Alarm is sounding about the worrying situation of occupational safety and health in Iraq, particularly in the oil and gas sector [EN/AR] – Iraq

Basrah, November 11, 2022 – Participants in the trade union workshop on occupational safety and health in the oil and gas sector, organized by the IndustriALL Global Union, and with the participation of a number of trade unions, the International Labor Organization in Iraq, and The National Health and Safety Center-Basra Branch are sounding the alarm about the worrying situation of safety and health at work in Iraq, especially in the oil and gas sector.

Participants called for addressing this issue with an integrated vision that takes into account climate change resulting from global warming and environmental pollution. The emission of gases from extraction operations and from the oil industry is considered as one of the main reasons for the aggravation of this issue in the southern governments in general and Basra in particular.

The participants noted the phenomenon of the outbreak of diseases directly related to the activities of certain professions due to the poor compliance of employers with occupational safety and health measures.

This grim picture requires all governments, business owners, labor unions, civil society organizations, international organizations and development partners to take serious steps to improve the working environment, the most important of which is the development of framework legislative and in particular rapid approval. of the Law on Safety and Health at Work in accordance with Convention 155 of the International Labor Organization on Safety and Health at Work.

The participants also referred to the adoption by the International Labor Conference this year of the right to a safe and healthy working environment as one of the fundamental principles and rights at work.

Participants also called for the creation of national policies and mechanisms to effectively monitor the compliance of companies operating in the oil and gas sector, taking into account the steps recently taken by the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs through close cooperation with International Labor. Organization in Iraq, including the preparation of a national policy, profile and program for occupational safety and health, emphasizing the continuation of technical cooperation during the coming years in the field of occupational safety and health in relation to the implementation of the provisions of this policy. , activating the notification and registration system of accidents and injuries at work for workers as well as occupational diseases developed by the International Labor Organization in Iraq, and periodically building the capacities of the Ministry in the field of strategic compliance planning for safety and health inspections In work.

In conclusion, the participants agreed that promoting high levels of occupational health and safety is the responsibility of the entire community, and the culture of occupational safety and health must be instilled and maintained at the national level and for all spectrums of Iraqi society, in addition to the media to actively contribute to the achievement of this goal by prioritizing health and safety in national strategies. Participants called on all parties to develop plans and programs for a just transition to an environment that uses clean energy and technology and that puts the protection of workers’ health and safety at the top of its priorities as workers are the core of building advanced and modern societies.

For more information please contact:
Nisreen Bathish
Communication consultant
International Labor Organization (ILO)
Email: bathish@iloguest.org