Increasing Workplace Fatalities Prompt Government Action in Italy
Two more workers were killed in workplace accidents in Italy on Tuesday, bringing the total number of fatalities to five in less than two days. A 62-year-old man tragically lost his life after being struck by a vehicle while unloading goods at his workplace in Carpiano, near Milan. According to the UIL trade union, the man had retired but returned to work at a logistics center due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis making his pension insufficient.
In a separate incident, a 24-year-old construction worker died after falling from scaffolding in the Lambrate district of Milan. This string of accidents follows the death of another worker who was electrocuted in the Ciociaria area between Rome and Naples. Additionally, a construction worker fell to his death near Naples, and another fatal incident occurred at a metal plant in Veneto on the same day.
In response to the alarming trend, Premier Giorgia Meloni announced that her government would allocate 650 million euros in new funding aimed at enhancing workplace health and safety, particularly in the lead-up to the May Day national holiday. Furthermore, the government plans to convene with trade unions on Thursday to discuss essential health and safety measures.
Recent data from the workplace accident insurance agency INAIL revealed a worrying rise in work-related deaths, which increased to 205 in the first quarter of the year, marking an 837 rise compared to previous statistics.
The uptick in workplace fatalities has raised significant concern among labor unions and the public, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced safety protocols and regulations to protect workers across various sectors. As discussions continue, the hope is that concrete measures will emerge to prevent these tragedies from occurring in the future.
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