The UIL labor union organized a protest in Milan’s Piazza La Scala to raise awareness about workplace deaths in Italy. Mock coffins were lined up to represent the 172 workers who died on the job in the Lombardy region alone last year. The union is demanding that both the government and businesses take more action to protect Italian workers. The campaign, titled “Zero Deaths,” aims to highlight the tragic impact of workplace fatalities on families and communities. In 2020, a total of 1,709 workers died in Italy, with 41 deaths already recorded in Lombardy this year.
Italy ranks eighth among European countries in fatalities at work, with an incidence of 2.66 per 100,000 employed, compared to the EU average of 1.76. The country has been facing a series of fatal incidents in various industries, sparking a heated debate over workplace safety. Recent tragedies include the deaths of five workers at a sewage treatment plant in Sicily, seven workers in an explosion at an underground hydroelectric plant in northern Italy, and five construction workers in a collapse at a supermarket building site in Florence. These incidents have raised concerns about the adequacy of safety measures and regulations in the Italian workplace.
The protest in Milan comes at a time when the issue of workplace safety is under intense scrutiny in Italy. The union leaders and protesters are calling for immediate action to prevent further deaths and protect workers from hazardous conditions. The symbolic display of mock coffins aims to humanize the statistics and highlight the personal tragedies behind each workplace fatality. The union’s campaign, “Zero Deaths,” sends a powerful message to both the government and businesses to prioritize workers’ safety and implement effective measures to prevent accidents and fatalities.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation, leading to a spike in workplace deaths in Italy in 2020. The economic impact of the pandemic has put additional pressure on businesses and workers, raising concerns about the impact on occupational health and safety. The union’s call for zero deaths emphasizes the importance of creating a culture of safety in workplaces across Italy and ensuring that workers are protected from preventable risks and hazards. The protest in Milan serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for action to prevent future tragedies and protect workers’ lives.
