Siemens is helping improve occupational health and safety worldwide. The company has signed an agreement with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and committed to providing financial and logistical support for the Vision Zero Fund (VZF) initiated in 2015 by the Group of Seven (G7) countries. The VZF aims to bring together governments, non-governmental organizations, companies, foundations and other institutions in order to improve working conditions for people worldwide. Implementation of the initiative has been assigned to the ILO.

According to the ILO, more than two million people in the world die each year from work-related injuries and illnesses. What is more, 60 percent of the world's labor force is still not effectively protected against work-related accidents and illnesses. Inadequate worker protection also has an obvious impact on the economy: recent assessments suggest work-related accidents and illnesses reduce global GDP by four percent a year.

Siemens is the first company to participate in the VZF initiative since it has endeavored to improve working conditions at its factories and construction sites for years. In 2015, for example, Siemens teamed up with the German technical service organization TÜV Rheinland to found the Siemens Global Skill Centre for Occupational Safety, which offers training programs in Kalwa, Mumbai. The first project within the VZF framework is to begin in Ethiopia in the coming year.

Siemens AG (Berlin and Munich) is a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for 170 years. The company is active in more than 200 countries, focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of efficient power generation and power transmission solutions and a pioneer in infrastructure solutions as well as automation, drive and software solutions for industry. The company is also a leading provider of medical imaging equipment – such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging systems – and a leader in laboratory diagnostics as well as clinical IT. In fiscal 2016, which ended on September 30, 2016, Siemens generated revenue of €79.6 billion and net income of €5.6 billion. At the end of September 2016, the company had around 351,000 employees worldwideINTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATIONThe International Labour Organization (ILO) is the United Nations agency for the world of work. It sets international labour standards, promotes rights at work and encourages decent employment opportunities, the enhancement of social protection and the strengthening of dialogue on work-related issues. The ILO has a unique structure, bringing together governments, employers' and workers' representatives