Unions NSW held its annual ceremony for the International Day or Mourning to mark the lives of people killed in the workplace.

The event, hosted by Unions NSW President Lauren Hutchins, was held not only to remember those killed at work, but to push for stronger legislation to protect workers, including industrial manslaughter laws.

One speaker at the event, NSW Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety Minister, Sophie Cotsis, said the Minns Labor Government would “introduce industrial manslaughter rules in the coming months”.

She said 68 people died at NSW workplaces last year.

Another speaker, Ann Spinks, spoke on behalf of families two years and a week after her son died in a workplace accident.

“The most devastating form of grief is the one that is the most preventable: in the workplace,” she said. “We must strive for a safer workplace.”

Ms Spinks and other family members joined politicians and union representatives, including the PSA CPSU NSW’s Nathan Bradshaw (pictured above) in laying flowers for those lives lost.

Other politicians present included NSW Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Shadow Work Health and Safety Minister Tim James.

The Reverend Bill Crews and Imam Farhan Khalil represented their respective religious communities.