Push for OSH Recognition Amplified Through UN's Human Rights Decade Call, Emphasizing ISO 45001 Standards for Worldwide Workplace Safety.
IOSH, the institution spearheading occupational safety advocacy, has fervently underscored the pivotal necessity for Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) to be universally recognised as an inherent human right across all nations.
Aligning with the 10th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, IOSH actively contributed to the UN's open consultation, advocating the pivotal role of ISO 45001, the global Health and Safety standard introduced in 2018, in materialising this paradigm shift.
The advocacy emphasised a proactive move 'beyond compliance' towards sustainability and comprehensive corporate reporting, where the well-being of workers is deemed 'material' to both national and corporate successes.
IOSH championed a vision for the next decade centred on embedding social elements into sustainability, advocating for decent work conditions, robust OSH management, and staunch measures to prevent modern slavery while offering protection to those in the informal economy.
While acknowledging the progress made in various initiatives, IOSH flagged reported concerns encompassing limited awareness, capacity constraints, inadequate national action plans, and regulatory and governance inadequacies. The organisation recommended robust capacity-building measures, stressing the imperative need for human and labor rights training for individuals involved in investment, governance, and stewardship roles.
IOSH advocated for increased efforts in developing and disseminating National Action Plans, integrating 'baseline assessments' to track progress and provide insights into future strategies. The call extended to further translations of the UNGPs (UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights).
Addressing the significance of social license to operate, IOSH stressed the growing demand for comprehensive corporate reporting, advocating for the explicit inclusion of OSH and human rights considerations. The role of globally recognised standards, such as ISO 26000, ISO 20400, ISO 45001, GRI 403:2018, and the IOSH UN-WTO Policy Hackathon submission, received prominence.
Emphasis was laid on instilling OSH considerations at the developmental concept stage to facilitate healthier and more sustainable outcomes.
This robust and multifaceted global initiative resonates with IOSH's relentless commitment to sustainability, human capital, and combating modern slavery and human trafficking. Leveraging the UN and its allies, IOSH endeavours to amplify its resounding message that Occupational Safety and Health stands as an undeniable fundamental right for all.
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