH, we will continue to support the agenda helping tackle poor conditions, child labour and modern slavery. We expect to see the trend of making human rights an integral part of corporate sustainability into reality for governments and businesses to commit to.”