On 28 April 2026, Federal Minister Bärbel Bas officially opened the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Vision Zero Fund (VZF) under the motto "A Decade of the Vision Zero Fund: From vision to reality". In her opening remarks, Minister Bas paid homage to the World Day for Safety and Health at Work.
For ten years, the VZF has stood for the joint commitment of governments and social partners from business and labour to occupational health and safety. The Fund’s aim is to realise the vision of a world without workplace accidents and occupational diseases. The Fund provides tangible support where it is needed most and also addresses emerging risks to occupational safety and health. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs initiated the VZF during Germany’s G7 presidency in 2015 and has supported the Fund with an annual contribution of one million euros ever since. During Germany's 2022 G7 Presidency, the Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to the Fund by expanding it to include a climate component that benefits workers particularly affected by climate change, especially the effects of higher temperatures on the working environment.
Minister Bas thanked the Fund’s partners and recalled the Rana Plaza tragedy in 2013, which had painfully demonstrated what happens when occupational safety is not taken seriously. More than 1,100 people died and around 2,500 were injured when a textile factory collapsed in Bangladesh. It was partly in response to the Rana Plaza disaster that the G7 heads of state and government launched the VZF in 2015.
Since then, we have learnt a great deal, most notably that responsibility extends beyond national borders: in our global economic system, we must champion good working conditions at the international level. The ten-year history of the Vision Zero Fund shows that we can change the conditions under which people work worldwide. Key is now: We cannot afford to look the other way moving forward!
As we mark ten years of the Vision Zero Fund, I would like to acknowledge the extraordinary commitment that has made this milestone possible. What began as a bold G7 vision has become a global initiative – reaching more than eight million workers and improving safety and health across supply chains worldwide.
Director-General Houngbo expressed his gratitude to the G7 for entrusting the ILO with the administration of the Fund and the implementation of its projects.
On behalf of hosting Siemens AG, Executive Board member Judith Wiese delivered a welcome address and congratulations via video message. Dr Ralf Franke, Head of Global Health, Safety and Environment, highlighted why Siemens AG was the first private partner to provide financial support to the VZF. In particular, the VZF and Siemens AG are jointly promoting occupational safety at a major construction site for the high-speed rail network in Egypt.