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NAIROBI
HOLDS FIRST LABOUR ASSEMBLY
The First
Trade Union Assembly on Labour and Environment was held
in Kenya, Nairobi on 14 – 17 January 2006. Mr. Ng Wei
Khiang, OHSEI Director attended the Assembly and
presented OHSEI’s OSH Framework. The
Assembly brought together more than 150 trade union
representatives from developing and developed countries
along with environment and sustainable development
experts, governments and UN representatives. The assembly
concluded with a series of undertakings from the trade
union movement and key United Nations bodies. Prior to
the event, the Trade Union Assembly Workbook was released
to Trade Union OSHE Network
for comments. The Assembly adopted recommendations
(Workers’ Initiative for Lasting Legacy – WILL
2006) in its final
resolution.
http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?
Index=991223286&Language=EN
UNEP
INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES ENERGY EFFICIENCY GUIDE FOR
INDUSTRY IN ASIA
The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
and the Thailand Institute and Technological Research (TISTR)
conducted an International Launch of the “Energy
Efficiency Guide for Industry in Asia” on 18 January
2006 at the Four Seasons Hotel Ball Room, Bangkok,
Thailand. Speakers from UNEP, the Ministry of Science and
Technology and G-Steel underlined the importance of the
Guide to assist Asian industry to save energy, reduce
costs and protect the environment. The Guide is the main
output of the “Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction from
Industry in Asia” (GERIAP) project that covered five
industrial sectors in nine Asian countries. Participants
of the event were provided with a copy (manual) of the
Guide. Mr. Jose Maria S. Batino, OHSEI Project Officer
attended the launch. See
Guide
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NUBCW
HOLDS NATIONAL OSH CONFERENCE
NUBCW
(National
Union of Building and Construction Workers) of
the Philippines held its National Conference on
Occupational Safety and Health on 18 December 2005 with
the theme “OSH Awareness in Construction”,
at the Occupational Safety and Health Center. The
highlights of the Conference included the drawing up of
the OHS Program of Action for each region (Luzon,
Visayas, Mindanao), and the Oath Taking Ceremony of the
officers of the Philippine Society of Construction
Safety Practitioners (PSCSP), that was organized in
October 2005. More
than 90 construction workers, employers, people from
academe, government personnel and invited guests
attended the Conference.
PSLINK
IDENTIFIES OSH ISSUES IN NATIONAL CONFERENNCE (excerpt
from PSLINK report)
Sis.
Annie Geron said that among the identified OSH issues
and concern is the existence of many laws and polices.
There were suggestions on the need to review and assess
the existing laws and polices of OSH in public sector,
and as corresponding activity with the issue, it was
proposed to convene a stakeholder meeting on OHS to be
conducted in January 2006.
They also identified lack of information and
dissemination, lack of agency to lead OSH in the public
sector, and lack of institutionalized mechanism to deal
with OSH issues in public sector.
They agreed to commit themselves to convene a
stakeholders meeting, to conduct assessment of
stakeholders, to conduct planning workshops and issue
policies to create OSH mechanism in the workplace. Go
to article
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Corporate
Social Responsibility
Promoting
health and safety as a key goal of the corporate social
responsibility agenda
In
order for the CSR movement to give OHS greater
prominence, it must be viewed as a material issue of
reputational risk and business performance and/or an
important element in the interaction of the business
with employees. OHS must be given greater prominence by
employees - and those who represent them - in their
interaction with employers. The trade union movement
must be persuaded to broaden its vision for OHS beyond
compliance to embrace the potential that engagement with
employers on the CSR agenda holds for promoting OHS.
http://www.hsesro.com/View_Article.aspx?id=79
HIV-AIDS
Trade
Unions to Spread Action Against HIV/AIDS in 2006
2006
will see the roll-out of a series of workplace
initiatives in countries which are being severely hit by
the pandemic, following agreements with the
International Organization of Employers and the World
Health Organization. "Trade unions have unique
capacity and credibility in the workplace to help tackle
HIV/AIDS, and we welcome cooperation with employers and
governments which are prepared to support this
work", said ICFTU General Secretary Guy Ryder.
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?index=3571&Language=EN
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MESSAGE
FROM OHSEI DIRECTOR
The
Occupational Health, Safety and Environment Institute
joins all trade unions, workers and enterprises in
welcoming the New Year. For 2006, we hope that there
would be a decrease in all work-related accidents and
illnesses. OHSEI will double its efforts to promote
better health and safety in workplaces in Asia and other
parts of the world though improved collaboration with
workers and the trade unions in more responsive
undertakings. – Ng Wei Khiang
OHSEI
GEARS UP FOR ITS 2006 PROGRAMS
OHSEI
is in the thick of its preparations for its 2006
programs and activities. The FNV/ LO-FTF assisted
project on Occupational safety and Health and Corporate
Social Responsibility as a Vehicle for Organising and
Social Dialogue tops OHSEI’s list of activities for
this year. There would be monitoring of the activities
of the partner trade unions in the Bangladesh, Pakitan,
Philippines and Indonesia. A forllow-up training for
previous participants in the OSH and CSR components will
be conducted during the middle of the year. OHSEI
continues with its joint undertakings with the American
center for International Labor Solidarity (ACILS),
Solidarity Center, Australian
People for Health, Education and Development Abroad
(APHEDA) and other partner and donor agencies.
Among OHSEI’s pipeline projects is the Provision of
Thai OHS Bill Review Service for ACILS, which
comparative analysis of the Thai OSH Bill vis-à-vis
other regional OSH legislation (Singapore, Malaysia and
Philippines) and international OSH convention.
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