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Workers at greater risk of illness
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-17 08:36 The number of migrant workers is estimated at 120 million and the workforce
in rural enterprises amounts to 80 million, according to a recent report by the
State Council.
By the end of 2005, China recorded 665,043 cases of
occupational illness, including 606,891 cases of pneumoconiosis, a chronic
disease of the lungs resulting from long-term inhalation of dust and primarily
affecting miners, sandblasters and metal grinders.
Nearly 10,000 new
cases of pneumoconiosis emerged each year. On average, each pneumoconiosis
patient suffered an annual financial loss of 34,100 yuan (4,300 U.S. dollars),
said Li.
"Based on the current total of pneumoconiosis patients in
China, which is 440,000, the annual direct economic loss caused by the illness
would exceed 14 billion yuan, and it's increasing by 600 million yuan with new
cases each year," he warned.
According to Vice Health Minister Chen
Xiaohong, workers contracting pneumoconiosis are getting younger, with an
average age of 40 and the youngest patient just 20 years old in 2005. The
shortest period between first contact with dust and showing symptoms was less
than three months.
Most occupational illness patients, including
pneumoconiosis victims, have been rural and migrant workers in coal mines,
township enterprises or other work in harmful and toxic conditions.
The
Ministry of Health is conducting a nationwide survey of the 200 million rural
and migrant workers, and has vowed to provide basic occupational health services
for them.
It would also set up a pilot network to improve reporting and
monitoring of illnesses as the existing system was incomplete, said Su Zhi,
deputy head of the ministry's supervision division.
He also suggested
health files to be set up at migrant workers' hometowns, to which they usually
returned during the traditional new year period, so that their state of health
could be monitored.
The ministry and the State Administration of Work
Safety are to jointly improve monitoring of occupational disease control and
educate employers on the law and social responsibility.
In April, the
two departments and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions awarded 56
enterprises with the accolade "State model enterprise for occupational health",
and they are expected to share and publicize their experience with other
enterprises.
(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)
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