Working conditions in the textile, garment and leather industries around the world increasingly demand special attention and effort from the international trade union movement. Every year, some two million men and women lose their lives through accidents and diseases linked to their work. In addition, workers suffer 270 million occupational accidents and 160 million occupational diseases each year.

The failure of many governments to enforce health and safety standards means that efforts to improve working conditions in one country can be undermined by the flight of production to countries where workplace safety is ignored. Ignoring occupational health and safety is one way by which international market operators can minimise costs, engaging in a form of "social dumping" at the real costs of workers' lives.

The ITGLWF is committed to :

- efficient legislation implemented at the workplace and progress through evaluation and control;
- the attainment by the public authorities of the international and national health and security standards for their own employees;
- the prevention of accidents and illnesses at work;
- collective bargaining to establish committees and negotiate health and safety rights and duties at factory level;
- the improvement of worker representation and the development of the information, consultation and participation of workers and trade unions on decisions in the area of health and safety and the organisation of work;
- consideration of gender related aspects and problems.

• support pressure on governments in every part of the world to enact and effectively implement the strongest possible legislation, providing coverage and protection for every worker, including mandatory prison sentences for deliberately negligent employers;

• promote internationally enforceable standards for a healthy and safe working environment, in particular ILO Conventions No. 155 on Occupational Health and Safety No. 103 on Maternity Protection, No.161 on Health Services at Work and No. 170 on chemicals;

• continue to liase closely with the ILO in the preparation and implementation of all ILO health and safety initiatives affecting workers in our sectors;

• develop proper trade union methods of investigation and workplace assessment in order to identify priorities and needs and covering the different aspects of safety, health (including mental health) and well being;

• incorporate health and safety training as an integral part of its educational programmes and produce and make available materials on health and safety issues for use in training;

• gather and disseminate information on legislation, agreements and practices applied in different countries, as well as details of research on health and safety matters;

• campaign for the development of ergonomic standards adequately addressing repetitive strain injuries and promoting the reduction of repetitive and monotonous work;

• continue to expose health and safety hazards in the textile, garment and leather sectors and conduct campaigns on health and safety issues of concern to its affiliates and their members;

• encourage and assist affiliates to promote awareness among their members about the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to prevent it;

• observe the International Day of Mourning on April 28 each year, using the occasion to draw attention to the need for improvements in occupational health and safety;

• campaign for the elimination of the use of harmful products and procedures and support initiatives on the development of safe substitutes;

• support "right to know" campaigns on work related risks and means of protection.

Links and Resources

Some of the following health and safety materials are available for download while others may be obtained from the ITGLWF Secretariat:

-a basic manual on occupational health and safety (English/French/Spanish/Arabic );

-a booklet on study sessions on occupational health and safety (English/French/Spanish);

-a booklet on Women’s Health and Safety in the textile, garment and leather industries (English/French/Spanish/German);

-a booklet on the health effects of child labour (English);

-a booklet on the issue of dust (English /French /Spanish );

-a CD-Rom on fire prevention (English/French/Italian/Spanish );

-a CD-Rom on musculoskeletal disorders in the garment sector (English/French/Spanish);

-a CD-Rom on HIV/AIDS (English/French);

-a poster on HIV/AIDS (English/French/Spanish); 

-a video called “The Thread of Life” on the hazards in the textile, garment and leather sectors (English/French/Spanish/Arabic/Portuguese/Russian