Bank sets good example

It is reported that recently a sanitation worker in Changxing county, Zhejiang province, was thrown out of a local bank on July 1 when she went in to ask for some water. The bank deserves the criticism it received for its heartlessness, but so do the sanitation authorities, who should provide water for their workers in the summer, says an article in Beijing News. Excerpts:

The staff member who refused the worker's request received a warning and the Agricultural Bank of China said outdoor workers are welcome to rest in its branches in that county. The bank has set a good example by opening its doors to provide shelter from the summer heat for ordinary people. Therefore, it remains debatable whether it is fair or not to blame the bank for shutting the sanitation worker out.

It is not hard to guess how hot street cleaners get when working in such hot weather. They should be provided with water. There is a need to find out who was responsible for making these workers find water for themselves, as it shows the lack of care for people who have to work in the heat.

Not only street cleaners, but also other workers such as construction workers and bus drivers, face this problem. Whether they are supplied with water when they are working deserves our attention.

Therefore, the promise made by one local bank is far from enough. It is the responsibility of each relevant department to fulfill its obligation of caring for those who have to work in high temperatures.

(China Daily 07/11/2012 page9)