Representatives of the ITUC-AP Conference on Asbestos met members of Committee IX (Demography, Health, Manpower and Transmigration Affairs) of the House of Representatives of Indonesia on Wednesday, 7 March 2018, including Mr. Dede Yusuf M.E., ST, M.Si and Ms. Dra. Hj. Ermalena, Chair and Vice Chair of the Committee accordingly.

Occupational Health and Safety is a fundamental human and workers’ right, which is clearly declared in international instruments. However, about 125 million people are still exposed to asbestos at the workplace. Approximately half of the deaths related to occupational cancer are estimated to be caused by asbestos. At least 107,000 people die every year because of asbestos-related lung cancer, according to the recent statistics of the WHO.

Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring fibrous minerals with historical commercial usefulness due to their extraordinary tensile strength, poor heat conduction, and relative resistance to chemical attack. However, all forms of asbestos are carcinogenic. Exposure to asbestos, no matter if it is chrysotile or any other form, may cause cancer of the lung, larynx, and ovaries, and also mesothelioma.