Inquiries into ILO Convention No.187: Promotional Framework for Occupational Health and Safety, and ILO Convention No.191: Safe and Healthy Working Environment (Consequential Amendments)

The ACTU is the representative of Australian workers at the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and is proud to have voted in favour of including ‘a safe and healthy working environment’ in the ILO’s framework of fundamental principles and rights at work at the 110th session of the International Labour Conference in 2022. Elevating ‘safe and healthy working environment’ to become the ILO’s fifth fundamental principle and right at work means that ILO Member states, by virtue of their membership of the ILO, have an obligation to respect, promote and realise this right. The principles, as enshrined in the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work are:

1. Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
2. The elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour;
3. The effective abolition of child labour;
4. The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation; and
5. A safe and healthy working environment.

The five principles each have 2 associated Conventions that elaborate on these rights:

1. Freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining (Conventions 87 and 98).
2. The elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour (Conventions 29 and 105).
3. The effective abolition of child labour (Conventions 138 and 182).
4. The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation (Conventions 100 and 111).
5. A safe and healthy working environment (Conventions 155 and 187).