Hunter Workers will hold the event at 12pm to coincide with International Workers Memorial Day.

This gathering is a chance to pays respects to workers who have died in the past 12 months, including approximately 17,000 health workers who have died from COVID-19 internationally, and campaign for safer workplaces to prevent further reduce injury and illness.

According to Safe Work figures, 178 Australian workers were killed at work in 2020 compared to 183 in 2019, despite widespread shut downs and a major shift into at-home work last year.

As workers increasingly moved to work at home over the pandemic there has also been a significant rise in domestic violence cases, Hunter Workers said.

Hunter Workers secretary Leigh Shears said the fact the number of workers killed in 2020 had barely shifted from the previous year "is a serious concern" considering large proportion of workers were working from home.

Wreaths will be laid at Foreshore Park Workers Memorial Stone.

Speakers will include Mr Shears, TWU Newcastle branch secretary Mick Forbes and Newcastle CFMEU construction division organiser Mark Cross. Attendees are also invited to speak.

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