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Strengthening Occupational Safety and Health Across Borders: A Public Health Perspective

This article explores the potential progress in occupational safety and health (OHS) through trade, examining the goals and challenges of trade agreements and the importance of public health principles. It highlights the need for cooperation among stakeholders and key partnerships to promote and protect health in the context of trade. The article also calls for accountability and caution in trade agreements to prioritize public health and ensure universal access to vital services.

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Strengthening Occupational Safety and Health Across Borders: A Public Health Perspective

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  1. Strengthening Occupational Safety and Health Across Borders: A Public Health Perspective Ellen R. Shaffer, PhD MPH Center for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health (CPATH) cpath@cpath.orgwww.cpath.org Hemispheric Leadership Meeting in Preparation for the World Safety Congress Washington, D.C. September 24, 2004

  2. Overview: Strengthening OHS • Potential for progress through trade • Goals determine success • Trade goals • Public health goals • Bumps in the road: NAFTA, FTAA • Is there a better course? • Principles • Practices • Key partners CPATH

  3. International Trade:Positive Potential • Increase prosperity • Harmonize standards upward • Strengthen labor and community rights • Greater human wellbeing - APHA, PAHO, WHO, ILO CPATH

  4. Goals Determine Outcomes:Trade Agreements • Maximize cross-border trade by private corporations, reduce barriers to trade • Protection of human, animal, plant life cannot conflict with trade • Negotiations and dispute resolution override domestic sovereignty – Countries: • Cannot“protect” national industries • But can “protect” unsafe working conditions CPATH

  5. Goals Determine Outcomes: Public Health • WHO, PAHO, UN: Right to highest attainable standard of health • Safe and healthy working and living conditions • Access to affordable vital human services • Democratic participation in key policies • Sustainable economic development in the Americas requires cooperative partnerships among stakeholders CPATH

  6. CPATHCenter for Policy Analysis on Trade and Health • Increase visibility of public health leaders in the global trade debate. • Education on implications of trade agreements for public health. • Develop alternative approaches. • Assure that trade policy promotes and protects health. • U.S. accountability in global policy CPATH

  7. Bump in the Road:NAFTA, NAALC • NAALC: North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (side letter on labor) • 28 cases filed with National Administrative Offices, 7 related to workplace safety/health • No change in enforcement, regulations • Grounds: Country’s own regulations • Critical partners excluded: Workers not involved in dispute resolution • Process: No time lines for decisions CPATH

  8. FTAA: Free Trade Area of the Americas • Would create largest trading area in the world • Americas experience widest economic inequalities, disparities in health outcomes • Mirrors NAFTA provisions • Domestic regulations undermined • Less ability to protect OHS, health • Investor rights provision chills improvements CPATH

  9. Is there a better course? • Principles • Harmonization upward to best OHS standards • Cooperative, problem-solving approach • Practices • Assess trade agreement impact • Enhance involvement of key partners, including labor and public health • Key partners CPATH

  10. Principles - Example:US-Jordan Trade Agreement • Recognizing the objective of sustainable development, and seeking both to protect and preserve the environment and to enhance the means for doing so in a manner consistent with their respective needs and concerns at different levels of economic development; • Recognizing that their relations in the field of trade and economic activity should be conducted with a view to raising living standards and promoting economic growth, investment opportunities, development, prosperity, employment and the optimal use of resources in their territories; CPATH

  11. Principles- Example: UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Article 7 • The Parties recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of just and favourable conditions of work which ensure: • (a) Fair wages • (b) Safe and healthy working conditions; • (c) Equal opportunity to be promoted • (d ) Rest, leisure CPATH

  12. Practices: Enforcement • Evaluate effectiveness of NAFTA enforcement through Working Group on Occupational Health and Safety • Assure representation for workers and worker organizations in enforcement and evaluation processes • Create user-friendly complaint system CPATH

  13. Practices: Technical Assistance • Support for upward harmonization • Occupational technologies CPATH

  14. Key Partners • Labor • Business • Government • Public Health • Communities • Media CPATH

  15. Health Leaders Prescribe Caution on Trade Agreements CPATH

  16. Call for Accountability:Health Takes Priority • Assure that public health takes priority • Assess impact of trade agreements on health • Include public health community in trade negotiations • Exclude provisions that could harm health, access to medications, health care, and other vital human services • Assure universal access to health care, water and sanitation, affordable meds, education, and occupational and environmental safety CPATH

  17. Conclusion: Strengthening OHS • Incorporate public health principles • Evaluate and improve practices • Involve key partners • To achieve progress through trade CPATH

  18. Methods for WSC • Overall title: Improving Worker Safety and Health: Consequences of Free Trade Pacts • Delivery and visual aids: • Power Point presentation with handouts • Description of trade agreements • Status of agreements, OSH in the Americas • Interactive round-tables • Discussion re: principles, practices, key participants • Opportunities for ongoing communication CPATH

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