On 24th April 2021, eight years will be concluded since the unspeakable Rana Plaza crime that cost the lives of 1134 garment workers, including 851 women. The collapse of the “Rana Plaza” an eight-story commercial building, uncovered the murderous, barbaric and unsafe working conditions that prevail in an industry that creates uncountable profits to the foreign and local bourgeoisie.
Eight years after the massive murder of Rana Plaza workers, the working class is still exposed to fatal dangers in all sectors and countries, trying to earn their livelihood. Moreover, the pandemic of the COVID-19 has undoubtedly revealed the indifference and the conscious denial of the bourgeoisie and its political representatives to take drastic protective measures despite the uncontrollable spread of the virus in crowded workplaces.
The criminal lack of health and safety measures and the unsecured working conditions constitute ever-present problems that doom the health, well being and life of millions of workers every year. According to the ILO data, 2.3 million workers around the world succumb to work-related accidents or diseases every year and there are around 340 million occupational accidents and 160 million victims of work-related illnesses annually. This is neither a “physical phenomenon” nor “necessary evil”, but is a continuing crime that is committed against the working class by an exploitative system that inherently, systematically, and constantly sacrifices workers for the sake of profit. Today, where the scientific achievements and productivity of labour are unprecedented, the elimination of occupational accidents and work-related diseases is feasible.
The World Federation of Trade Unions, the oldest and only class-oriented international trade union organization, representing 105 million workers from 130 countries, is organizing an International Forum on the employers’ crime of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, on 24th April, 2021.
We call upon the militant trade unions, affiliates and friends of the WFTU, to massively participate in the International Forum in order to commemorate the Rana Plaza workers who have been murdered and strengthen our voice for the protection of the life and health of the working class. We intensify our struggle for:
- Health and safety measures in the workplaces for the protection of the short and long term health of the workers.
- Adequate and sufficient paid leaves for health issues
- Strengthening of international outcry against the absence of employers’ accountability and strengthen international solidarity.
- Investigation and punishment of the responsible ones for the occupational accidents and full reparation of workers or their families in the case of work-related incident or illness.
- Free and universal provision of personal protective equipment, free and often COVID-19 testing and safety distance in all workplaces for the workers’ protection from the COVID-19.
The protection of workers in all aspects of their life is a main duty of the class-oriented trade union movement. We will relentlessly continue our struggle for the determination and implementation of health and safety measures in the workplaces, for free and safe vaccine for all, for public free and high-quality healthcare to all. The conference will be held through the ZOOM platform and trade unionist can send their participation, their thoughts and proposals to the following e-mail: asia@wftucentral.org and or athens@wftucentral.org
Workers health and safety over profits.
No more Rana Plazas.
No more murders in workplaces.
Details of the Forum:
Date: April 24th, 2021
Time: 16:00 p.m. Greek Time
ZOOM Meeting ID, Passcode and link:
Meeting ID: 917 2477 2758
Passcode: 041708
https://zoom.us/j/91724772758?pwd=dDJFaU12OUEwakxucnJWM3l1b2FVUT09
