According to Commissioner Marianne Thyssen, each and every year, more than 2.3 million people die as a result of work-related accidents or diseases – this equates to roughly 6,300 people every day.

Figures such as these have lead the G7 to create the Vision Zero Fund, which looks to support low-income countries where the bulk of international goods are manufactured, and where the vast majority of work-related deaths occur.

[T]he EU Commission has announced that it will give €3m to the G7 project

Prior to the G7 convening at the Employment and Development Meeting in Berlin on the October 12-13, commissioner Marianne Thyssen, said: “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,” she added.

As a sign of its commitment to improving workplace safety and labour practices in low-income countries, the EU Commission has announced that it will give €3m to the G7 project.

With this money, along with resources provided by the G7, the project will see support a number of initiatives that will see governments, businesses, social partners and NGOs all working together to cultivate sustainable global supply chains that do not neglect the rights of workers in low income countries.

The first of these initiatives will commence in 2016, and will focus on the ready-made garment sector.

“Global supply chains are key generators of economic growth and decent work,” said the Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica. “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.”