A worker of the Thuong Tin Electricity Company
installs meters for residents. Many industrial workers suffer from occupational
health conditions, says a study. — Photo: VNA/VNS
Many
industrial workers face early retirement caused by occupational health
conditions, according to a National Institute of Labour Protection study.
Labourers,
particularly female workers, at industrial and export and processing zones often
retire at just 30-40 years old when confronted with diseases caused by
workplace conditions, the Lao dong (Labour) newspaper reported.
A recent
study from the National Institute of Labour Protection under the Viet Nam
Labour Federation revealed that diseases such as blood shortage, blood sugar
reduction and otorhinolaryngology diseases are common diseases for workers.
The
report determined that only 5.2 per cent of surveyed workers were ranked as
having very good health, while 39.5 per cent of them are in moderately good
health conditions.
It said
that improper working conditions, high working intensity and poor living
conditions are key factors affecting workers’ health.
Nguyen Be
Em, a worker at a garment factory at Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone in HCM
City, told the newspaper that she often felt dizzy in recent days but did not
dare see doctors for fear of discovering she had some disease.
She said
that most of the workers at her factory suffer from a range of diseases.
Many
businesses fire workers who fail to meet health requirements even if they are
young.
Businesses
often think of different ways for workers to stop working, such as increasing
the workload until a worker fails to complete his/her assignments, the
newspaper reported. Some businesses
change production technology so workers who fail to adapt to the change are
forced to quit.
Hoang Thi
Nga, a worker from the central province of Ha Tinh, told the newspaper that she
asked to quit her job because her company continued to increase working shifts.
“I was too tired because of the working pressure,” she said.
In HCM
City, many businesses—particularly garment and textile companies—dismiss
workers once they reach the age of 30, according to Head of the Institute of
Workers and Trade Unions Vu Quang Tho.
Garment
and textile businesses often use workers for around 10 years, when workers are
between 20- and 30-years old. These businesses assume that workers’ health will
reduce when they are over 30 years old and will therefore fail to meet work
demand, Tho told Lao dong newspaper.
“Although
many workers are still healthy enough to work when they are 30 years old, many
businesses still want to replace them with new and younger ones,” he said.
Deputy
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Minh Huan said the
practice of dismissing workers with subpar health does not violate any
regulations.
However,
if businesses abuse this issue to give workers the push, there exist
regulations protecting the interests of workers.
Tho said
it was necessary to legally require businesses to employ workers over a certain
period. For example, businesses must commit to employing workers over a period
of 25-30 years.
The
Government should implement tighter regulations to ensure the interests of
workers, while workers themselves should actively improve their skills and
capacity, he said.
The Viet
Nam Labour Federation has entrusted the Institute of Workers and Trade Unions
to carry out a survey on industrial businesses ending labour relations with
workers at the age of between 38 and 40. The survey will serve as a basis to
deal with the issue.
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