World ministers to discuss work safety at Istanbul congress mid-September

ISTANBUL, Shaaban 11/July 13 (IINA)-The 19th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, which will be held in Turkey, will serve as an important step for an initiative regarding work safety, a senior Turkish official has said.

Labor and Social Security Ministry Undersecretary Birol Aydemir told Today’s Zaman that the meeting will be the largest gathering of senior Cabinet members from many countries. He said Turkey has invited the labor and social security ministries of 99 countries to the congress.

The congress will also witness new developments. Aydemir announced that the labor and social security ministries of 57 member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will meet for the first time in Istanbul. “For the first time, OIC member States will discuss work safety and health issues among themselves. For the first time, the labor and social security ministries of 57 member countries will convene to discuss what can be done about work safety. The Islamic world needs this very much. It is a great honor and we are proud to host the first edition of such an important summit,” he said.

This all-inclusive ministerial summit will be held at the Haliç Convention Center in Istanbul on Sept. 11-15 with the participation of labor ministers. The congress’s motto is “Building a Global Culture of Prevention for a Healthy and Safe Future.”

The congress is being organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and the Turkish Ministry of Labor and Social Security. It will start with the speeches of high-level representatives of the co-organizers and continue with the opening of the International Film and Multimedia Festival.

Aydemir said they will discuss emerging global challenges on the subject, adding that the congress will greatly contribute to efforts to raise awareness on work safety and health.

“Unfortunately, in most countries, including Turkey, work health and security have come to the agenda only in connection with adverse events. People talked about work security during tragic events that caused many casualties, such as mine accidents, but the issue faded away. We want to see work health and security being treated as a primary issue in every field. From legislative work to social awareness campaigns, we have entered a fast process. We can also call this an initiative to raise social awareness,” Aydemir explained.

“This important issue has been ignored in Turkey for many years but there are serious problems on a global level as well. We hope that the congress we will host will contribute to efforts to raise social awareness on a global scale — not only in Turkey but also all countries where work safety is ignored,” he added.

During the 19th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, 932 papers will be presented and technical sessions will be held. Thirty speakers are expected to highlight preventive measures, system development and global challenges in their presentations. In addition to 31 symposiums, 91 oral presentations will be held at the congress. Aside from technical sessions, the congress will include two regional meetings, and the closing ceremony will take place at the Haliç Convention Center on Sept. 14.

Progress made on the Seoul Declaration will be reported at the closing ceremony, which will also include the highlights and major outcomes of the 19th world congress. The Istanbul Declaration to be signed by labor ministers will be announced to the participants as well.

The 19th World Congress on Safety and Health at Work hosted by Turkey will showcase a first. “Alongside world congress, a fair on work safety and health will exhibit state-of-the-art technological products in the fair space of the Haliç Convention Center,” Labor and Social Security Ministry Undersecretary Birol Aydemir said, bringing attention to the capacity of the Haliç Convention Center.

A total of 250 companies working on work safety all around the world will display their hi-tech products in the fair space. The fair will open on Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2:40 p.m. and remain open to visitors from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the congress.

Local and international companies and institutions specializing in personal protectors, work safety equipment, work clothes, environmental health and safety management, road and traffic security, work safety warning signs, work health and safety training institutions, fire safety, environmental hygiene and industrial cleaning equipment, air-conditioning systems, measuring technologies and detectors, alarm and warning systems, search and rescue equipment, first aid equipment, authorized body and certification services, stocking equipment, pallet loading and stacking equipment and the media will participate in the fair.

AH/IINA

via Turkey/Congress: World ministers to discuss work safety at Istanbul congress mid-September.