To remember those workers who are killed, injured or become ill due to “unsustainable forms of production”, representatives of the Trade Union Advisory Committee to the OECD (TUAC) are campaigning at the United Nations for decent work, better forms of worker protection, and participation in workplace decision-making.

At the time of writing, TUAC reported that ceremonies were due to be held in thousands of workplaces and public venues around the world – 10,000 in Italy alone – and millions of workers were expected to observe the 28 April International Day of Commemoration. TUAC notes that this activity coincides with the official opening of the high-level segment of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) session in New York, in which government ministers and other high-ranking officials will review the implementation of agreements from the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.

Trade unionists were expected to brief representatives of the CSD meeting in New York at the time, to bring them up to date on the actions taking place around the world and to confirm their resolve to work towards more sustainable workplaces, TUAC said.

©OECD Observer No 243, May 2004