Subject of the World Safety Day in 2020 “Violence and harassment in the area of labor”

The World Safety Day is celebrated annually on April 28 since 2003. Slogans of the holiday are changed every year, they are related to provision and preservation of security of the personnel at production site (creation of safe working places, decrease in number of accidents and injuries, improving safety in case of work with hazardous substances etc.).

Slogan on the World Safety Day in 2020 is “Violence and harassment in the area of labor”

International Labour Organization (hereinafter - ILO) considers workplace violence as hazardous production factor, leading to death and injuries of people

Violence is intended, willful acts of one individual, aimed to infliction of harm, injury or death to another individual (using physical force and/or other means).

Subject of the ILO Convention concerning liquidation of violence and harassment in the area of labor No. 190 (hereinafter – Convention) was agreed by the parties of the social partnership during work of the special committee within the framework of 108^th session of ILO, which was held since June 10 – 21, 2019 in ILO headquarters in Geneva and was confined to ILO centenary celebration.

The Convention covers all participants of labor area, that each is entitled to labor without violence and harassment, and nobody make choice between work and safety.

According to Article 2, the Convention protects employees and other individuals in the area of labor, including salaried employees as defined by the national legislation and practice, and also employees, regardless of their contractual status, individuals doing an apprenticeship, including interns and apprentices, workers, which labor relations were terminated, volunteers, job seekers and applicants, and also individuals, performing competent functions, performing duties and responsible on behalf of the employer.

The Convention is applicable to all sectors, public and private, in formal and informal economies, whether in urban or rural regions.

Each member of the Organization, ratifying this Convention, acknowledges and promotes implementation of the right of everyone to labor without violence and harassment.

Each member of the Organization introduces and applies inclusive, complex and gender-sensitive approach to prevention and liquidation of violence and harassment in the area of labor in accordance with the national legislation and conditions and during consultations with representative organizations of employers and employees.

Such approach shall take into account violence and harassment on the part of the third parties and it provides following where necessary:

1) statutory ban of violence and harassment;

2) relevant policies providing counteracting to violence and harassment;

3) adoption of integrated strategy for the purpose of implementation of measures aimed at prevention and liquidation of violence and harassment;

4) creation or strengthening of enforcement and monitoring mechanisms;

5) access provision to victims to legal remedies and support;

6) punishment of liable persons;

7) development of tools and manuals, and also training and vocational preparation and conduction of outreach in available formats, as appropriate;

8) provision of efficient facilities of technical inspections and investigations in case of violence and harassment, including with the participation of labor inspection service and other competence authorities.

State Labour Inspectorate Administration of East-Kazakhstani area congratulates all employees of East-Kazakhstani area, including occupational health and safety engineers and technical inspectors with the World Safety Day. We wish good health and safe labour conditions in this difficult period of the country due to announcement of pandemic of new coronavirus COVID-19 by the World Health Organization.