News online
International Labour Organization endorses ITF international week of action
5 October 2005
 |  | | Road transport workers in Mongolia participating in last year's action day | |
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has thrown its weight behind the ITF’s road transport international week of action and acknowledged the federation’s campaign to highlight the issue of fatigue in the sector.
The ILO expressed its support for the ITF’s action campaign in a recently published working paper, The issues of fatigue and working time in the road transport sector, which recognises the health and safety implications of fatigue in the sector. It states: “Although fatigue cannot always be avoided, it can be better managed. Governments and employers and workers and their organizations, are making strides to combat fatigue. In particular, some governments are introducing new technologies, better working time legislation and improved enforcement. However, more needs to be done, especially in less developed countries, to improve the situation in the road transport sector.”
During road transport action week between 10 and 16 October, the ITF and affiliated unions across the world will campaign for an improvement in transport workers’ conditions and for unionisation of the unorganised. Also among the unions’ demands are an end to forced overtime, safer roads and secure rest places.
Mac Urata, ITF Inland Transport Section Secretary, commented: “We welcome the ILO initiative to support our global campaign. With regards to the ILO’s reference to the costs of implementing any new regulations, referred to in the paper’s conclusions, the ITF firmly believes that a real costing would cover a number of factors. These include road deaths and injuries caused by drivers worked too hard and too long, hospitalisation, chronic ill-health and insufficient time for maintenance resulting in vehicles’ poor fuel and mechanical efficiency. Clearly this highlights a cost-benefit rationale for limited hours."
More information: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/papers/transport/wp232.pdf
Back to current news online stories
|
