Christian Hopper for CIEH Worker Welfare in GCC IOSH Presentation Dubai 2015

Christian Hopper, International Client AdvisorChartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)

29 April 2015

Dubai, UAE

Worker Welfare in GCC –an Environmental Health and OSH Perspective

www.cieh.org/middleeast

So, how are you all today? Fine, or…

• Tired or Exhausted

• Hot or Cold

• Sick or Unwell

• Thirsty or Hungry

• Sad or Lonely

• Stressed or Anxious

• Disengaged

Contents

• Definitions and Legislative Drivers on Worker Welfare

• Challenges and Barriers

• Environmental Health perspective

• Aspects and Impacts of Worker Welfare on OSH

• Why invest in Worker Welfare?

• SLI.DO Survey / Solutions

• Positive GCC Initiatives

• Closing Thoughts

Welfare: Definitions & Drivers

• Increasing WW legislation across GCC countries

• ILO standards: ‘Decent Work’ SAFE 1-4/Target 8.8

• Spotlight of global investment and events

• Growing competition for labour, low and skilled across GCC

• In line with developing ‘CSR/sustainability’ in GCC region

‘Health, happiness, prosperity, & well-being in general’ OR

‘Statutory procedure or organised effort designed to promote the basic physical & material well being of people in need’

Welfare Stakeholders

• Governments

• Employers

• Recruiters/Agents

• Kafala/Sponsors

• ILO

• WHO

• Amnesty International/NGOs

• Human Rights Watch

• Trade Unions/ Welfare Reps

• Investors

• Origin Country

• Workers

Partnership working essential for welfare success

Outside Eyes See…

Images: ©Brent Stirton: Dubai Labour.

Inside Eyes See…

Image: TDIC

Its Complicated…..

• International Labour Markets ARE complex.

• How to reform/tackle Country of Origin agents?

• Bad Press: media, vested interests, envy?

• Unprecedented growth and urban development

• Expo 2020, WC 2022, 2030 National Vision- drivers

• Positive commitments & actions made in recent

years by many GCC governments, led by UAE,Qatar

GCC states do/must keep laying the bricks of progress each day

But, welfare is in your ‘camp’

• Responsibility lies with employer who benefits from worker’s output

• Legal, financial and moral duty

• Worker Welfare is a cultural issue also –do workers matter

• Worker welfare a key component of OSH management/CSR

• Your reputation / productivity / business / OSH performance is at stake from poor worker welfare

Do ‘happier’ workers work better & more safely?

Poor Welfare = Poor OSH Foundations

• Overcrowding

• Job Insecurity

• Lack of freedom

• Debt / low wages

• Job/salary didn’t match expected

• Longer hours

• Away from home and loved ones

• Discrimination

• Social isolation/segregation

• Workers don’t know rights

• SME firms not bought into WW

• ‘Bad’ sponsors

Factors beyond the OSH manager control…but heighten risk?

Living Environment

Home Environment

Work Environment

Recreational Environment

Contributions of Environmental Health Practitioners:

assessing, correcting and preventing impact of stressors

Food

Biological

Chemical

Physical

Social

Psychosocial

Stressors

What is the scope of Environmental Health practice ?

Welfare Impacts on OSH

• Sleep quality /length

• Safe rest places

• Sanitation facilities

• Breaks / working time

• Transport

• Food quality/safety

• Space /Light / Water /Ventilation

• Hygiene facilities

• Dust/dirty conditions

• Harmful substances

• Noise exposure

• Social engagement

• Temperature

• Security

• Right to representation

• Recreation

• Stress

Have you factored these adequately into risk assessments?

Who is most at risk?

• Construction / migrant workers

• Agency employed workers

• Service sector –barbers, cleaners

• ‘Domestic’ sector -Cooks / Gardeners / Drivers /Janitors

• Maids (worst affected)

• ‘Personal Care’/Illegal workers

• Many others working 10 hour + days/>60hr weeks

What does your own welfare risk assessment tell you?

Poor Housing = Poor Health

Poor Worker Welfare Leads to…

Aspects/Factors• Unsafe transport

• Illegal accommodation

• Distance of travel

• Inadequate / unsafe housing

• Social isolation / Boredom

• Fatigue / Exhaustion

• Heat stress (home/van/work)

• Malnutrition/food poisoning

• Sleep deprivation

Impacts/Outcomes• Greater # Near Miss / Accidents /RTA

• Non-conformance to rules/strikes

• Reduced concentration/performance

• Heart Attacks / Sickness

• Business interruption from strikes

• Psychological damage

• Suicide / self harm

• Absenteeism

• Crime/Antisocial behaviour

Towards Worker Welfare Solutions

Audience Survey/SLIDO• Aware of WW legislation?

• Who handles WW for your organisation?

• Surveyed or audited WW in last 12 months?

• Top 3 WW issues leading to OSH failures in your org?

• Your plans for WW this year? % of OSH budget?

Responses• Yes / No / Unsure

• OSH Manager / WW Rep / Supervisors / Unsure Everybody / Nobody

• Yes / No / Unsure

• Heat/ Fatigue/ Stress / Food Poisoning/ Sleep / Boredom

• Worker Survey / Inspection /Train Reps/ Train Supervisors / Provide care packs /Work with govt / Use NGOs / Change contract terms

Work as welfare

• Paid, safe work = escape from worst health inequalities

• Salaries sent ‘home’ improve public health

• GCC growth funds improvements elsewhere

• OSH culture / skills embedded in GCC migrant workforce to transfer to worker place of origin

• Work migration may become a choice

GCC workers wages posted overseas positively impact on Environmental Health at their ‘home’

What Are You Doing on Welfare?

(Reactive)• Post-employment survey

• Investigate complaints

• Post accident analysis

• Saying Welfare Matters

(Proactive)• Embed welfare in contracts

• Consider before OSH change

• Worker surveys

• Regular medicals

• Investing

• Listen, Monitor & Inspect

• Training – AED/First Aid

• Knowing Welfare Works!

What Else Can You Do?

• Put up visual aids / Welfare Safety Campaigns /posters in accommodation

• Share OSH info with sponsors / recruiters

• Appoint & Train Welfare Reps

• Encourage open dialogue and suggestions with workers/stakeholders

• Distribute ‘care packs’ – sleep matt, food containers, soap, rehydrates

• Work with Govt. Agencies, NGOs and other welfare groups

• Sporting, art, cookery clubs and regular/organised recreation activities

• Encourage/support labour camp safety groups

Keep laying the bricks!

GCC Positive Initiatives

• Increase of Government Inspections in UAE/Qatar

• HAAD - ‘Working in Heat’/ ‘Working at Height’

• BuildSafe UAE –audit tool

• Ministries of Labour / QF

• SmartFoundation UAE

• Labour of Love UAE

• Better Connections Qatar

• ‘Thank You Day ‘ H.H. SM

• Safety Groups

• Bollywood on Wheel’ Emirates NBD

• Indian Workers Resource Centre

• Migrant Workers Protection Society

• Adopt a Camp

What does ‘Good’ look Like?From Qatar Pearl/Shell ‘The Village’ model

• Access to healthcare and counselling

• Workers Rights, Benefits, Salaries

• Transportation

• Personal Development

• Accommodation/community

• Welfare Officers/Advisors

• Nutrition/Food Safety

• Organised Recreation

• Training and Education

• Leave / Job Rotation

• Access to family/spouses

Closing Thoughts

• See WW as a visible OSH activity/tool,with good ROI

• Mandate and monitor compliance in all contracts

• Welfare drives productivity&OSH engagement- ‘wins hearts’

• Do more in hidden sectors/workers in supply chain + SMEs

• WW supports GCC legacy of achievement and dignity

• Celebrate the positives, and progress

• Consult, engage & unite stakeholders

• More (unannounced) enforcement…

Thank you for listening/Shokran!

…Any Questions?

[email protected]

+44 207 827 6341 / +971 4 454 1241

Office 206, Building 26, Healthcare City, Dubai UAE

www.cieh.org/middleeast

NB: Images: © Copyright to individual artists /via Google Images