By Joan Nwagwu

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has called on governments, employers to harness technology including Artificial Intelligence, to create safer, healthier workplaces for workers across the globe.

Mr Gilbert Houngbo, the Director-General of ILO, said this in a message to mark the 2025 World Day for Safety and Health at Work, in Abuja.

Houngbo said this was imperative while ensuring that the innovation would protect workers’ rights and well-being.

“Every worker, everywhere, has the right to a safe and healthy working environment. This is a fundamental right.

“And yet millions of workers around the world continue to die or injured themselves or fall sick because of work.

“Many lose their lives trying to earn a living. We must change this.

“The use of technology for good can help us to make important strides. Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies can help transform the workplace into a safer and healthier space,” he said.

He said that robotics, automation could operate in hazardous environments and take on the dangerous tasks such as the operation of extreme temperatures, handling toxic materials, or navigating disaster zones.

He added that they could also ease physical strain, supporting caregivers in hospitals, assisting with heavy lifting in construction, and reducing repetitive work in factories.

He said that smart sensors and digital monitoring could detect risks before accidents happen by checking air quality tracking, fatigue or alerting to unsafe movement and behaviours.

“But innovation can also carry significant risks. The rise of worker surveillance and algorithm management can threaten workers’ rights, dignity, and well-being.

“New technologies can also introduce new risks that are not yet fully understood.

“We have a responsibility to understand safety and health risks that come with technological innovation. We have a responsibility to ensure that technology is used for good.

“That is why the digital transition must be human-centred. It must make workplace safer and healthier and more sustainable and inclusive.

“On this World Day for Safety and Health at Work, I call on governments, employers, workers and innovators to build a future of work that is not only smarter, but also safer and healthier,” he said.

Also, Vanessa Phala, ILO Country Director to Nigeria told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Federal Government had taken bold step to ratify all the conventions that were related to occupational safety and health.

“We have also been collaborating with the Ministry of Labour and Employment to support the development of legislation, frameworks that will ensure that we are moving forward.

“We will ensure that we are translating the conventions into national policies and national frameworks,” she said.

Phala added that it was the responsibility of the employers and everyone to make sure that they provided the safety that all workers required to be productive and to be able to conduct their work safely. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu