On the occasion of the World Day for Occupational Safety and Health on 28 April (adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2003), Solidarity Center and the Iraqi Social Forum held a workshop on occupational safety and health. It took place for 2 days (26-27 April) and was attended by members of trade unions and civil society activists in Baghdad. The World Day for Occuptional Safety and Health aims to highlight the suffering of workers due to bad safety precautions.

Trade unions, civil society organizations and labor departments around the world have been celebrating the anniversary of this day around the world, through awareness campaigns that highlight the importance of occupational safety strategies and other activities that aim to have a positive impact on the health and lives of workers. This is the first time that this world day is celebrated in Iraq, with a specific workshop in order to train workers and trade union members on the principles of occupational safety and health, in order for them to develop advanced strategies with regards to the implementation of safety requirements in the workplace as stipulated in the new Iraqi Labor Law No. 37 of 2015.

Participants received two days of specialized training that included an induction into the concepts of safety and health at work. They discussed ways to manage occupational hazards in the work environment. The workshop included a review of national occupational safety and health policies in Iraq; in particular the legislation for occupational safety and health issues as covered by the new Labor law.

The workshop will encourage trade unions to follow up on occupational safety issues and establish occupational safety units and centers in the federations and trade unions.