Beyond Glass Ceilings and Brick Walls - International Labour ...

normally possess the finances/capacity to make alternative domestic arrangements
is provided with this advantage, although it is usually the blue-collar worker
who is more in need of flexible time arrangements.
The above examples of gender inequitable work practices and conditions are
more disadvantageous for women due to their more pressing familial obligations
and expectations. At the same time, strict gender segregation into categories of
work ensures that women do not have access to better paying work sectors
under better conditions of work. It also serves to illustrate how gender-based
expectations from men and women may be reproduced in the workplace, and
illustrates, paradoxically, how women in particular, may be penalized for
engaging in those very same roles and responsibilities outside the workplace.
Occupational Hazards
A majority of smaller work institutions referred to in the study do not adhere
to appropriate health and safety measures. Those that do conform to international
labour standards are mainly large-scale industrial plants that usually have
principals/contacts abroad. They are seen to implement health/safety precautions
quite strictly; with such measures as gloves, masks, fire doors and extinguishers
etc. in use; and medical centres/sick rooms on the premises. Smaller factories
are not seen to provide such facilities.
At the same time, not many work institutions are always mindful about the
occupational health of their employees. Responses to questionnaires by workers
convey that only 50% were not affected by health and safety problems at the
workplace. The following table illustrates the type of problems affecting women
workers.
Table 6: Health and Safety Problems in the Work Environment
Problems relating to:
Percentage of
women affected
Space and ventilation 11%
Sound 5%
Chemical use 3%
Heavy weights 3%
Night duty 1%
Other 27%
Total 50%
Source: Survey data
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