International Workers Day Commemorated by IIMSAM Middle East Office
IIMSAM Middle East Director & Goodwill Ambassador Dr. Naseer Homoud message on International Worker Day. He urged that decent work for all should be made a global goal and it should be pursued through more coherent policy within the multilateral system.
- (1888PressRelease) May 01, 2011 - Commemorating the International Labor Day which is also referred as May Day and Workers Day- Dr. Naseer Homoud Goodwill Ambassador and Director of Middle East office for the Intergovernmental Institution for the use of Micro-algae Spirulina against Malnutrition (IIMSAM), the Observer to the United Nations Economic and Social Council while addressing the media said "in most parts of the world the right to work does not apply equally to everyone. Temporary and informal sector employment, which mainly involves immigrants, forces a large portion of the population to live in poverty, without social security coverage, which is not a healthy sign of development".
"The right of workers to engage in collective activity to demand dignity and equality in the workplace is a fundamental human right, just like freedom of speech and freedom of association. Everyone has that right, from auto workers to school teachers to undocumented immigrants in any country of our world" said Dr. Homoud. He urged for dignity to be provided for workers especially the migrants' workers. "Those who leaves their country to look for a dignified future elsewhere, daring to risk the unpredictable, to arrive without preliminary information, which is in the hands of unknown people, who often use and exploit the pressure and ignorance of those who want to leave their country. These people are neither criminals nor exploiters, as many governments would want us to believe. They are workers who struggle to survive. To them, this year we give our attention and solidarity on the international workers day. They count amongst the weakest in our globalized society, a cheap labor force available in rich countries whose low price gives high profits" said Dr. Homoud.
As per the records of ILO, approximately two million workers lose their lives annually due to occupational injuries and illnesses, with accidents causing at least 350,000 deaths a year. For every fatal accident, there are an estimated 1,000 non-fatal injuries, many of which result in lost earnings, permanent disability and poverty. The death toll at work, much of which is attributable to unsafe working practices, is the equivalent of 5,000 workers dying each day, three persons every minute. "Such records show that there exists dire need to draw immediate attention of world community towards honoring workers right". Dr. Homoud said.
On this occasion Dr. Homoud extended his greetings for all workers community and held in high esteem their contribution in making this world prosperous. He reaffirmed his commitment to fight for the rights of the workers. He added "it is a well-established fact that workers are the real partners of any development all across the world. The rights of workers should not be jeopardized and if we dream of an egalitarian society, the rights of workers have to be duly acknowledged and honored."
Speaking on the occasion Dr. Homoud highlighted the large and growing contribution to the global economy made by workers all across the globe "They work in factories, produce food, provide domestic service, staff hospitals and contribute to a wide range of basic needs, often for low wages and with little recognition of the value of their contribution", said Dr. Homoud. He went on to say "despite the hardships the treatment of workers is often woefully inconsistent with what they deserve as workers and human beings. In some parts of world they subject to the dirty, difficult and dangerous jobs that go begging in wealthier economies and where discrimination and ill treatment are endemic." He urged for an international commitment for the policy built on the principles of dignity, justice, and equality that uphold the civil and human rights of all people, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, disability, immigration or citizenship status".
Dr. Homoud maintained that through Workers' Day many workers and movements around the world voice their opposition towards exploitation, discrimination and unemployment and their support towards values such as solidarity, global justice and equality. "We join the many voices which are calling for structural changes in the world economic system so that more equality can result", he added. "Notwithstanding the governments' efforts to bring equality between men and women on the work place, reality in some countries is still far away from this. We therefore support calls for more action towards this issue". Dr. Homoud said.
Linking workers' rights to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals the Goodwill Ambassador urged that rights of workers and the MDGs can be complementary and mutually reinforcing instruments towards development. Workers' rights instruments and mechanisms can be used to mitigate the problems of the MDGs, and the MDGs can mitigate the weaknesses of workers' rights instruments.
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