OHS IN ASIA

1. OHS IN ASIA JAGDISH PATEL Coordinator, ANROAV

2. ASIA Asian population in the world is 57%. Among 15 most populated countires, 8 are Asian countries. Most Asian countries are traditionally agricultural and an agrarian society Many were foreign colonies and got independence only in last 50 years Even now, most of the countries have poor economy and the human development index is very low. Parliamentary democracy is still away for many countries. Military rules directly or has heavy influence. In Socialist countries there are State sponsored Trade Unions Unionization is very low. Large population barely gets two time square meal. Unemployment and partial employment, low wages and poor work conditions are normal.

3. Common features among Asian countries Poor governance, corruption and weak democratization of organizations All these coming together create a society which do not respect labor and pay little attention to their problems. Large numbers of agricultural workers and home based workers, for whom there are no laws. Outer look is transforming like houses, roads, TV and modern communication like phone, mobiles. Number of computers are increasing and societies are getting transformed but the traditions do not get wiped out easily. Influence of religion and sects and religious people is still large. When situation was getting hopeful we got into new economic policies including Liberalization, privatization and globalization. All are in competition to welcome foreign direct investment offering more and more relaxation from taxes and labor laws. Workers are facing greatest challenge in the history where State itself tend to disregard the labor standards. Though pace of industrialization has increased, the society can not be termed as industrial society.

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

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

15. NEEDS 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.