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?

C.HOPPER@CIEH.ORG

+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