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New EU-ILO partnership to improve occupational safety and health in the Mediterranean region, notably through strengthened labour inspectorates

The project will benefit workers in vulnerable conditions, such as women and young workers, with a focus on the agricultural sector in Maghreb (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia)

News | 30 November 2022
A new project funded by the European Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion) and implemented by the ILO aims to facilitate access of workers in vulnerable conditions to safe and healthy jobs in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia. The action focuses on women and young workers, primarily in the agricultural sector.

The project “Safety + Health for All in Maghreb countries: Promoting a safe and healthy working environment for workers in vulnerable situations such as young workers and women” will be carried out for 18 months from November 2022, as part of the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Employment and Labour Roadmap 2022-2025. The plan follows the UfM Marrakech Ministerial Declaration of May 2022 committing to the promotion of safety and health at work in the North-African region.

There is an even more pressing need for job creation and decent work for all, including fair wages, decent working times, safety and health at work and social protection for all, as essential conditions for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Ministers in charge of Employment and Labour, Union for the Mediterranean
Ministerial Declaration, 18 May 2022
The interventions will be implemented through the ILO Safety + Health for All flagship programme, which aims at improving the safety and health of workers worldwide. The new project has prioritized interventions with a focus on the agriculture sector due to its relevance and large workforce in the participating countries, the work-related risks, and the high degree of informality. Women and young workers represent a great number of workers employed in this sector and are likely to work in unhealthy and unsafe conditions.

To address these challenges, the project will conduct training activities and awareness campaigns. The aim is to support the capacities of ministries in charge of labour and their labour inspectorates, workers’ and employers’ organizations and other key stakeholders, as well as to disseminate information directly to workers.

By preventing occupational accidents and diseases, the project advances on the path towards the 2030 Agenda, ensuring that the countries have healthy workforces, productive enterprises and the conditions to support sustainable economic growth.