European Union

Statement

International Labour Conference

113^th session 

Geneva, 2-13 June 2025

________

Committee on Application of Standards

Discussion on the General Survey on Achieving comprehensive employment injury protection 

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The candidate countries Türkiye, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania*, Ukraine, Republic of Moldova and Georgia, the EFTA countries Iceland and Norway members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this statement.

1. We warmly welcome the General Survey of the Committee of Experts, which presents a comprehensive overview of the vital relationship between a safe and healthy working environment and the prevention of employment injuries, enabling a reduction in the overall cost of employment injury benefits.

2. Employment injury protection is grounded in international labour standards through the ILO instruments analysed in this survey. 

3. We share concerns about the continued prevalence of employment injuries with more than 2,93 million workers dying every year from employment injuries, accounting for 6,71 percent of all deaths worldwide. Strengthening the culture of prevention at work, promoting the sustainability of enterprises and ensuring comprehensive and accessible social protection is crucial. The extension of employment injury benefit coverage is particularly needed for workers in high-risk sectors and in vulnerable situations.

4. In the context of climate change employment injury protection becomes even more important as climate change negatively impacts workers ‘health in all regions of the world and may also result in increased work-related accidents and occupational diseases. Similar concerns will also arise with other types of crises in the future, and we shall pay particular attention to them. Experience has shown that comprehensive and inclusive social security system based on the principle of solidarity are valuable socio-economic stabilisers for overcoming all types of crises.

5. The work environment shall prevent illness and accidents and take into account and address the impact of technological changes on workers’ health. Cognitive, visual and sensory overload at work as well as other psychosocial and ergonomic risks, may adversely affect the physical and mental health of workers and necessitate corresponding adjustments in employment injury protection.

6. We appreciate the significant focus placed by the Committee on evolving concepts to promote mental health and prevent psychosocial risks, which are becoming increasingly relevant in modern work environments.

7. We would like to highlight the importance of preventive occupational safety and health policies. Implementing inspections, training or awareness campaigns are crucial to reduce injuries, thereby protecting workers and the sustainability of enterprises. To this aim effective and inclusive social dialogue remains crucial.  

8. We support the focus of the Committee on the critical role of vocational rehabilitation and employment integration for persons with disabilities. We need policies and strategies to prevent and eliminate discrimination against person with disabilities. Coordinated health, labour and education policies are crucial for reintegration.   

9. We acknowledge the recommendations of the Committee on the importance of establishing and maintaining employment injury protection schemes based on social insurance and compulsory coverage of workers. Comprehensive protection against accidents at work also supports resilient, inclusive and fair labour markets globally. In order to achieve the objective of comprehensive and adequate coverage protection against accidents at work for all workers, the ILO instruments in the field of social security should be further promoted. Recommendation N202 on social protection floors, which provides governments with the necessary guidance to build step by step comprehensive and inclusive social security systems, is particularly relevant.

10. It is essential that governments invest in their labour inspection systems in line with principles enshrined in (ILO) Conventions N81 and N129 to ensure that rights are effectively implemented. Beyond well-equipped administrations for handling complaints, managing requests and paying or granting the required benefits, the use of new inclusive digital technologies can support the administration and the realisation of rights. Appeal procedures as inexpensive as possible should be made available to insured persons to assert their rights. 

11. At EU level, the 2019 Council Recommendation encourages Member States to provide coverage of benefits in respect of accidents at work and occupational diseases for all workers. At the level of the Council of Europe, the revised European Code of Social Security complements ILO instruments to ensure adequate employment injury protection.

12. We support the strong offer of ILO technical assistance in legal reform, capacity-building and policy development to strengthen employment injuries protection framework.

Thank you Chair.

*North Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.