The challenges before occupational and environmental health and safety in the Asian countries were highlighted at a two-day conference which began here on Thursday with the experts raising the issues relating to silicosis, electronic workers, asbestos, mining and construction industry.
The event, focused on workers in organised, unorganised and informal sectors, was held under the auspices of Hong Kong-based Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) and was supported by the Union Ministry of Mines, Occupational and Environmental Health Network India (OEHNI) and Jodhpur-based Mine Labour Protection Campaign.
The previous conference was organised last year in Bandung, Indonesia, and the member organisations signed a Bandung Declaration. AMRC director Sanjiv Pandita explained the importance of pursuing a declaration with the similar title signed by the heads of Commonwealth nations five decades ago.
Mr. Pandita said while the Bandung Declaration spoke of upholding the dignity of citizens, much of the work of governments in the recent years was “in the opposite direction”. In that sense, AMRC and its associate groups would restore the declaration's spirit by demanding safety measures at the workplace.
The participants from 18 countries in the conference included victims, activists, occupational safe health advocates, trade unionists, researchers and representatives of non-government organisations working on occupational health issues.
The conference was organised here in the backdrop of growing concerns about the increasing number of people killed every year due to the work-related reasons. According to the figures released by the International Labour Organisation, about 10 lakh people die every year in Asia alone and China and India lead the death toll.
Mr. Pandita said the ILO's report for 2008 had revealed that almost 4 lakh people die every year due to work-related reasons in India. “This is an underestimation, as our government fails to report any figures in this regard,” he added and underlined the significance of firm evidence concerning occupational safety and health for which credible data was necessary.
The conference focused on the occupational and environmental health concerns in the Asian nations with testimonies of victims from different countries, including India. During the two days, the event would throw light on the critical health issues in electronics, silicosis, asbestos and mining.
An-Seok Jang from Korea highlighted the struggle against an electronic major in her country, where she said the workers were dying of occupation-related cancers. She said her first child was aborted due to exposure during her factory work, but the employers were not willing to accept the liability for ailments.
Xiao Ying, an activist from China who was injured in a major factory fire, pointed out that though there were sufficient laws for protection, occupational safety and insurance of labourers in her country, their enforcement was not up to the mark.
Earl Brown of the American Centre for International Solidarity said political will of the governments was required to provide adequate compensation to the victims, even as the chemical exposure was the biggest problem for workers in the Asian countries. He said silicosis was the strongest occupational health challenge in Asia.
Jagdish Patel of Gujarat-based People's Training Research Centre said his organisation had taken up the matter of several workers suffering from diseases with the National Human Rights Commission and obtained orders in favour of 238 labourers.
Labourers Raju Devi from Jodhpur and Tahira and Madhu Ben from Gujarat also narrated their tales of suffering.
