Safety and health at work in Asia and the Pacific

Occupational accidents and diseases have an impact not only on the lives of individual workers but also on the productivity and profitability of their enterprises and ultimately on the welfare of their entire societies. Governments, workers and employers in Asia and the Pacific are increasing their efforts to prevent accidents and diseases at the workplace. The ILO works with them to strengthen national occupational safety and health (OSH) systems, including labour inspections, occupational injury reporting, training and information, and national OSH campaigns.

The ILO’s health and safety mandate includes helping workers, employers and governments respond to the challenges created by HIV (the Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS (the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, caused by HIV). Helping them to do this, and to eradicate related stigmas and discrimination in the workplace is a fundamental part of the ILO’s Decent Work agenda in Asia.

The ILO also assists countries with developing and implementing their strategic National OSH Programmes, to create a preventative safety and health culture and reach more workers, including migrants, those with HIV/AIDS and those in the informal economy.