Italy proposes August 8 as ‘European Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Accidents at Work

Brussels – August 8, European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Accidents at Work. That is the plan and the request at the heart of the proposed resolution submitted by MEPs Massimiliano Salini (FI/EPP), Pina Picierno (PD/S&D), and Antonella Sberna (FdI/ECR), now being considered by the European Parliament’s Bureau of President for potential scheduling for a vote.

The cross-party political initiative aims to follow up on the Marcinelle tragedy and the many institutional visits over the years. The day identified on the calendar to establish the special European day is not accidental. The text recalls that on August 8, 1956, the accident in the Bois du Cazier mine in Belgium killed 262 miners, “of whom 256 belonged to states that are currently members of the European Union.” Half of the victims (136 in total) were Italian emigrants, in a story of emigration in search of refuge from poverty that is very painful and alive in the country’s recent past.

For Salini, Picierno, and Sberna, the memory of these victims “continues to nourish awareness of the fundamental value of the free movement of workers, their rights, and their safety and dignity.” Hence, the request to observe “every year” the memory of those who died at work to “raise public awareness of the need for ever greater labor protection.”

The call for the Council and Commission is to support the initiative and make August 8 the European Day for Victims of Accidents at Work, while for the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, the call is to follow up on the initiative.  It is up to her and her office to decide whether to admit the resolution and possibly bring it directly to the House or the relevant committee for a vote.