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The International Labor Organization (ILO) warned that a second wave of the virus could erupt if workers do not receive adequate medical care to return to work. A statement from the agency’s Geneva office on Tuesday issued a warning.
Pressure is mounting in the country to relax closing restrictions. In this context, the ILO urges governments to take measures to prevent and control COVID-19 in the workplace. The ILO believes that the necessary measures should be taken in this regard through active participation and dialogue with employers and labor organizations.
The ILO says that all employers must assess the risks of workers and ensure that workers are protected before returning to work. Without that control, countries would be at risk of a second wave of viruses. Taking the necessary steps will reduce the risk of a second wave of infection in the workplace.
In a statement, ILO Director-General Guy Ryder said: “The safety and health of our entire workforce is of utmost importance today. The impact of the epidemic depends on how we protect our workers from an outbreak of disease infectious, how safe are our communities and how stable are our businesses. ”
Guy Ryder said: ‘Only through occupational safety and medical care can we save the lives of workers, their families and the community at large. It will be possible to maintain continuity of work and survive economically.
To do this, it called for ensuring adequate health security for people participating in emergency services, including health workers.
In the context of Bangladesh, the ILO Country Director for Bangladesh, Tumo Pattinen, said: “As some industries slowly start to take off, the ILO has developed a triple strategy to ensure a safe return to work in the context of Bangladesh “. The first step is to take a series of occupational safety and health measures based on discussions between employers and workers and to share the risk of coronavirus.
“The ILO, in collaboration with the Department of Factory and Establishment Inspection (DIFE) of the Ministry of Labor, has developed specific guidelines on Covid-19 to prevent the spread of the virus and workers,” said Tumo Patiinen. In addition, the ILO recommends that workers in the formal and informal sectors retain employment through job exchange, in addition to the necessary social security measures to guarantee subsistence subsidies, primary health care and income security.
In that statement, the ILO highlighted the needs of the most vulnerable workers and employers, especially those who are part of the informal economy, as well as migrant and domestic workers. They think that some measures should be taken to protect these workers like others. These include education and training on safe and healthy work practices, free PPE as needed, access to public health services, and other livelihood options.
The ILO made some recommendations in the statement to ensure that workers return to work safely and avoid further work interruptions during the epidemic. These are:
1) Determination of risks in all work. Determine the risks of infection and continue to do so after returning to work.
2) Take precisely adapted risk control measures in each sector and in each workplace. These may include: maintaining the social distance between workers, contractors and customers at work, improving ventilation systems in the workplace, cleaning floors regularly, ensuring a clean and sanitary environment throughout the workplace and providing adequate facilities for hand washing and sanitation.
3) Provide free personal protective equipment (PPE) to employees where needed.
4) If symptoms appear in someone, isolate them and check who they have been in contact with.
5) Provide mental health support to staff.
. Provide training, education and information on health and safety, including the practice of proper hygiene and the use of PPE in the workplace.
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