700 million workers at risk of occupational diseases

 Migrants account for 90% of people who fall sick due to work. The State has neglected occupational health for decades because in a "market economy", this task should fall to companies.

Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) – In China, migrant workers more at risk of catching occupational diseases, statistics of the Health Ministry revealed. So far, the State has hardly intervened at all to guarantee decent working conditions.

Migrant workers account for 90% of those who contract occupational diseases because of miserable working conditions, according to the State Administration of Work Safety. And the number of ill people is on the rise each year especially among younger workers. Around 700 million employees of 16 million firms are at risk especially in small-town industrial enterprises, the State Administration of Work Safety said in January.

Pneumoconiosis, a disease of the lungs which affects miners because of continued inhalation of dust, is widespread. Official statistics say there are 580,000 stricken people and 140,000 have died in the last 50 years. But this estimate is only an indication of the extent of the sickness, given that it was worked out from data gathered in 1986, adding around 15,000 new cases per year and anyhow the figure has not been updated for some time. Many doctors say the number is much higher since the data only takes into account those who present with the sickness. The disease could make one unable to work in a system where for the most part, mines do not offer health assistance to their employees, who prefer to work for as long as they possibly can. The sickness causes acute chest pain, frequent coughing and colds, and can be fatal: around 8 to 10,000 yuan (1000 – 1250 US dollars) are needed for treatment, nearly a year's salary.

Since the eighties, the government has increasingly transferred its role in ensuring workplace safety to enterprises, ostensibly because this is how things are done in a "market economy". But many employers, usually private owners, neglect occupational health and safety to increase their profits.

However, the prevention of occupational diseases is a matter which regards all society and the government should intervene, said Ge Xianmin, an expert in the sector.

The State Administration of Work Safety said new regulations are being drawn up. (PB)

• china
• workers
• health
• sickness
• migrants
• economy
• Pneumoconiosis
• firms
• profit