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Unorganized Workers in Tamil Nadu Still Await Safety Framework
22 Sep
Summary
- A decade-old health wing for unorganized workers has yet to see a comprehensive framework.
- Multiple stakeholder meetings over five years yielded no concrete OSH policy.
- Recommendations for mandatory health screening and tracking of long-term illnesses are pending.
A comprehensive occupational safety and health (OSH) framework for unorganized sector workers in Tamil Nadu remains elusive, despite at least three stakeholder meetings held over the last five years. A dedicated Occupational, Social and Environmental Health Wing, established by the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services almost a decade ago, has not resulted in a complete policy. Recommendations from these consultations, including mandatory health screening, universal health coverage, and tracking of long-term occupational illnesses like Silicosis and occupational cancers, are still pending implementation.
Officials had previously proposed integrating basic occupational health services and universal health coverage, aligning with WHO/ILO standards. This included mandatory health entry-level screening and regular check-ups. The maintenance of health logs for workers, especially those employed for over 30 years, was also suggested to monitor chronic conditions. However, these crucial OSH guidelines for unorganized labourers and inter-state migrant workers have not materialized into a concrete policy, leaving a significant gap in worker protection.
