ASIA - OHSE WATCH

LABOUR UPDATES

The International Labour Organization (ILO) as in the past, promoted tripartite 28 April events around the world by organizing an event at its headquarters in Geneva, and by making a number of resources available on its website. The 28 April 2006 work is always intended to focus international attention on promoting and creating a preventative safety and health culture at work and to help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries each year. This includes HIV/AIDS, and the effort to make work decent for those suffering from the disease, by eliminating workplace stigma and discrimination related to HIV/AIDS. www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/
safework/worldday/oshlinks.htm

NIOSH TO DEVELOP GRANTS FOR OSH TRAINING FOR SMIS

Malaysian industries should not use excuses such as cost to prevent them from practicing occupational safety and health at their workplaces. Chairperson of the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, said while NIOSH fully understands the dilemma of costs versus productivity, industries should view safety as an investment. He said the returns from such practices are in fact enormous and beneficial to the industry operators. Mr Lee said the institute is collaborating with the Human Resource Development Berhad and Social Security Organisation to provide special grants for occupational safety and health training and awareness among small and medium enterprises.

In the past, trade unions have not been seen as major players in the AIDS response. There are several reasons for this, and a number of challenges have been clearly identified that prevent the trade union movement from being as effective as it could be. In an effort to strengthen its initiatives towards this end, the GUF’ envisions among others, the following strategy and workplan for 2006 – 2007 on HIV/AIDS; 
1. Position trade unions as providers of AIDS work to increase funding and have an impact on the AIDS response – make the case for TUs’ value added
2. Fine-tune messaging around AIDS – differentiate AIDS from other issues and highlight exceptionality
3. Mainstream AIDS into other issues within TU movement and ministries, at all levels
4. Expand partnerships – NGOs, WAC, Global Fund, other groups/ministries – to increase advocacy
5. Use normal channels and build on existing foundations – use what you have
6. Take strategic advantage of selected upcoming opportunities

BILS AND PWF CONDUCT CSR TRAININGS

BILS of Bangladesh and PWF of Pakistan have conducted their Corporate Social Responsibility training in line with the FNV-LO/FTF –OHSEI project. The local workshop in Bangladesh was held on 3-4 May at Dhaka City, For Pakistan, it was on 10-11 May at Multan City. 

The Global Public Policy Institute (GPPI, www.gppi.net) has been asked by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to conduct a review of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).They are conducting a survey among experts in the non-financial (sustainability) OHSEI has been invited to participate in the survey given its interest and track record in the field of sustainable development and CSR.

HIV-AIDS

GLOBAL UNIONS KICK OFF 28 APRIL AIDS CAMPAIGN

Global Unions stepped up their AIDS campaign by calling on the AIDS community worldwide to join the 28 April International Commemoration Day (ICD) for Dead and Injured Workers” and build momentum towards establishing a permanent high-level working group on AIDS at the G8 meeting in Russia in July. Alan Leather, Chair of the Global Unions’ AIDS Programme Steering Committee, appealed to trade unions worldwide to use their 28 April activities as springboards for a four-month lobby with Environment, Health, and Labour Ministers attending key UN meetings and Ministerial-level G8 preparations. http://www.global-unions.org/pdf/ohsewpH_3e.EN.pdf

OHSEI PARTICIPATES IN 20TH NATIONAL SAFETY WEEK IN THAILAND

OHSEI actively participated in the 20th National Safety Week in Thailand, which was held on 10-13 May 2006 at Impact Muangthong Thani, Bangkok. Trainers from three companies such as Thai Arrow, Isuzu Motor, Royal Porcelain assisted OHSEI in the preparation of the OHSEI exhibition board. The OHSEI booth was handled by its staff for four days. 

OHSEI TO ASSIST NILP ON OSH TRAINING IN HANOI

OHSEI will assist the National Institute of Labour Protection (NILP) in the conduct of a three-day occupational safety and health training in Hanoi on 31 May – 2 June 2006, and in organizing a four-day study tour to Thailand for 10 NILP staff on 5-8 June 2006.