AMWU members and other unions across Australia have marked International Workers’ Memorial Day with a minute’s silence to remember all those who have been injured or killed at work.

More than 2000 unionists marched through central Melbourne calling for the abolition of the Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC), which enforces restrictions on union access to work sites.

Thousands of workers also marched through Sydney to protest against the rising rate of deaths and serious injuries at work, and 1200 union members and their families marched in Brisbane on Wednesday.

Marches were also held in Hobart, Adelaide and Perth under the slogan, Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living.

This year Australian unions used the International Workers’ Memorial Day to highlight the workplace health and safety rights that will be lost under the proposed national OHS laws.

The proposed laws will reduce health and safety rights at work by reducing the obligation on employers to consult with their workers regarding OHS policies, limit the role and function of elected Health and Safety Representatives, and reduce the ability of victims to prosecute over workplace health and safety breaches.

As many as 21 Australians die each day from work-related incidents or illnesses, while 1890 workers are injured or made ill.

Workers’ Memorial Day is held globally to remember the 2 million workers who die, the 1.2 million who are injured, the 160 million who fall ill each year from unsafe, unhealthy or unsustainable work and workplaces.

It’s expected that over 14 million people will take part in Workers Memorial Day Activities in over 100 countries this year.