Introduction

Special Economic Zones (SEZs) are the order of the day, and many countries in Asia, including India, are seeing it as a magical strategy to promote economic growth, a growth that is solely led by exports and defined as `export-led growth`. Many countries in Asia, that have overhauled their economic systems in the last few decades have adopted this export model over the earlier model of the import substitution growth. Governments often portray SEZs in a very glossy manner a win-win situation for all. It is claimed to increase investments, create jobs and thus to make everyone a winner. However, someone has to pay a very heavy price for this fast growth. Most of time, it is paid by the local farmers, whose land is grabbed, and the workers, who are offered as bait to international investors as cheap workforce. The workers pay the ultimate price of cut or broken limbs, dusty lungs and impaired bodies. 

Labour Law for All? Stated Policy and Reality

Occupational safety and health (OSH) for workers is often the lowest priority, even in the domestic industrial production. And in a scenario where the whole purpose of setting up an industrial area is accelerated economic gains, OSH takes an even more serious beating. Authorities can often argue that this is not the case, because on paper most of the national labour laws are applicable in these zones. However, reality is somewhat different. In India, even before the advent of the SEZs, there have been Export Processing Zones (EPZs) in operation for a long time, and on paper, all the labour laws are applicable in these zones too. We have seen, however, that organising workers is almost impossible in most of the zones. Of all the zones, only the Madras Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) has a union. The zones are walled enclaves  in and out of which workers commute from their homes in nearby villages. Trade union organisers are not even allowed inside the zones, with the security guards often demanding ID cards of those wishing to enter the area.

The problem starts from the inception of the zones. The Ministry of Commerce (which happens to be the most powerful ministry) plays a major role in the development of the policy paper and the setting of guidelines. This happens under the influence of the major business and corporate houses. The Ministry of Labour (that is the poorest and the most unwanted ministry) is often a silent spectator and has to play a token role in terms of providing advice on labour laws, which are twisted and conditioned to promote, what is called, an `investor friendly` atmosphere. If one looks randomly at the promotional material by the zone authorities, the facilities for investors such as single-window clearance, world-class infrastructure, club houses and even golf courses are announced very boldly. Very rarely is anything, such as hospitals for the workers, announced. The fact is that very little is provided for the comfort of the workers or even for their healthy living.

Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)Fire-fighting Tactics

Ms Li, Ms Supriani, Ms Chea and Ms Madhavi are four workers working in four different SEZs in China, Indonesia, Cambodia and India, respectively. Separated by thousands of miles, they share a common bondall of them suffer from severe work-related diseases. All of them work in garment factories. They have to work for 8 hours of normal work and 4 to 5 hours of overtime, and even more during the peak season. Breaks are limited. Some even work with chemicals. Often, little or no information is provided about the chemicals. Management rarely provides medical safety data sheets (MSDS) about the chemicals even though it is a legal binding to provide these in a language that is understood by the workers. These women face a range of health problems, including musculoskeletal disorders caused by repetitive work and awkward working postures such as bending, etc., for long hours; respiratory problems including tuberculosis; reproductive problems including irregular periods and miscarriages; and noise-induced hearing loss.

Management is still in the accident prevention mode. In fact, most factories have not moved beyond this when putting in place measures for health and safety. Of course, they conduct fire drills very often because fire is seen as one of the major hazards that can cause death and destruction. Absolutely no emphasis is laid on the occupational health of workers. Some of the factories provide some kind of medical aid inside the premises but it is very basic first aid. There is no comprehensive medical help. Many of these problems are not even recognised as `major` issues. Some women, who work in awkward positions, have such severe body ache and backache that they cannot work at all. Yet, it is often perceived as a minor problem that `everyone` faces. There is little or no investment in improving working conditions. Sometimes, women have to sit on a hard stool for more than 12 hours with no back rest because the management refuses to provide chairs with a simple backrest, let alone set up a proper dust-extraction system so that the lungs of workers can remain healthy. Replacing a sick worker with a fresh healthy worker seems to be an easier option than investing in improving working conditions. This is possible because thousands of workers are lining up outside the zones with the hope of getting jobs. It is a question of survival for themselves and their families, and they are ready to work, whatever be the cost.

Women Workers

Women are a majority workforce in most of these zones. If the OSH of workers, in general, is ignored, for the women it does not even exist. A majority of the health and safety policies (if they do exist besides on paper) are often focussed on working men. This is evident in the machinery on which women have to work. The machines have been designed predominantly for men and, thus, women are forced to work in uncomfortable positions. Sometimes, women have to travel far to work in these zones. This does not, however, absolve them of their domestic duties. So their effective working day is much longer than that of their male counterparts. Some women, especially in China, have to live within the factory premises in dormitories, where they have to share a room with many other women (sometimes even 67 in number). There is very little demarcation between the workplace and home, and this tends places great mental strain on these women, causing many stress-related ailments. Women also face a range of reproductive health problems, as indicated before. However, many of them do not even dare to talk about these problems, fearing shame or due to some taboo. Women also keep silent because the supervisors and also the company doctors (if there are any) often are men.

In this model of growth, where export is the key mantra and attracting foreign investment has become central, countries compete with each other to attract capital and the `race to the bottom` starts. Capital conveniently moves to countries that offer the most concessions, and the labour standards are pushed further down. Governments feel proud in having successfully lured more and more capital, often shown in bloated FDI figures. What remains invisible is the price that is paid by the workers, a price which is sometimes their lives.