This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/26/workplace-poisoning-killing-millions-of-asians
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Workplace poisoning killing millions of Asians each year, says new report | Workplace poisoning killing millions of Asians each year, says new report |
| (4 months later) | |
| Millions of Asian people are contracting fatal diseases at work but their suffering is ignored, unreported and uncompensated, according to a new report by a labour rights group. | Millions of Asian people are contracting fatal diseases at work but their suffering is ignored, unreported and uncompensated, according to a new report by a labour rights group. |
| Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) says poisoning in unhealthy workplaces is creating untold numbers of "invisible victims of development". | Asia Monitor Resource Centre (AMRC) says poisoning in unhealthy workplaces is creating untold numbers of "invisible victims of development". |
| The group's report on health and safety in six countries – Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand – has been issued ahead of International Workers Mourning Day on Saturday. | The group's report on health and safety in six countries – Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Thailand – has been issued ahead of International Workers Mourning Day on Saturday. |
| The International Labour Organisation has estimated that 1.1 million people in Asia died due to their work in 2008. | The International Labour Organisation has estimated that 1.1 million people in Asia died due to their work in 2008. |
| But official figures rarely cover deaths of migrant workers and thus the true total is much higher, said AMRC executive director Sanjiv Pandita. | But official figures rarely cover deaths of migrant workers and thus the true total is much higher, said AMRC executive director Sanjiv Pandita. |
| Cambodia has no laws on occupational safety and so produces no figures. The Philippines, a country of almost 100 million people, reported just 118 deaths in one year and only offers numbers for every fourth year. | Cambodia has no laws on occupational safety and so produces no figures. The Philippines, a country of almost 100 million people, reported just 118 deaths in one year and only offers numbers for every fourth year. |
| India reported fewer than 1,000 fatal accidents in one year. Thailand reported 597 deaths but noted the number included deaths from insurgency. China reported 80,000 fatalities but that figure included traffic accidents. | India reported fewer than 1,000 fatal accidents in one year. Thailand reported 597 deaths but noted the number included deaths from insurgency. China reported 80,000 fatalities but that figure included traffic accidents. |
| Behind the numbers are human tragedies. | Behind the numbers are human tragedies. |
| Ramesh Makwana has silicosis, an incurable disease routinely misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, in which fine dust settles in the lungs. | Ramesh Makwana has silicosis, an incurable disease routinely misdiagnosed as tuberculosis, in which fine dust settles in the lungs. |
| He contracted this by joining the main industry in his village in Gujarat, India – the cutting and polishing of gems. | He contracted this by joining the main industry in his village in Gujarat, India – the cutting and polishing of gems. |
| "First it kills the men," he said. "Then the disease kills the women who are forced to take over the work to survive, and finally it takes our children. | "First it kills the men," he said. "Then the disease kills the women who are forced to take over the work to survive, and finally it takes our children. |
| "If you're in this job now, you cannot ever get married any more – the girls know you will be dead in your 30s. No one will carry on your name." | "If you're in this job now, you cannot ever get married any more – the girls know you will be dead in your 30s. No one will carry on your name." |
| Wang Fung-ping from southern China suffered kidney failure from cadmium poisoning after working in a factory making batteries. | Wang Fung-ping from southern China suffered kidney failure from cadmium poisoning after working in a factory making batteries. |
| It took her seven years to get diagnosed – but the official doctors have still not recognised her case as one of occupational disease. No treatment or compensation has been forthcoming. | It took her seven years to get diagnosed – but the official doctors have still not recognised her case as one of occupational disease. No treatment or compensation has been forthcoming. |
| Xiao Hong is another victim of the battery factories. The former supervisor has now been diagnosed as suffering excessive cadmium levels. | Xiao Hong is another victim of the battery factories. The former supervisor has now been diagnosed as suffering excessive cadmium levels. |
| "I worked in the battery factory for 15 years and from about the third year, you start to feel it – the sore throat, nose infections, dizziness, headaches," she said. | "I worked in the battery factory for 15 years and from about the third year, you start to feel it – the sore throat, nose infections, dizziness, headaches," she said. |
| "No one ever told us what the risks were, what could happen. At our workplace you could see pink cadmium powder everywhere – workers would faint at work but think it was their own problem." | "No one ever told us what the risks were, what could happen. At our workplace you could see pink cadmium powder everywhere – workers would faint at work but think it was their own problem." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |