The International Labour Organization (ILO) says occupational safety and health (OSH) and a just transition must be be integral to the upcoming legally binding instrument on plastic pollution if its implementation is to be equitable and durable. It is also encouraging members to include International Labour Standards (ILS) and references to social dialogue in the treaty text.
The ILO, which is taking part in the fifth meeting of the International Negotiating Committee (INC-5) along with its partners the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) and the International Organization of Employers (IOE), says that considerations for OSH must be taken into account in order to ensure the fundamental right to a safe and healthy working environment throughout the full lifecycle of plastics, including in the marine environment.
The treaty must recognize that decent work, strong labour protections, and the right to a safe and healthy working environment are indispensable for ensuring a sustainable solution to the plastics crisis.
Halshka Graczyk, ILO technical specialist
“Workers are exposed to hazardous chemicals at every stage of the plastics lifecycle, from extraction to waste-picking, to recycling,” said Halshka Graczyk, ILO technical specialist, attending the negotiations. “The treaty must recognize that decent work, strong labour protections, and the right to a safe and healthy working environment are indispensable for ensuring a sustainable solution to the plastics crisis.”
Hundreds of chemicals used in plastics are known to be harmful to human health. Each year, over a million workers lose their lives due to toxic exposure to chemicals, including those found in plastics. The inclusion of OSH, as well as a just transition in the treaty text would help ensure that workers in both the formal and informal economies are protected as industries adapt to more sustainable practices.
“A just transition is not just about environmental outcomes, it’s about human dignity. We need to create pathways that prioritize the health, safety, and rights of workers while enabling enterprises to thrive in a changing world of work,” Graczyk added.
The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee held its fifth session in Busan, South Korea. The session, which ran from the 25th of November until the 1st of December, aimed to finalize negotiations on an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including in the marine environment. Despite intensive negotiations, the meeting concluded without consensus, leading to a decision to reconvene in early 2025 for an INC 5.2 session to finalize the treaty text.