Expanded occupational diseases list must balance interests of all parties

ACCORDING TO A RECENT MEETING of the Healthy China Action Plan Promotion Committee, cervical spondylosis, periarthritis of the shoulder, backache, hyperostosis and sciatica will not be included on the list of occupational diseases, which means workers will have to pay for treatment themselves. Beijing Youth Daily comments:

Some experts have said it is reasonable that such health problems should not be included on the list of statutory occupational diseases.

Health problems related to work have changed as the nature of work has changed. For instance, more people do sedentary office work nowadays. But in reality, many enterprises are reluctant to admit such health issues are occupational diseases, because it will directly increase their costs.