Economic Influence of Occupational Health Concerns on Informal Sector Laborers in Chennai with Special Reference to Female Laborers

Abstract

The current study meant to transport out the work-related health problems confronted by the female workers in the informal sector and similarly the influence of health issues on their economic conditions, namely, the earnings potential. Women are engaging in physical work both at the workplace and at home for their domestic work like cooking, washing clothes, cleaning vessels, sweeping home, and the list is endless. So, ultimately, it worsens their health condition and economic stability. The occupational health concerns are started from day one of the work and extend till a very long period together. The women are still working along with several occupational health issues plow the condition worsens because of their poor economic situation. It is found from the data that women informal sector workers are severely affected by many occupational injuries like fire accidents, unforeseen machine accidents, chemical reactions, gas effects, unforeseen slips during construction works, and so on. It is revealed from the data that the workers lost an average of 25 to 30 percent of working days due to injuries. Among the respondents, 37.03 percent are affected by extreme varicose veins due to long hours of standing jobs in the shops and stores. Instead of chemicals, cement, and weight-lifting work, the construction and domestic workers are affected by eye, skin, and muscle-related diseases. To conclude, occupational health injuries and health issues have badly affected women's economic conditions.