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Workers’ Memorial Day 2021

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26 Apr Workers’ Memorial Day 2021

Posted at 17:04h in News by

Workers’ Memorial Day
28 April 2021

International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) is taking place on Wednesday, 28 April 2021. The European Trade Union Confederation slogan for IWMD 2021 is: “Workplace health & safety – it’s your right“. The day aims to:

  • Commemorate all those who have been killed, injured, or made ill at work
  • Recommit to safer workplaces

Commenting on the upcoming day of commemoration, Harry Galvin, President, National Irish Safety Organisation said:

April 28 is the day that has been set aside for us all to remember the workers who have lost their lives in workplace accident during the previous year and by extension those who lost their lives in prior years.

I find it disturbing to see that there has been an increase in workplace fatalities in 2020 with 51 people losing their lives in workplace accidents last year, compared with 47 deaths in 2019 and 37 in 2018.

With so many workplaces closed and people working from home in so many of the businesses that continued to operate one would have expected to see a reduction in workplace fatalities. It is crucial that we make health and safety a priority in the workplace, both during the pandemic and after.

With COVID-19 restrictions still in place, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions’ Health & Safety Committee has organised a number of online elements to occur in the lead-up to Workers’ Memorial Day and for an online broadcast at noon on 28 April. This broadcast, which will be streamed via the Congress website and on social media, will include a wreath-laying at the Garden of Remembrance, an emotional poem about loss recited by front-line healthcare workers, and a message from Dr Mike Ryan of WHO.

A key part of Congress’s actions is focussed on building a coordinated social media campaign from Sunday, 25 April. Facebook Frames and Twibbons (overlays that can be used on social media profile pictures) are available at the following links:

Facebook Frame
Twitter Twibbon

The overlays are very simple to activate these and NISO is hoping to help build some momentum so that there are a significant number of social media accounts using the images by and on 28 April.

The online event at noon on 28 April will include a pause for reflection and we encourage all workplaces to hold a Minute’s Silence (including those working remotely) to remember those who have died or become ill.

Workers’ Memorial Day represents an opportunity to remember those we have lost, and to celebrate the contribution of those who continue to work to make us all safer. We ask all to support these efforts over the next few days, including using your own tweets and Facebook and other social media postings, using the hashtags

  • #IWMD21 and
  • #workersmemorialday

View the ICTU Workers’ Memorial Day webpage: https://www.ictu.ie/healthandsafety/workers-memorial-day/workers-memorial-day-2021.html