In today's labor markets, routine business travel and employee assignments abroad are common.
- This global movement presents unique challenges to governments and employers concerning legal and practical matters that arise from unfamiliar risks to employees abroad.
- These risks include disease, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and kidnappings.
- Considering these risks, the extent to which governments and employers have a Duty of Care to workers abroad needs examination.
- The 1981 and 2006 International Labor Organization Conventions on Occupational Safety and Health mandate that ratifying nations use a preventative approach to occupational safety and health in order to implement measures to ensure a Duty of Care to "all workers" at the national and employer levels.
- Australia, the United Kingdom, and some European [*876] countries, all ratifying parties to the Conventions, have extended the Duty of Care to international business travellers and assignees through case law and legislation.