International News

Global: WHO concedes respirators are necessary 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has conceded higher protection respirators are necessary to protect workers from COVID-19 in a wide range of health and care workplace settings. The new recommendation states staff should have access to properly fitted respirators. 

Previously, the WHO has rejected or downplayed the risk of airborne transmission of COVID-19, limiting the respirator recommendation to just medical ‘aerosol-generating procedures’ or surgical masks. 

Source: TUC

 

Turkey: Turkish metalworkers fight for a fair contract 

Covering 142,000 metalworkers in more than 300 companies, Turkish metalworkers have commenced sector-wide collective bargaining. Since mid-December, metalworkers have carried out actions, urging employers to accept their demands against the backdrop of Turkey’s economic crisis. 

The unions are demanding pay and benefit increases, an improvement of working hours, healthcare, and paid overtime. 

Source: IndustriALL 

 

Myanmar: Workers die in jade mines 

The death of at least six jade miners in a landslide in Hpakant, Myanmar on 22 December 2021 highlights the urgent need to curb unsafe mining practices and protect miners’ lives, the global union IndustriALL has said. 

The incident involved a landslide that occurred amid heavy rainfalls in the monsoon season. 70 jade miners were swept into a large mining pond. In 2020, more than 160 jade miners were killed in another landslide in Hpakant. 

Studies had established that landslides were mainly caused by unsafe mining practices implemented by mining companies. 

Source: TUC

Share Tweet

RELATED

MORAL INJURY STRONG PREDICTOR OF PTSD IN PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL
New research from Canada has identified links between moral injury (MI) and the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Public safety personnel, such as police officers, firefighters, paramedics, health care workers,...
Read More
EMPLOYERS CONTINUE TO PUT APPRENTICES AT RISK
Every week we see reports of employers disregarding the safety and rights of apprentices and other young and vulnerable workers. The following prosecutions are just two of this week’s cases. Read on...
Read More
$750K FINE FOR WA MINING COMPANY NORTHERN STAR MINING
Underground mining services company Northern Star Mining Services Pty Ltd has been fined $750,000 after a drill operator sustained spinal and leg injuries while working on heavy machinery. This amounts to the...
Read More