The International Labour Office (ILO) is to pursue a global ban on asbestos, the world's biggest ever industrial killer.
The landmark decision came with the adoption of a resolution* today (14 June) at the ILO conference in Geneva and followed a high level union campaign.
Anita Normark, general secretary of the Building and Woodworkers International (BWI) - the global union federation at the forefront of the campaign - had earlier challenged employers' organisations not to block the asbestos ban resolution and to end their "courtship with a known killer".
Normark said: "This momentous decision should hasten the demise of a dying industry. Another generation is already destined to pay with their lives for the failure to introduce a global asbestos ban. ILO should now push for a swift and absolute stop to asbestos trade, to ensure we bring an early end to this industrial genocide, responsible for at least 100,000 deaths every year - one death every five minutes."
Under the terms of the resolution, ILO is now required "to promote the elimination of future use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials."
The resolution also expressly blocks the pro-asbestos lobby from claiming ILO supports its marketing spin which claims asbestos can be used safely - this tactic has been used repeatedly by the asbestos industry in lobbying activities in the developing world. The resolution says a long-standing ILO asbestos convention "should not be used to provide a justification for, or endorsement of, the continued use of asbestos."
Employers' representatives and representatives of the Canadian and Zimbabwe governments - two major asbestos exporters - spoke against the resolution, but in the face of strong support for the resolution from trade unions and many governments, did not press for a vote, so the resolution becomes formal ILO policy.
Anita Normark said: "Today's exposures guarantee an epidemic lasting at least another generation. Continued asbestos trade would see the cancer graveyards shift from the developed to the developing world. The employers' organisations must now recognise defending asbestos is a lost cause - it is time for employers to end their courtship with this mass killer."
She called on the ILO to develop a high level campaign to bring an end to all asbestos trade "as soon as possible, but certainly within a decade.
"National governments should be helped by ILO to develop plans to move from asbestos dependency to socially useful production, with good, safe jobs and support for displaced workers," she said. "BWI is committed to work with employers, government and unions everywhere to make this a transition which can be made smoothly and swiftly."
Notes to editors
Further information contact Fiona Murie, BWI (Geneva): 00 41 (0)79 44 61 29 0. fiona.murie@bwint.org
* 1. The resolution in full
Resolution concerning Asbestos at the International Labour Conference 2006
The General Conference of the International labour Organisation,
Considering that all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, are classified as known human carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a classification restated by the International Programme for Chemical Safety,
Alarmed that an estimated 100, 000 workers die every year from diseases caused by exposure to asbestos,
Deeply concerned that workers continue to face serious risks from asbestos exposure, particularly in asbestos removal, demolition, building maintenance, ship breaking and waste handling activities,
Noting that it has taken three decades of efforts and the emergence of suitable alternatives for a comprehensive ban on the manufacture and use of asbestos and asbestos-containing products to be adopted in a number of countries.
Further noting that the objective of the Promotional Framework for Occupational safety and health Convention 2006 is to prevent occupational injuries, diseases and deaths.
1. Resolves that:
(a) the elimination of the future use of asbestos and the identification and proper management of asbestos currently in place are the most effective means to protect workers from asbestos exposure and to prevent future asbestos-related diseases and deaths; and
(b) the Asbestos Convention 1986 (no 162) should not be used to provide a justification for, or endorsement of, the continued use of asbestos.
2. Requests the Governing Body to direct the International Labour Office to:
(a) Continue to encourage Member States to ratify and give effect to the provisions of the Asbestos Convention 1986 (No. 162) and the Occupational Cancer Convention 1974 (No.139);
(b) to promote the elimination of future use of all forms of asbestos and asbestos-containing materials in all Member States
(c) promote the identification and proper management of all forms of asbestos currently in place;
(d) encourage and assist member States to include measures in their national programmes on occupational safety and health to protect workers from exposure to asbestos, and
(e) transmit this resolution to all member States