"Every Worker Is Essential and Must Be Protected from COVID-19, No Matter What" -- UN Rights Experts
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights -
As countries begin to ease recent
restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, a
group of UN human
rights experts call on Governments and businesses
to ensure all
workers are protected from exposure to COVID-19.
"No worker is expendable. Every worker is
essential, no matter
what category is applied to them by States or
businesses. Every
worker has the right to be protected from exposure
to hazards in
the workplace, including the coronavirus.
We are concerned at the number of frontline
workers who have
not been given adequate protection during peak
periods of
contagion in various countries and economic
sectors. And as
Governments continue to reduce restrictions and
workers begin to
return to work, we urge all States and businesses
to ensure
preventative and precautionary measures are in
place to protect
every worker.
We are also deeply concerned about the
disproportionate risk
presented to workers that are low-income,
minorities, migrants,
older persons and those with pre-existing health
conditions,
women, as well as the informal sector and those in
the 'gig'
economy.
"We urge States and businesses to work with
labour unions and
other worker representatives to help ensure
necessary safeguards
are in place.
Following our call at the International Labour
Conference in
2019, we welcome ongoing discussions on including
the right to
safe and healthy work as a fundamental right and
principle of the
International Labour Organization (ILO). However, it is
long overdue
that the ILO recognizes safe and healthy work and
we urge the
Organisation's governing body to acknowledge this
right without
further delay, along with other internationally
recognised human
rights.
Forcing vulnerable workers with little choice but
to endure
conditions that put them at risk, including by
dismantling
previously established labour rights, can
constitute a form of
forced labour, according to the ILO.
We express our respect and admiration to workers
on the
frontline of this pandemic, providing health care,
food, water,
sanitation, and other necessary goods and
services, and our
condolences to the families of those who have lost
loved ones in
such service.
Our message today is simple, but crucial: every
worker must be
protected, no matter what."
This article was published in
Volume 50 Number 18 - May 23, 2020
Article Link:
"Every Worker Is Essential and Must Be Protected from COVID-19, No Matter What" -- UN Rights Experts - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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