On 28 April, trade unions across the world marked International Workers’ Memorial Day. The day provides a moment to remember the people who have lost their lives, health, and livelihoods because of unsafe work.
In the European Union – according to 2023 Eurostat data – this equates to 3,298 fatal accidents (0.1 percent of all accidents in the EU) and 2.83 million non-fatal accidents at work. For trade unionists, every workplace death or injury is a searing reminder about the crucial role that standards, legislation, and regulations play in preventing harm, and why occupational health and safety must be at the centre of the rules that govern the world of work.
From the ongoing revision of the EU standardization legislation to the work of the European Commission’s High-Level Forum on European Standardization, the ETUC continues to push for stronger trade union participation in the creation and implementation of these rules. When these frameworks are developed without the full involvement of workers, protections are weakened. But as we have seen time and time again, inclusive, ambitious, and robustly enforced standards can help save lives.
