Towards an international consensus on work and the right to health

At the third People's Health Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa in July 2012, US-based delegates in the fields of occupational health and public health will meet with international activists to share experiences and struggles around work and the right to health. The meeting will be a forum for the development of international grassroots consensus regarding fair and healthy work. Some foundational assumptions of the fair and healthy work group are: (1) All work is work. Compensated or uncompensated, “blue-collar,” “white-collar,” or “no-collar,” unionized or non-unionized, documented or undocumented, legalized or criminalized – all workers have the right to fair and healthy work. (2) All health is related to work, and work is connected to the other social determinants of health. (3) Workers themselves are best positioned to be researchers, experts, and leaders in addressing the issues of health, safety, and justice that affect them. During this APHA panel, we will share the results of the meeting in Cape Town, including opportunities identified by international partners for ongoing solidarity and collaboration, and resources currently needed to support workers in advancing claims regarding health arguments in local, national, and international arenas. We will explain the progress made toward the creation of a shared framework about work and the right to health, and outline next steps for US allies and the People's Health Movement.