Fourth Joint Conference on
Occupational Safety and Health
September 14 - 16, 2005
Orlando, Florida
Agenda

2005 Conference Topics

Topic III

Topic III: (Im)Migrant Workers’ Safety and Health

Chair US: Jackie Nowell, OSH Director, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)
Co-chair EU: Viktor Kempa, Resource Officer, European Trade Union Institute for Research, Education and Health and Safety, ETUI-REHS
Scribe EU: Daniel Kelly, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ireland

Conference Report

Subtopic A:
General Overview

  • What is the general situation in migration of workers throughout the EU and US, including the trends and expectations?
  • What is the legal and political background regarding migration of workers in the EU and US?

Subtopic B:
Overview (statistics, industries, hazards, etc.)

  • What is the current system for collecting data on injuries, illnesses and fatalities, and what are the limitations of the system?
  • What data collection system/data is necessary to better understand the problem of increased injuries, illnesses and fatalities, among (im)migrant workers?
  • Is there a difference in injury/illness/fatality experience among “immigrant” populations? Does immigration status (refugees, migrants, legal status, country/state, “new” vs. “old” immigrants) matter?

Subtopic C:
What roles do government and social partners (such as employees, labor groups and employers) have in addressing this problem through enforcement, new regulations, outreach and education.

  • How have these four groups worked together to provide outreach to (im)migrant workers?
  • What could government do in enforcement and new regulations to address the hazards (im)migrant workers are exposed to?

Subtopic D:
What are prevention strategies/best practices/ recommendations/interventions to be utilized through research, training, and advocacy?

  • What programs and initiatives have government and social partners (such as employees, labor groups and employers) implemented to address the high injury and illness rates among (im)migrant workers and to reduce their exposure to occupational risks?
  • How can government and social partners (such as employees, labor groups and employers) improve working together to increase outreach to (im)migrant workers?
  • What are some of the obstacles to reaching (im)migrant workers?
  • How have government and social partners (such as employees, labor groups and employers) overcome some of the obstacles to reaching (im)migrant workers?
  • Are there any innovative or outside-of-the-box ideas to prevent workplace accidents among (im)migrants that should be tested?