OEB represents employers at ILO technical committee on retail safety

Between September 28 and October 2, 2026, the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEB) participated in a tripartite technical committee meeting organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva. Represented by Amalia Papaioannou of the Energy and Environment Department, the organization joined international representatives from governments, employers' associations, and labor groups to address safety and health standards within the retail sector.

The committee focused on assessing existing and emerging risks to retail employees, including physical, ergonomic, biological, and psychosocial threats. A significant portion of the discourse centered on the impact of modernization, specifically the integration of new technologies, automation, and digitalization in the workplace. Discussions emphasized the critical need for accident prevention and the management of occupational diseases in an evolving labor landscape.

OEB underscored the necessity for safety measures to be tailored to the specific nature, size, and operational requirements of individual businesses. The committee examined how new forms of work organization present both challenges and opportunities for employee protection. This meeting contributes to the broader ongoing efforts of the ILO to establish global frameworks for workplace safety amidst rapid technological shifts.