Dear participants and guests of the International Conference and Exhibition KIOSH-2024!

Over the course of its existence, the KIOSH conference and exhibition have become a unique business platform, providing great opportunities for exchanging opinions and studying the best practices in occupational safety management, familiarizing with trends and development prospects in the field of occupational and industrial safety, and also promoting the development of the institution of social partnership.

The themes of the events held within the framework of KIOSH - 2024 guide social partners to join efforts to implement the Concept of Safe Work in the Republic of Kazakhstan, the main idea of which is to ensure the transition to a risk-oriented model of occupational safety management.

Over the past years, the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan has been actively and consistently taking initiatives on the need to carry out effective reforms in the field of labor protection, industrial safety, occupational health and fair compensation for loss of ability to work. The discussion format of the KIOSH – 2024 platform implies an in-depth, substantive discussion of the accumulated topical issues that arise against the backdrop of the current unsatisfactory situation, the persistence of a high level of injuries leading to death and loss of health of workers, and the number and nature of accidents that occur indicate systemic problems in many sectors of the economy.

  Trade unions pays constant attention to the Issues of labor safety and health.

The fundamental position of the Federation of Trade Unions on this issue is extremely clear: a person must come to work and return home to his family alive and healthy.

Ensuring safe working conditions is an integral part of the initiative actively promoted by trade unions to promote the Decent Work Agenda. In this regard, a wide range of measures are being taken, including work to improve the relevant regulatory and legal framework.

The Federation of Trade Unions has formed a package of legislative proposals in the field of occupational safety and health. We actively initiate issues of legislative expansion of the functions of public control as one of the main tools for the prevention of industrial injuries, strengthening the role of state supervision and control, development and adoption of programs for the timely modernization of production and technological processes.

It is extremely important to carry out work on the implementation of international standards in the field of labor, primarily the ratification of the Conventions of the International Labor Organization, covering issues of organizing a safe workplace.

Every year on April 28, the International Labor Organization celebrates World Day for Safety and Health at Work, and this year's central theme is the impact of climate change on occupational safety and health, the risks associated with heat stress, ultraviolet radiation, air pollution, and increased exposure to chemicals.

Currently, the attention of most countries is focused on developing measures to solve growing environmental problems. The transition to a “green” scenario for the development of the main sectors of the economy is one of the important directions that will solve a whole range of problems, which will lead to improved working conditions and reduced environmental risks.

In this regard, the search for solutions to such global trends as the climate and environmental agenda, digitalization of production and smart technologies directly intersects with the stated theme of the KIOSH conference, the main priority of which is improving working conditions and minimizing accidents in the workplace through the implementation of modern systems and procedures that comply with international and Kazakhstani requirements, taking into account best practices.

Our common goal is to ensure that each workplace meets established norms and standards, providing decent and safe working conditions for the working person.

I wish all participants and organizers of the Conference and Exhibition successful and productive work, constructive dialogue, and the practical implementation  of the new ideas!