The EU has announced support for the G7’s ‘Vision Zero Fund’, to improve working conditions and labour standards, and establish sustainable business practices in producing countries, it said in a press release. This Fund will support joint activities of governments, businesses, social partners and NGOs in the low income countries where goods are made, to reduce and prevent workplace related deaths, improve labour inspections, ensure fair production and help workers to exercise their rights. Ahead of the G7 Employment and Development Ministerial Meeting in Berlin, Commissioner Marianne Thyssen, in charge of Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, underlined, “Every year, 2.3 million people die from work related accidents or diseases around the world. This is 6300 people every day. The Commission is strongly committed to preventing workplace accidents, promoting fundamental labour rights and enhancing the level playing field for companies. We are committed to upholding the highest standards, and we are working every day to prevent human suffering and economic costs linked to unsafe workplaces across Europe and abroad. The G7’s Vision Zero Fund will contribute to improving working conditions and reduce the health and safety risks for the hundreds of millions of people employed in global supply chains.” Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, said: “Global supply chains are key generators of economic growth and decent work. However, all too often they include unregulated or unsafe work environments, poor industrial relations and compromised workers` rights. The European Commission is determined to play its part in fighting this. That’s why we’re proud to support the G7’s initiative with a €3 million contribution – we want to do all we can to turn this situation around and ensure a fair, level playing field for our businesses and the people who work in them.” The Vision Zero Fund builds on the commitment made at the G7 Summit in Elmau, Germany in June 2015 to foster sustainable global supply chains and to agree on concrete actions for implementation and follow-up. It will get its funding from both public and private contributions and will be managed by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Its first pilot activities will start in 2016, focusing on the ready-made garment sectors of selected producing countries, the release said.
