OHS IN ASIAOHS IN ASIA

JAGDISH PATELJAGDISH PATEL

Coordinator,Coordinator,

ANROAVANROAV

ASIAASIA Asian population in the world is 57%.Asian population in the world is 57%. Among 15 most populated countires, 8 are Asian Among 15 most populated countires, 8 are Asian

countries.countries. Most Asian countries are traditionally agricultural and an Most Asian countries are traditionally agricultural and an

agrarian societyagrarian society Many were foreign colonies and got independence only in Many were foreign colonies and got independence only in

last 50 yearslast 50 years Even now, most of the countries have poor economy and Even now, most of the countries have poor economy and

the human development index is very low.the human development index is very low. Parliamentary democracy is still away for many countries. Parliamentary democracy is still away for many countries.

Military rules directly or has heavy influence.Military rules directly or has heavy influence. In Socialist countries there are State sponsored Trade In Socialist countries there are State sponsored Trade

UnionsUnions Unionization is very low.Unionization is very low. Large population barely gets two time square meal.Large population barely gets two time square meal. Unemployment and partial employment, low wages and Unemployment and partial employment, low wages and

poor work conditions are normal.poor work conditions are normal.

Common features among Asian Common features among Asian countriescountries

Poor governance, corruption and weak democratization of Poor governance, corruption and weak democratization of organizationsorganizations

All these coming together create a society which do not All these coming together create a society which do not respect labor and pay little attention to their problems.respect labor and pay little attention to their problems.

Large numbers of agricultural workers and home based Large numbers of agricultural workers and home based workers, for whom there are no laws.workers, for whom there are no laws.

Outer look is transforming like houses, roads, TV and Outer look is transforming like houses, roads, TV and modern communication like phone, mobiles. Number of modern communication like phone, mobiles. Number of computers are increasing and societies are getting computers are increasing and societies are getting transformed but the traditions do not get wiped out easily. transformed but the traditions do not get wiped out easily. Influence of religion and sects and religious people is still Influence of religion and sects and religious people is still large.large.

When situation was getting hopeful we got into new When situation was getting hopeful we got into new economic policies including Liberalization, privatization and economic policies including Liberalization, privatization and globalization. All are in competition to welcome foreign globalization. All are in competition to welcome foreign direct investment offering more and more relaxation from direct investment offering more and more relaxation from taxes and labor laws. Workers are facing greatest challenge taxes and labor laws. Workers are facing greatest challenge in the history where State itself tend to disregard the labor in the history where State itself tend to disregard the labor standards.standards.

Though pace of industrialization has increased, the society Though pace of industrialization has increased, the society can not be termed as industrial society.can not be termed as industrial society.

Problems of OSH in Asian countries

No legal provisions to protect workers in all sectors of economy

Poor implementation of the legal provisions

Lack of reliable data Lack of OSH services Lack of social security. Social security organizations have

huge fund collected fromworkers and employers as contributions but do not spend for the purposes it has been created.

Poor unionization Worker’s voice in politics very weak No compensation.

OHS Struggles In

Asia

• Despite all the odds workers are struggling to change their conditions. In last few years we see a definite change.

• ANROAV is one such expression of change.

• Campaigns like Bhopal, Silicosis, Asbestos, Ship breaking in India

• Kader in Thailand. WEPT• Silicosis and cadmium poisoning

in China.• RCA campaign in Taiwan• Korean workers struggles• Asbestos in Japan and some

other countries.• Minamata and Karoshi in Japan• Mine workers campaigns in

different countries

Workers Struggles

• Victims groups have been formed with great success in Taiwan, Hong Kong, India and many other.

• Still we do not hear from countries like Pakistan or Sri Lanka and many other.

Indian Concerns:TUs• Number of organized workforce is very low.Among the

organized, major portion is that of Government and service sector workers.

• The Trade Union Act is liberal. Any 7 workers can come together to register a Union. Hence in public sector, where organized workers have gained benefits for the Union and office bearers of the Union, we see the multiplicity of Unions.

• In all industry sectors, we have multiple Unions.• We have Central Trade Unions which are affiliated to this or

that political parties. These Trade Unions are merely Labor wing of the Party. Political interests over ride the labor rights. There are some ‘independent’ Unions which have no affiliation with any political party.

• For many years central trade unions opposed recognising SEWA as central trade union. ‘Independent’unions do not have any say in deciding labor policy.

Indian Concerns:TUs• In urban areas like Mumbai, office bearers of

some trade unions keep gunmen as their body guards! There are many management backed and yellow unions.

• In party dominated Unions, a party leader – may be an industrialist- is president of the Union.

• Workers tend to join the Union of the party in power, as the labor administration remains favorable to the party in power. Even the party throws weight in favor of its own Union.

• Those with leadership qualities are self appointed leaders and others can not challenge ones authority and power. This is hindrance in democratizing the Union.

INDIAN CONCENRS• Religion, Culture and education also play its own

role. People surrender to the faith to resolve their problems rather than struggling. Struggling would further jeopardize their life, they fear. Some have fatalistic beliefs. Customs and traditions are not challenged. People feel it safe to go with the traditions

• State tyranny over the rights based groups.• Feudal mindset is prevailing.• Liberalization, privatization and Globalization

has further weakened the legal monitoring. Govt. is bent upon protecting business interests of the investors.

MANAGEMENT PRACTICES• Managements know how to corrupt the shop-

floor as well as outside leadership. Shop-floor leaders or reps are offered wide range of favors like overtime, time off and unaccounted leaves, out of turn promotions and increments, employment to ones dear ones, contracts or some means by which one can earn extra money, loans and authority to sanction loans to others etc. For out side leaders they offer contracts like labor supply, some business opportunities, gifts in cash and kind, election fund, donations on various occasions etc. Once the leaders are made silent, workers know there is no meaning making any complaints

GENERAL HEALTH CARE• Accessibility to basic health care is a problem.

Medicine availability, availability of Medical professionals, cost of medical care, monitoring of private medical services are all issues affecting general health status of the people. Even in district civil hospitals, experts are not available. Like in Dahod district there is no provision of Radiologist. In this district, Silicosis affected people visit this hospital for diagnosis and treatment. In absence of radiologist, who will make diagnosis of silicosis and when silicosis is not diagnosed, how can one think of claiming compensation.

GENERAL HEALTH CARE• In many villages there are no

roads and shifting a patient with terminal sickness become difficult when vehicles can not reach up to the house. Recently I visited a patient of silicosis in Dhavadia village of Zhalod taluka of Dahod district. The village is not far from Jhalod- a taluka place. We had to park our vehicle at a distance of 2 km. from the house, cross through the knee dip water way, walk through the Maze and Paddy fields to reach victim’s house.

OHS

Problem of OHS is not attractive to political parties by way of numbers. Though the numbers of fatal accidents is high considering the comparisons with developed countries or Nordic countries or the expectations of the pro-worker organizations, it is certainly not attractive even for the TU, not to talk of political party. For that sake no health problem has ever been an issue of the political party. Hence, to expect the Unions - controlled by the political parties – to take up the cause of OHS in big way is merely a dream.

Preventive health is speculative. Workers are most concerned about their earnings. In a society where employment opportunities are limited, workers can not dare to fight for decent work. They have to be satisfied with the bear minimum. Where the workers are unionized, they do not put pressure on the Union for better OHS standards.

OHSOHS

Overall attitude towards Overall attitude towards safety & health is callous. safety & health is callous. May it be in home or road May it be in home or road or workplace, people do or workplace, people do not consider it to be not consider it to be ‘profitable’ in investing ‘profitable’ in investing safer environment. May it safer environment. May it be helmet, improved be helmet, improved tongs for kitchen, safety tongs for kitchen, safety belts for car etc. This also belts for car etc. This also has bearing on the has bearing on the workplaceworkplaceThe legal struggle is long The legal struggle is long and expensive. Many a and expensive. Many a time lawyers are not loyal time lawyers are not loyal to their poor clients.to their poor clients.

NEEDSNEEDS• Bringing about change needs manifold activities.

Training, education and awareness programs for hazards and legal rights have to continue for along time. Workers who want to fight out should be supported by way of free legal counseling and legal support will have to be given. Workers will have to be supported for getting organized for OHS. Victims will have to be organized and supported. Campaign for better legal provisions, speedy legal process, pro-people OHS services and better implementation will have to be continued. Networking and solidarity also will strengthen the struggle for justice to the victims and safer workplaces.

• We need to evolve innovative strategies for OHS struggles in Asia looking at the awareness and economic levels of the society.