I N F O R M A T I O N
The International Trade Union Confederation, the International Labour Organization in collaboration with the Educational - research center of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia on June 3-4 in Tsaghkadzor held a joint seminar on "Strengthening trade union policy on preventive measures in the field of occupational safety and health."
The seminar was attended by the representatives of the trade union centers of Armenia, Russia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Tajikistan.
The Chairman of the Confederation of Trade Unions of Armenia Eduard Tumasyan while welcoming the guests pointed out that such experience and views exchange on the issues of occupational health and safety is of a vital importance.
Senior Specialist in Workers' Activities of the ILO Moscow Office Sergius Glovatskas referring to a list of hazardous work and the statistics of accidents and deaths at work, said that they all occur mainly because of violations of occupational health and safety rules.
The representative of the ILO Moscow Office Valentin Mocanu spoke on ILO policy on preventive measures, some provisions of the ILO Conventions №187 and №155 «On the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health" and "Occupational Safety and Health”, the process of their ratification. The ILO expert Oxana Gerasimova introduced to the participants the ILO campaign, told about the International day of labour protection, the forming of the preventive policy, about ILO’s systematic approach to the issues of occupational safety and health - from the national level to the enterprise level.
The roundtable participants spoke about the trade union policy in the NIS countries, they presented the OSH system in their countries, as well as its tasks, resources and role in strengthening the capacity of trade unions.
Head of the Department of supervision on the implementation of labor law of the Ministry of Health of Armenia Varazdat Danielyan presented the reforms in the labor inspectorate.
The working groups organized by the Senior Researcher of the European Trade Union Institute Victor Kempa debated on what type of knowledge on OSH the unions need and how to build OSH capacity in trade unions. Work in groups also included practical preparation of projects and the discussion of the tools that should be used by trade unions in order to increase the influence of workers in the sphere of occupational safety, presentation of a financing instrument TAIEX.
Summing up the seminar the ITUC-PERC adviser Olga Nicolae highlighted the importance of such seminars, acquired skills and knowledge, suggested the main lines for future work plan of the OSH Network in the NIS.
