It’s been two weeks since International Workers Memorial Day. Workers worldwide commemorated their comrades who died at work and discussed ways to organise for health & safety at work. But the capitalist hunger for profits has not diminished, and many more workers have been killed and injured – so that the rich can become richer. Here are just a few stories.
It’s been two weeks since International Workers Memorial Day. Workers worldwide commemorated their comrades who died at work and discussed ways to organise for health & safety at work. But the capitalist hunger for profits has not diminished, and many more workers have been killed and injured – so that the rich can become richer. Here are just a few stories.
In Thailand at least 15 workers were killed in industrial accidents in two separate workplaces. On Saturday 5 May a major explosion destroyed a synthetic factory in Rayong province, south of Bangkok. At least 13 workers died with another 130 injured. The subsequent fire sent toxic fumes poisoning the residential areas in the surrounding districts. Locals had campaigned for years against this industrial complex on health and safety issues. In the same week, another 3 workers were killed due to poor OHS standards while working on the Baiyoke Tower II. Long term activist Somboon Sikhamdokkae has stated that health & safety improvements in Thailand are just too few.
In the Philippines workers died in workplace fire. Due to low wages, many Filipino workers are forced to sleep in and around their workplaces. This proved fatal for at least 18 Filipino workers employed as shop assistants at the commercial complex in Butuan City, in the southern island of Mindanao’s Agusan del Norte province. Initial investigations have shown that yet again exit doors were padlocked shut, blocking any possible escape routes for the workers.
In Bangladesh a shipyard worker was crushed to death. Shipbreaking in South Asia is a big industry due to the low costs associated with it. This means that workers not only work for terrible wages but the OHS conditions are such that injuries and deaths are common. Unfortunately, earlier this month, Mansur Ali was crushed to death while dismantling a ship.
In Australia a truck driver was killed by a forklift while unloading his truck in a worksite in Melbourne. There have been five fatal workplace accidents just in the state of Victoria since the start of the year.
In Cambodia a tribunal exhamined the reasons for mass faintings at work. It was found that workers are exhausted and undefed, having to work even when sick and poisoned by chamicals.