India pitches for Seoul declaration implementation

NEW DELHI:India today pitched for implementation of the Seoul declaration on ensuring protection and safety of workers along with elimination of hazards at the workplace at the regional, national and international levels.

Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge also favoured a "strong" international collaboration to attain the desired objective.

Addressing the ministerial summit at the XIX World Congress on ' Safety And Health At Work' in Istanbul, Turkey, he said the Seoul declaration affirms that safety and health in working environment is the basic right of employees.

"We need to focus on implementation of the Seoul Declaration at the national, regional and international levels. This would entail ongoing cooperation among high-ranking decision-makers, representatives of the tripartite bodies," he said.

According to an official release here, the Minister stated that India firmly believes that without safe and clean environment, as well as healthy working conditions, social justice and economic growth cannot be achieved.

The Seoul Declaration 2008 on occupational health and safety lays emphasis on a strong commitment to protect the safety and health of workers and eliminating workplace hazards.

Seoul had hosted the last Congress three years back.