International Workers’ Memorial Day

Each year on 28 April, International Workers’ Memorial Day gives us an important moment to reflect. It is a day to remember all those who went to work and never came home, and to honour those whose lives have been lost simply for doing their job.

Behind every statistic is a person, a family, and a community changed forever. While official figures record workplace fatalities, the true scale of work-related deaths is far greater when illness, long-term conditions, and the wider impacts of unsafe working environments are taken into account. Tens of thousands of people in the UK lose their lives each year due to work-related causes. That is tens of thousands too many.

This is why the message of the day is so powerful: we remember the dead, but we fight for the living.

Work should never come at the cost of someone’s health or safety. Yet too often, corners are cut, protections are insufficient, or the realities of modern workplaces are not fully reflected in our regulations. From unsafe temperatures and inadequate personal protective equipment, to workplace stress, abuse, and insecurity, the challenges facing workers today are evolving and demand a renewed focus.

The Government has committed to reviewing health and safety legislation as part of its wider plan to improve working conditions. This review must be thorough and ambitious. It should consider not only physical risks, but also the growing impact of mental health pressures, long Covid, and the changing nature of work itself.

We must also recognise the role of employers, trade unions, and policymakers in working together to ensure that standards are upheld and strengthened. Every worker deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued.

International Workers’ Memorial Day is not only about remembrance. It is a call to action. By learning from the past and committing to higher standards, we can prevent future tragedies and build a safer, fairer world of work for everyone.