Chapter 5. Living and Working Conditions. Estelar

Transcription

1 Chapter 5 Living and Working Conditions The International Labour Organization was established with an idea that, "without work all life goes rotten but when work is soul less, life strife less and dies." The preamble to the constitution of ILO declares that : 1) Labour is not a commodity. 2 ) Freedom of expression and association are essential to sustained progress. 3 ) Poverty anywhere constitutes a danger to prosperity everywhere and 4) The war against want is required to be carried with unrelenting vigour within each notion. The living conditions is composite concept which includes the quality of houses, washed disposal system, sewage supply, environmental pollution, entertainment and recreation facility, sickness, availability and use of health and medical institution, education, food and nutrition level, monthly expenditure etc. of the persons. All these affect their productivity and health status, which in turn have direct bearing in their quality of life ( Majid, 2000 ). It is a matter of common knowledge that healthy, bright and inspiring environment leads to efficient work than dirty. Sullen and unhealthy atmosphere. The convenient living and working condition enhances the working efficiency of a person without leaving adverse impact on him. The environment under which a person works plays vital role in one s life. The circumstance and conditions under which an individual is working obviously affect his mind, health and working efficiency. For the labourers the condition in which they work is an important area to be explored for a clear understanding of their commitment to the 147

2 work and home responsibilities. It can be believed that the satisfaction and dissatisfaction of them largely depends upon the general atmosphere at their work place. So, it is to say that the effect of their working place, work structure and facilities available to them are the matter of concern to undertake a sociological study on them. Most of the labourers who come from Far-Western and Mid- Western Regions of Nepal being poor economic background normally live in slums in Nainital districts in order to save some extra money. They generally share one room with 6 to 10 of their friends or relatives for the purpose of saving expenditure in rent. Very few workers are seen of such types who are provided rooms at free of cost by their employees, even some can be observed to be enjoying fooding facility also. The conditions of most of the Nepali workers working in Nainital is different from that of other labourers in the sense they are not much worried about their employment and also they are found least conscious about their livelihood. In order to derive desired information from Nepali workers working in the unorganized sector pertaining to their living and working conditions and attempt has been served in this chapter with an emphasis on their accommodation, facilities at work place, means of recreation, working hours duration of involvement in work and so on. 5.1 Management of Accommodation at Work Place Accommodation for human being is one of the fundamental requirements. Food, clothes of shelter are regarded as the most basic necessities of a person. The sociological significance of the home and health has been recognized at all times. Right from the early stages man was in search of home, be it a cave or a mansion of the present time. 148

3 Table 5.1 Management of Accommodation at Work Place. S.N. Nature of accommodation Number Percent 1 Separate rented room Rented room on sharing basis Provided by employer Total Table 5.1 shows the accommodation management of the labourers. From the table it is revealed that a very small portion of the labourers (0.94) had their separate rented room. Majority of the labourers (94.93 percent were found to have been living in the rented room on sharing basis where as remaining laboureres (4.15%) were found to have been accommodating in the rooms provided by their employers. The statement of the number of roommates living together in a single room has been represented in table

4 Provided by employer, 2 7 Rented room on sharing basis, 617 Separate rented room, 6 Table 5. 2 Accommodation on Sharing Basis S.N. No of room mates Number Percent 1 Up to to to to and above Total Table 5.2 reveals the situation of the accommodation of the labourers living in the rented room on sharing basis. It shows that 112 labourers were living together with up to 5 roommates. A large number of labourers (318) had 6 to 10 roommates with them. 146 labourers reported 150

5 that they were staying together with 11 to 15 roommates. Whereas 37 labourers told that 16 to 20 friends were adjusted together in a room. 4 labourers reported that more than 21 mates were living together with them in a room. During the time of observation, the sanitation of most the rooms was found very poor. There was no ventilation provision and windows were also small. Some of the labourers were seen to be living in the huts with no electricity, toilet and water facilities. They looked like a cowshed with poorly thatched (roofed). Even the researcher noticed some of the labourers to have been spending their nights in galleries and 151 verandas of their employers' house. A large number of labourers expressed their worry about the high rent and unavailability of room. Table 5.3 Facilities at the Residence S.N. Types of facilities Availability Yes 1 Clean drinking water No 2 Electricity Hygienic toilet Ventilated room

6 Table 5.3 presents the picture of the facilities available at the residence of labourers. It is revealed that 635 labourers had the clean drinking water facility in their residence. As many as 603 workers were availing electricity familities and 47 labourers were deprived. 492 labourers informed that they were using hygienic toilet and 158 of them denied it. And, as many as 238 labourers stated that they had ventilated room where as a majority of respondents (412) reported they were deprived of such type of room. 5.4 Means of Recreation Essence of recreation cannot be over looked in one s life. It has even become more important in modern busy life. As a result many means of recreation have been invented in the world in order to enjoy the leisure time spared from the tiring work and prolonged business. Recreation can refresh a person and energize him psychologically.after the day long monotonous toil, working people need some recreation for further activity and extra mental energy. Hence, recreation can be said to be equally important for persons undertaking manual as well as mental works. Regarding the recreation of Nepali workers a brief account is presented in the table 5.4 mentioned below which demonstrates the various means of recreation enjoyed by them for refreshment and entertainment. 152

7 Table 5. 4 Means of Recreation S.N. Means Number Percentage 1 Radio/Tape Television Cinema Playing Card Nothing Total Above table exhibits the versions means of recreation entertained by the labourers. It show that, as many as 303 labourers use radio and tape as a means of recreation. They mostly seen to be using mobile phone set for the purpose. And younger labourers were found among them in large number. 53 of the respondents informed that they used television as a means of recreation. While 168 labourers stated cinema as their main means of recreation. The number of labourers who enjoyed playing card was 6. Whereas the remaining 120 labourers informed that used neither of the means of recreation. Among them were mostly aged and old peoples. 153

8 Table 5.5 Length of Stay at Nainital S.N. Longitivity Number Percent 1 Up to 5 yrs yrs yrs and above Total Table 5.5 shows the duration of work of labourers in Nainital. It reveals that 103 labourers were working for less than 5 years. A majority of the respondents (452) stated that they had been working for 6-10 years. In Nainital. 88 of them informed that they had been working for years. Whereas 6 workers stated that they had been working for more than 15 years. Nothing Playing 18% Card 1% Cinema 26% Means of Recreation Television 8% Radio/Tape 47% 154

9 Though most of the labourers were found to have been working for many years in Nainital. Yet, majority of them told that they would not stay throughout the years. The length of their stay in Nainital in a year has been shown in table 5.6 below. Table 5.6 Length of Stay in a Year S.N. Stay throughout year Number Percentage 1 Yes No Total Table 5.6 demonstrates the length of stay of labourers in a year. It is known from the table that only % of labourers work through h out the year in Nainital. Where as rest respondents (83.38) informed that they did not stay through out the year but for some months only. Many labourers here found of such type who stayed for some months and got back home. They were found to have been engaged in other professions at their places of origin. They reported that whenever they had spare time from their main occupation they often visited Nainital in search of job every year Duration of stay of labourers in a year has been shown in the table 155

10 S.N. Duration of stay in a year Table 5.7 Duration of Stay in a Year Number Percent 1 Upto 4 months months months and above Total Table 5.7 depicts the length of stay of the labourers in a year. It is seen that most of the labourers (56.82%) used to stay for upto 4 months only in a year. 188 labourers stated that their stay in Nainital would be 5-8 months in a year. Whereas 46 labourers reported that they stayed more than 8 months in a year. Most of the labourers working in Nainital were found seasonal and non permanent. And among them quite a larger numbers of informed that they generally remained at the work place without missing the months of April-July every. The reason behind it was a huge rush of tourists in the year who provided them a job of like carrying loads and others. 156

11 Duration of stay in a Year Upto 4 months 5-8 months 9 months and above Table 5.8 Available Facilities S.N. Types of facilities Availability Yes No 1 Weekend holiday Casual leave Sick leave Cash payment of leave Over time payment Lunch break None of above

12 Table 5.8 shows the situation of facilities available to the labourers. It is learned from the table that none of the workers were availing the facilities like week and holiday, sick leave and cash payment of leave. Merely 4 labourers mentioned that they were enjoying casual leave facility. As many as 38 workers stated that they were provided overtime payment. Whereas only 32 workers informed that they used to get lunch break. Out of 650 workers a large number was found (576) availing none of the facilities. Since percent of the labourers were daily wage earners they neither had a fix job nor a certain employer. They had to get early in the morning and set out in search of job in order to sell their labour. Therefore the question of the above mentioned facilities does not make any meaning for them. 5.9 Nature of Work The nature of the work of all Nepali workers' was found temporary. As mentioned earlier, a vast majority of them were daily wage earners & had not a fixed job to perform. Those who were found to be working in hotel, restaurants and other establishments in monthly salary basis also reported that their job was not permanent. Therefore they were too getting not any facility apart from their monthly salary. Table 5.9 presents the nature of work 158

13 Table 5.9 Nature of Job S.N. Nature of job Number Percent 1 Temporary Permanent Total It is obvious from the table 5.9 that the job of all workers was of temporary nature. Table 5.10 Mode of Payment S.N. Mode of payment Number Percentage 1 Daily Monthly Piece rate Total Table 5.10 exhibits the mode of payment of the workers. It is obvious from the figure that a large number (607) of workers get their 159

14 payment daily. Whereas only 6.62% of them are paid monthly. 200 respondents mentioned that they are paid their payment on the basis of piece rate. Those workers who were getting their wages daily also mentioned that they also worked on piece rate basis also which used to depend on the nature of work. Mont hly 7% Mode of Payment Piece rate 31% Daily 62% Table 5.11 Position of Employment in Month S.N. No. of days to set employed Number Percent 1 Upto Total Table 5.11 shows the position of employment of the workers in a month. It reveals that 134 workers find work only upto 10 days in a month. They had to be jobless rest of the days majority of them (68.62%) are seen to get involved in job from approximately days. Whereas 160

15 remaining workers (10.76%) reported that they used to find work for days in a month. Among them were also the workers who were paid salary in every month and working in hotels, restaurants and other establishments. No. of Days to set Employed % 20-Nov 68% Upto 10 21% Table 5.12 Facilities Provided by the Employer S.N. Types of facilities Number Percent 1 Fooding only Lodging only Fooding and lodging Not any

16 5 Total Table 5.12 demonstrates the facilities provided by employers to the workers. It is revealed in the table that only 4 working people were getting food facility from their employers and they were from the workers working in restaurants mostly similarly. 3 workers reported that were enjoying only lodging facilities provided by their employers. The number of workers who were proved lodging and fooding facility by their employers was 24. Whereas rest of the workers were not receiving any sort of facility from the employers. Table 5.13 Facilities at Work Place S.N. Types of facilities Yes No 1 Clean drinking water Hygienic toilet Canteen Telephone Table 5.13 shows the facilities available in the work place of workers out of the total workers 589 reported that they were getting clean drinking water facility and rest 61 workers denied its availability in the 162

17 work place. Similarly, 526 workers stated that they were using hygienic toilet. Only 28 of the workers mentioned that they got the canteen and among those were the workers working in restaurants and hotels mostly, where as rest of workers stated that they used restaurants and hotels to assuage their hunger. Similarly all the workers reported that they could use telephone when required as it was readily available in the market. And many of them were seen holding mobile phone sets to avail communication facility. Facilities at Work Place 4 3 Fooding only Lodging only Fooding & lodging Table 5.13 presents a picture of incentives provided by the employers to the workers. Table 5.14 Receiving Incentive 24 S.N. Getting incentive Number Percentage 1 Yes

18 2 No Total Table 5.14 speaks whether the workers were getting only any incentives from the employers or not. It is clear from the table that only 6 workers informed about the incentive provided sometimes to them by their employers. Whereas 643 workers denied any sort of incentive from their employers. Upon the enquiry of the type of incentive all of them reported it in the form of money and sometimes clothes also. 164

19 References en.wikipedia.org/wiki/indian_labour_law Http: // Http: // Majid, Abdul; 2000: Unorganized Labour Legal Protection, Deep and Deep Publication, New Delhi Oxford Advance Learner's Dictionary, Eighth Edition, 2010 Preamble of constitution of International Labour Organization 165