Safety and health at work in China and Mongolia

Workers producing electrical components at a large factory in Shenzhen, China.

See more photos on China and Mongolia areas of work in ILO Flickr photo library.
Decent Work must be safe work. ILO estimates that about 2.3 million people worldwide die from work-related accidents and diseases every year. In addition, 270 million people suffer work injuries and 160 million suffer from short or long term illnesses related to their work annually.

Work-related accidents, injuries 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 the whole society. Governments, workers and employers in China and Mongolia are strengthening their efforts to prevent accidents and diseases at work. The ILO works with them to promote a preventative safety culture via the biennial China International Forum on Work Safety and the observation of World Day on Safety and Health at Work each April 28. National occupational safety and health systems, including legal frameworks, inspections, occupational accidents and injuries reporting, training and information, and social dialogue are being strengthened.

The main challenge is to address occupational safety and health in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) where many young and migrant workers are employed. The ILO has been promoting a practical training programme on WISE (Work Improvement in Small Enterprises) in SMEs to meet the challenge.

The ILO’s safety and health mandate includes helping workers, employers and governments respond to the challenges created by HIV/AIDS and other health and psychosocial risks. Risk management focusing on prevention and anti-discrimination in the workplace is a key for successful response.

Safety and health at work is a workers' human right and an integral part of people-oriented, safe development agenda put forward by the Government. A healthy workforce and safe and productive enterprises are part of the sustainable development strategy.

Country profiles on occupational safety and health
China 
Mongolia