After the Green Revolution, Punjab emerged as an agriculturally developed state in India. The increase in agricultural productivity has led to the development of agro-based units in the state. With the recent expansion and growth of agro-based industries, the rate of female employment has also accelerated in these units. In the absence of healthy and safe working conditions, women workers are vulnerable to number of health hazards in these industries.

“There is a lot of suffocation due to lack of adequate ventilation and fresh air. We remain in this closed dump room for so many hours and move outside only during lunch break. It sometimes also causes dizziness. The room is very damp, making us feel nauseous all the time.” Says Geeta (names of all workers changed for confidentiality), 34, engaged in the grading of mushrooms.

Describing a normal day in her life, Anju, 38, says, “I get up at 5 a.m. to fill water, wash clothes and utensils, make food for the family and come to the factory for work. Here, I have to work for long hours, which leaves me exhausted. I do not get regular breaks between work. Sometimes, I take my lunch in hurry to finish my work. Doing the same kind of work for long hours makes it boring; but if I don`t work, my children will not survive. I do not want my children to do such work when they grow up because it is physically very taxing. But one can`t go by wishes. I know that my children will become like me because they do not have any skill. They will also end up being labourers in such an industry like me. I do not get a word of appreciation for my work neither from my supervisors in the industry nor from my family members. When I go back home, nobody gives me even a glass of water. To add to my plight, I hear comments that I have come late as if I have been taking rest the whole day or I have gone somewhere for recreation. Nobody thinks that I am also a human being. I feel so tired. I have to cook at night to feed the family. My pain would be less if somebody appreciated my work but this is not the case. I am criticized for not doing things right. I constantly wish that I go to sleep one night and do not get up the next morning.”

Jeeto, 42, a supervisor says, “I come to work after completing my household chores. Here, in the factory, I have to stand all day at work, moving from one unit to another. I suffer from pain in my legs and back. My husband does not help me in the household work. He always says he is tired but he must understand that I do more work than he does. He resorts to alcohol to relieve his physical and mental stress but I don`t even have that option. I can`t get proper sleep. I have lost my appetite. My ability to work is being reduced day by day.”

“Working near machines puts a lot of pressure on the head and leads to headaches. I have to work near machines the whole day. Thus, I suffer from constant headaches. Without taking medicine for the headache, I cannot work. But I cannot afford to spend money on medicines every day. So I have accepted that I have to live with this pain.” says Jassi, 31, a labourer in the industry.

Rupa, 24, works as a labourer in packaging unit of the industry. She says, “I have to stand at work for at least eight hours, with a break of only half-an-hour for lunch. Earlier, I use to feel dizzy after working in such a posture. I have swelling in my feet. I have conceived recently and am worried if standing like this will harm my unborn child but my friends working here assure me that nothing bad will happen. I have severe backache by the evening. When I go back home, I have to do the household chores. I am very tired by the time I go to sleep. I know I am demanding too much from my body but I have no choice. If I do not earn, I can`t feed myself, my husband and, most importantly, my unborn child. I am worried. Some of the labourers talked to our supervisor, who in turn talked to the manager and higher authorities, to allow us to take small breaks when working or to allow us to sit while working but they refused this saying that it would reduce the work output.”

Similarly, Menu, 28, a labourer, states, “I have severe backache due to my posture while working. I am malnourished and sometimes feel dizzy. When I go to the doctor, I lose time and money, and cannot meet my target for the day, which again leads to cuts in my salary. I work for my livelihood. The doctor says leave the job if you want to be healthy but I can`t leave my job because I will not get another job. Nobody will give me work.”

Lajo, a 38-year-old-widow, working in a packaging unit of the industry, says, “I feel very stressed because there is no income or work security. We have to work to perfection because a small mistake can lead to us losing our jobs. We are watched by supervisors, who sometime take advantage and even make false complaints against us, which increases our stress levels.”

Sunita, 38, says, “When I go back home late, my children are often crying and hungry. This makes me more irritable and stressful. I sometimes feel like leaving my job. But I can`t because I have to feed my children. My husband earns very little money, which he lavishly spends on drinking. I have to give food and other necessary things to my children. Although children are the responsibility of both the parents; but my husband thinks, it is only my responsibility and shies away from helping me in any way. He has thrust all his responsibilities on me, and to add to my troubles, I am pregnant again. I am already a mother of three children, and God knows how my children will survive if I don`t work.”

The problems highlighted here are common to a majority of the women workers of the agro-based industries in Punjab. There are several other ailments from which the women workers suffer, including miscarriages, abortions, spinal problems, low birth-weight babies and malnourishment. The health problems of women workers often results in a reduction of their work output, which further reduces their ability to earn well and eat a healthy diet, which in turn aggravates their diseases and problems.  There is need to break this vicious cycle so that their health improves and their work output increases, resulting in their taking better care of their children and family members.

Strategies to overcome health problems of female workers

Recognition of the health-related problems of female workers is only half the picture. Such recognition is worthless if some approach to minimise these problems is not suggested and taken. The following strategies are based on a review of literature, and the opinions of experts, labourers and employers. These will help reduce the health-related problems of women workers.

1. Women workers should be educated and trained about various stress reducing skills, including:

(i)       Reducing unnecessary physical strain and effort

(ii)      Maintaining the correct posture

(iii)     Using correct way of lifting heavy objects

(iv)     Practising yoga and meditation

2. Soundproof ear buds should be provided to female workers working near machines.
3. Women workers should move out of the workplace, during rest periods, and breathe deeply in the open air.
4. Monthly check-ups by a lady doctor should be mandatory.
5. Workers should be given a break of at least half-an-hour after five hours of work.
6. Machines should be fitted with soundproof equipment (silencers).
7. Adequate ventilation should be provided at the workplace.
8. Owners should ensure good opportunities for promotions as well as ensure job security.
9. Old-age pension should be mandatory.
10. Medical facilities, including medical and accident insurance, should be ensured.
11. Women workers should organize themselves in unions and fight for their rights.

These strategies are meaningless unless the owners of the industries are sensitised to the problems of women workers. Adequate attention has not been paid to the environment and the ergonomics that will ensure greater efficiency and better performance. Society at large also needs to be made aware of various gender-related issues. The owners of the industry must understand that the workers are their assets and if the latter have health problems, their work output will be reduced. It is important to provide the right environment for work, as it is to provide work itself. The good health of the workers eliminates much of the stress at the workplace and at home.