Motion: International Workers’ Memorial Day 2015

International Workers’ Memorial Day 2015

Lodged by Drew Smith Standard Motion 34 supporters

The motion

That the Parliament welcomes International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on 28 April 2015, an annual day of global action to defend and promote health and safety rights and to “Remember the dead; Fight for the living"; recognises that the purpose of IWMD is to remember people who have been killed or injured at work and to continue to fight to ensure that such workplace tragedies are not repeated; notes that this year’s theme is "removing exposure to hazardous substances in the workplace"; understands that hazardous substances are found in almost every workplace in the UK and many workers have no protection against the possible effects, despite the fact that tens of thousands of workers have their health destroyed by asthma, dermatitis, lung disorders and cancers because of exposures; further understands that, in the UK, over 20,000 people die prematurely every year as a result of injuries or accidents caused by their work and that worldwide the figure is two million people, more than are killed in wars; notes what it considers the important role of trade unions, with research suggesting that, without union involvement, workplace injury and illness increase significantly; encourages people to mark IWMD in some way, either through attending or organising an event, wearing the purple ribbon, which is the symbol of IWMD, or by holding a minute's silence to remember the people who have lost their lives at work, and highlights that this will be the first year that IWMD will be commemorated at the new Glasgow memorial to workplace accidents, unveiled at the end of last year and situated at Glasgow Green.

Supporters (34)