EUROPE/SWITZERLAND - 40 MILLION CHILDREN EXPLOITED IN LABOUR AND TWO MILLION WORKERS KILLED AT WORK EVERY YEAR

Rome (Fides Service) – The World Health Organisation has issued alarming figures with regard to health and security of workers. WHO says that three million workers in the world work in insecure conditions and that every year two million workers lose their lives in accidents at work or because of professional diseases. Whereas forty million children are exploited in labour in fields and small and medium businesses. The UN’s Superior Institute for prevention and security at work says labour causes 37% of back pain, 40% back bone problems, 16% loss of hearing, 13% respiratory diseases, 11% cases of asthma, 10% of accidents, 9% of lung cancer cases and 2% of cases of leukaemia. (AP) (6/11/2003 Fides Service: lines 16 words:162)