international labour organization dr. amin al-wreidat enhancing labour inspection effectiveness...
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International labour OrganizationInternational labour Organization
Dr. Amin Al-WreidatDr. Amin Al-WreidatEnhancing Labour Inspection EffectivenessEnhancing Labour Inspection Effectiveness
LAB/ADMINLAB/ADMIN
Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety and HealthLabour Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health Challenges in the Garment SectorChallenges in the Garment Sector
Origin of the problem
The problems starts back at home:
Extreme poverty. Unemployment. Large number of dependants.
Alluring solutions
Attractive jobs of good working conditions advertised:
The cost of a visa ranges from 1500 to 4000 US $ Money obtained by getting loans or selling properties. Sometimes a group of people invest in one. At the end, a work contract is bought and celebrated.
Confrontation with reality
Suffering starts on the first day they arrive to the countryof destination:
Passports and other documents are confiscated. Contracts signed back at home are forcibly changed. Documents necessary for legal stay and work are usually not obtained. Moving around means being caught and deported by authorities.
Rights are violated
Typical forms of forced labour and trafficking. Very long working hours. Wages are not paid on time. Overtime hours not accurately calculated. Annual Leaves cancelled. Sick leaves deducted. Social security contributions deducted from workers and not paid to the SSC.
High risk working conditions
Hazards mainly come from:
Machinery: Sewing, knitting, washing, pressing…etc. Cutting tools and needles. Exposure to chemicals: Dyes, enzymes, solvents, ..etc. Repetitive motions and poor ergonomic standards. Lack of training.
High risk living conditions
Dormitories are very crowded and poorly ventilated. Very hot in summer and very cold in winter. The same place used for sleeping and preparing food. Own electrical heaters used for cooking and heating. Electrical currents overloaded. No fire fighting systems. Scanty water, unhygienic toilets. Food is poor in quality and quantity.
Health problems
Several breakouts of scabies, hepatitis and chickenpox in the unhygienic dormitories. High number of cases of piles and varicose veins among workers in finishing sections due to very long standing. Continuous back and muscle pain due to ergonomic Problems. Eczema and other skin problems among workers in laundry sections. Respiratory tract problems among workers in sandblasting. Visual problems among machine operators and embroidery and finishing workers.
Other social and health problems
Unhealthy sexual relations. family problems. Repeated abortions. Serious gynecological problems. Sexually transmitted diseases. Urinary tract problems due to retention. Psychological stress.
Major contributing causes
Problems at the country of origin Communication barriers Management problems Poverty problems Labour inspection weaknesses
Problems at the country of origin
Exploiting recruitment agents exist and grow No legal protection Official documents with untrue information are easy to get Illiteracy and lack of awareness.
Communication barriers
Most of workers in the garment sector in the Middle East are south east Asians. They don’t speak or understand any language other than their native one:
They don’t understand the law. They don’t know their rights. They can’t complain. The can’t communicate with inspectors
Management problems
Middle managements are usually south east Asians:
They are always blamed by top managements.The only thing they know is production.They bring their negative practices with them.They try to prove themselves by increasing productivity. When they go up, it is always at the cost of workers.They are the tools by which top managements violate the law.They are sacrificed when necessary.
Poverty consequences
Suffering starts on the first day of work. Contracts dearly paid for.When the real situation is discovered, it’s too late. No way back home without money. The only way ahead is to compromise and continue.
Labour inspection weaknesses
Legal gaps. Capacity problems. Communication problems. Cooperation problems.
Legal gaps
Legal problems: The law may not apply to the industrial zones. Some provisions may not apply to foreign workers. The law does not cover all violations. The law does not cover dormitories. sanctions are not effective.
Communication problems
Inspectors unable to communicate with managements. Inspectors unable to communicate with workers
Cooperation problems
Uncooperative employers. Uncooperative workers Uncooperative other institutions.
Solutions“A successful Jordanian experience”
Jordan relied mostly on enhancing labour inspection effectiveness in tackling the problem through:
Legislative reform promotion of dialogue with the social partners Strengthening the capacities of the inspectorate Establishment of the “Labour Inspectors’ Training Center” International support: ● ILO: Social Dialogue and ITCILO, Turin ● Better Work Program: ILO & IFC ● USAID
Capacities of the labour inspection system were strengthened by:
Increasing the number of inspectors. Motivating inspectors by generous incentives. Providing logistic support. Development of a “Desk Book For Labor Inspectors” Development of a “Standard Operative procedures” Partial computerization of inspection activities. Developing performance monitoring and evaluation plans. Extending inspectors’ working hours by organizing overtime.
Other measures
Development of the “Golden List”. Development of the “Intensive Inspection Surveillance List” Development of the “Core Inspection Force”. Establishment of the Hotline Services. Recruitment of interpreters who speak all workers’ languages. Awareness raising programs in different languages. Establishment of unions’ offices in the industrial zones.
Labour inspectors’ training
Inspectors were trained on
International Labour Standards. Fundamental human rights. Occupational safety and health. Special courses on trafficking, forced labour and discrimination at work. National labour legislations and prosecution. Best labour inspection practices and procedures. Collective bargaining, mediations and dispute settlement.Time and resources management. Communication and computer skills.
Quality of inspection improved
Improvement reflected as:
Better inspection reports. Higher levels of compliance. Less violations. Decreased complaints. Reduced number of strikes. Positive internal and external feed back.