| Dokumendiregister | Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium |
| Viit | 11-2/1536-1 |
| Registreeritud | 28.04.2026 |
| Sünkroonitud | 29.04.2026 |
| Liik | Sissetulev kiri |
| Funktsioon | 11 Tööpoliitika ja võrdne kohtlemine |
| Sari | 11-2 Rahvusvaheliste tööstandardite ja töötingimuste järelevalve (ILO) kirjavahetus |
| Toimik | 11-2/2026 |
| Juurdepääsupiirang | Avalik |
| Juurdepääsupiirang | |
| Adressaat | Sotsiaalministeerium |
| Saabumis/saatmisviis | Sotsiaalministeerium |
| Vastutaja | Eva Põldis (Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeerium, Kantsleri valdkond, Tööala valdkond, Töösuhete ja töökeskkonna osakond) |
| Originaal | Ava uues aknas |
Tere,
Edastame tulenevalt kuuluvusele Majandus- ja Kommunikatsiooniministeeriumile.
Lugupidamisega
Dokumendihaldus
Sotsiaalministeerium
From: Nick Pahl <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, April 27, 2026 5:18 PM
To: Nick Pahl <[email protected]>
Subject: FAO the WHO World Health Assembly 2026 delegation
|
Tähelepanu!
Tegemist on välisvõrgust saabunud kirjaga. |
The Global Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Coalition is urging delegates to the WHO World Health Assembly to ensure that worker health is enshrined in its strategy and plans. While the WHO continues to meet pressing global health challenges, changes in its strategic focus and budget constraints have led to reduced attention on worker health. This pull back on its commitments is a critical gap in its global health leadership, when worker health is fundamental to global health and sustainable development.
In a letter sent to the WHO Director General, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, attached, the GOSH Coalition called for:
Marianne Levitsky of Workplace Health Without Borders (WHWB) and Chair of the GOSH Coalition says: “Member states and the WHO should commit to a resolution and framework that ensures the global protection and promotion of workers’ health. Strengthened collaboration and coordination of WHO and the International Labour Organization to stimulate intersectoral partnerships between health and labour ministries are also needed”. Dr Richard Heron, Co-Chair of the International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative (IOMSC) says: “Investing in a healthy workplace is one of the smartest economic decisions Governments can make: it pays back many times through lower absenteeism, increased productivity, and a more resilient workforce”.
The Global Occupational Safety and Health Coalition was formed after the 34th International Congress on Occupational Health in Marrakesh, Morocco in May 2024, the Global Occupational Safety and Health (GOSH) Coalition now has 19 participating organisations. It aims to improve occupational safety and health capacity and calls for basic occupational health services for all workers, including informal workers, better protection for young workers, and protection for all workers from the adverse effects of climate change. Members of the Coalition include the Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM); the International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative (IOMSC); Workplace Health Without Borders (WHWB); the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH); the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA); the International Ergonomics Association (IEA); the International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA); and OSH Africa.
We would appreciate it if this e mail was acknowledged.
Best wishes
Nick Pahl | CEO
SOM
Supporting occupational health and wellbeing professionals
2 St Andrews Place | London | NW1 4LB | Tel: 0203 910 4537
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, DG World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland and Delegates to the 79th World Health Assembly,
March 31, 2026
1 of 3
Dear Dr. Tedros and Delegates: As senior leaders of global and national occupational health and safety organisations, we call on you to make concrete commitments towards occupational safety and health. We recognize the resource limitations that face WHO, but it is critical that the WHO lend its voice to making workplace health a global priority. We urge WHO and all delegates to the World Health Assembly (WHA) to ensure that worker health is enshrined in WHO’s future strategy and plans. There are an estimated 2.9 million deaths annually due to work-related causes, with a nearly 12% increase in work-related mortality since 2000. Over 395 million workers sustain non-fatal occupational injuries annually, with around 160 million new cases of work-related diseases occurring each year. The global cost of poor occupational safety and health is 3.94%- 5.8% of the world's GDP, equivalent to USD $2.8- $3 trillion annually. International and professional principles and standards, from ILO Conventions and the ILO Global Strategy on OSH1, to the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14)2, underscore the importance of workplace health. There are specific parts of the WHO Programme of Work which commit WHO to action on occupational and workplace health, yet these are not reflected in the six strategic priorities of the Programme. As well, the Global Plan of Action on Physical Activity3 references workplaces as a key setting for physical activity and reduction of sedentary behaviour, as factors that will contribute to increased productivity and reduction in injuries and absenteeism. To ensure that workplace health gets the attention it warrants, we call for:
1. A Continuation of the Health in the World of Work Network
In 2021, WHO launched the Health in the World of Work Network, which brought together key stakeholders for the purposes of strengthening collaboration and knowledge sharing to build healthy, safe and resilient workplaces for all workers. We call for this network to continue4.
2. A new Workers' Health Global Plan of Action Following the GPA 2008–20175, a new plan of action would: • Reflect the ILO’s recognition of a safe and healthy working environment as a
fundamental principle and right at work, and ensure WHO efforts reinforce and strengthen global standards
• Prevent occupational illnesses and injuries, and protect and promote the health of all workers globally
• Address emerging risks, such as those associated with climate change, digitalization and psychosocial hazards
• Integrate occupational health into public health systems
1 https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2025-01/OSH_Globaly_Strategy_r6.pdf 2 https://www.who.int/about/general-programme-of-work/fourteenth 3 https://www.who.int/initiatives/gappa 4 https://www.who.int/groups/who-health-in-the-world-of-work-network#reports 5 https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/wha60/a60_r26-en.pdf,
2 of 3
• Expand access to occupational health services to all workers, including migrant workers and those in the informal sector.
The WHA must lead to concrete commitments, actions, and accountability, an opportunity for commitment between countries on shared principles and standards for occupational health and safety. We hope Member States and the WHO seize this opportunity and commit to a resolution and framework that ensures the protection and promotion of workers globally.
3. Continuation of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Occupational Health, with a view to expanding this network with non-state actors
Finally, we call for strengthened collaboration and coordination of WHO and ILO at the global, regional and country levels to stimulate intersectoral partnerships between health and labour ministries. Thank you very much for your commitment to global health. All signatories are committed to safe and healthy working environments and are here to support and work with WHO to provide technical expertise on occupational safety and health.
Sincerely,
Nick Pahl, SOM CEO 2 St Andrews Place | London | NW1 4LB | Tel: 0203 910 4537 [email protected]
On behalf of the following endorsing organisations:
3 of 3
The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM)
IOMSC (International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative)
WHWB (Workplace Health Without Borders)
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
International Ergonomics Association (IEA)
International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA)
OSHAfrica
Addendum: April 25, 2026
Additional endorsements of the March 31, 2026 letter to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
1. Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) (USA) 2. National Safety Council (USA) 3. Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA)
(USA) 4. South African Society of Occupational Medicine (SASOM) 5. Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH)
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, DG World Health Organization Geneva, Switzerland and Delegates to the 79th World Health Assembly,
March 31, 2026
1 of 3
Dear Dr. Tedros and Delegates: As senior leaders of global and national occupational health and safety organisations, we call on you to make concrete commitments towards occupational safety and health. We recognize the resource limitations that face WHO, but it is critical that the WHO lend its voice to making workplace health a global priority. We urge WHO and all delegates to the World Health Assembly (WHA) to ensure that worker health is enshrined in WHO’s future strategy and plans. There are an estimated 2.9 million deaths annually due to work-related causes, with a nearly 12% increase in work-related mortality since 2000. Over 395 million workers sustain non-fatal occupational injuries annually, with around 160 million new cases of work-related diseases occurring each year. The global cost of poor occupational safety and health is 3.94%- 5.8% of the world's GDP, equivalent to USD $2.8- $3 trillion annually. International and professional principles and standards, from ILO Conventions and the ILO Global Strategy on OSH1, to the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14)2, underscore the importance of workplace health. There are specific parts of the WHO Programme of Work which commit WHO to action on occupational and workplace health, yet these are not reflected in the six strategic priorities of the Programme. As well, the Global Plan of Action on Physical Activity3 references workplaces as a key setting for physical activity and reduction of sedentary behaviour, as factors that will contribute to increased productivity and reduction in injuries and absenteeism. To ensure that workplace health gets the attention it warrants, we call for:
1. A Continuation of the Health in the World of Work Network
In 2021, WHO launched the Health in the World of Work Network, which brought together key stakeholders for the purposes of strengthening collaboration and knowledge sharing to build healthy, safe and resilient workplaces for all workers. We call for this network to continue4.
2. A new Workers' Health Global Plan of Action Following the GPA 2008–20175, a new plan of action would: • Reflect the ILO’s recognition of a safe and healthy working environment as a
fundamental principle and right at work, and ensure WHO efforts reinforce and strengthen global standards
• Prevent occupational illnesses and injuries, and protect and promote the health of all workers globally
• Address emerging risks, such as those associated with climate change, digitalization and psychosocial hazards
• Integrate occupational health into public health systems
1 https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/2025-01/OSH_Globaly_Strategy_r6.pdf 2 https://www.who.int/about/general-programme-of-work/fourteenth 3 https://www.who.int/initiatives/gappa 4 https://www.who.int/groups/who-health-in-the-world-of-work-network#reports 5 https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/wha60/a60_r26-en.pdf,
2 of 3
• Expand access to occupational health services to all workers, including migrant workers and those in the informal sector.
The WHA must lead to concrete commitments, actions, and accountability, an opportunity for commitment between countries on shared principles and standards for occupational health and safety. We hope Member States and the WHO seize this opportunity and commit to a resolution and framework that ensures the protection and promotion of workers globally.
3. Continuation of the Global Network of WHO Collaborating Centres for Occupational Health, with a view to expanding this network with non-state actors
Finally, we call for strengthened collaboration and coordination of WHO and ILO at the global, regional and country levels to stimulate intersectoral partnerships between health and labour ministries. Thank you very much for your commitment to global health. All signatories are committed to safe and healthy working environments and are here to support and work with WHO to provide technical expertise on occupational safety and health.
Sincerely,
Nick Pahl, SOM CEO 2 St Andrews Place | London | NW1 4LB | Tel: 0203 910 4537 [email protected]
On behalf of the following endorsing organisations:
3 of 3
The Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM)
IOMSC (International Occupational Medicine Society Collaborative)
WHWB (Workplace Health Without Borders)
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA)
International Ergonomics Association (IEA)
International Occupational Hygiene Association (IOHA)
OSHAfrica
Addendum: April 25, 2026
Additional endorsements of the March 31, 2026 letter to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
1. Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP) (USA) 2. National Safety Council (USA) 3. Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association (CSHEMA)
(USA) 4. South African Society of Occupational Medicine (SASOM) 5. Southern African Institute for Occupational Hygiene (SAIOH)