1. Christian Hopper, International Client Advisor
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
29 April 2015
Dubai, UAE
Worker Welfare in GCC –
an Environmental Health
and OSH Perspective
www.cieh.org/middleeast

2. So, how are you all today?
Fine, or…
• Tired or Exhausted
• Hot or Cold
• Sick or Unwell
• Thirsty or Hungry
• Sad or Lonely
• Stressed or Anxious
• Disengaged

3. Contents
• Definitions and Legislative Drivers on Worker Welfare
• Challenges and Barriers
• Environmental Health perspective
• Aspects and Impacts of Worker Welfare on OSH
• Why invest in Worker Welfare?
• SLI.DO Survey / Solutions
• Positive GCC Initiatives
• Closing Thoughts

4. Welfare: Definitions & Drivers
• Increasing WW legislation across GCC countries
• ILO standards: ‘Decent Work’ SAFE 1-4/Target 8.8
• Spotlight of global investment and events
• Growing competition for labour, low and skilled across GCC
• In line with developing ‘CSR/sustainability’ in GCC region
‘Health, happiness, prosperity, & well-being in general’
OR
‘Statutory procedure or organised effort designed to promote
the basic physical & material well being of people in need’

5. Welfare Stakeholders
• Governments
• Employers
• Recruiters/Agents
• Kafala/Sponsors
• ILO
• WHO
• Amnesty International/NGOs
• Human Rights Watch
• Trade Unions/ Welfare Reps
• Investors
• Origin Country
• Workers
Partnership working essential for welfare success

6. Outside Eyes See…
Images: ©Brent Stirton: Dubai Labour.

7. Inside Eyes See…
Image: TDIC

8. Its Complicated…..
• International Labour Markets ARE complex.
• How to reform/tackle Country of Origin agents?
• Bad Press: media, vested interests, envy?
• Unprecedented growth and urban development
• Expo 2020, WC 2022, 2030 National Vision- drivers
• Positive commitments & actions made in recent
years by many GCC governments, led by UAE,Qatar
GCC states do/must keep laying the bricks of progress each day

9. But, welfare is in your ‘camp’
• Responsibility lies with employer who benefits from
worker’s output
• Legal, financial and moral duty
• Worker Welfare is a cultural issue also –do workers matter
• Worker welfare a key component of OSH management/CSR
• Your reputation / productivity / business / OSH
performance is at stake from poor worker welfare
Do ‘happier’ workers work better & more safely?

10. Poor Welfare = Poor OSH Foundations
• Overcrowding
• Job Insecurity
• Lack of freedom
• Debt / low wages
• Job/salary didn’t
match expected
• Longer hours
• Away from home and loved ones
• Discrimination
• Social isolation/segregation
• Workers don’t know rights
• SME firms not bought into WW
• ‘Bad’ sponsors
Factors beyond the OSH manager control…but heighten risk?

11. Living
Environment
Home
Environment
Work
Environment
Recreational
Environment
Contributions
of
Environmental
Health
Practitioners:
assessing,
correcting and
preventing
impact of
stressors
Food
Biological
Chemical
Physical
Social
Psychoso
cial
Stressors
What is the scope of Environmental
Health practice ?

12. Welfare Impacts on OSH
• Sleep quality /length
• Safe rest places
• Sanitation facilities
• Breaks / working time
• Transport
• Food quality/safety
• Space /Light / Water
/Ventilation
• Hygiene facilities
• Dust/dirty conditions
• Harmful substances
• Noise exposure
• Social engagement
• Temperature
• Security
• Right to representation
• Recreation
• Stress
Have you factored these adequately into risk assessments?

13. Who is most at risk?
• Construction / migrant workers
• Agency employed workers
• Service sector –barbers, cleaners
• ‘Domestic’ sector -Cooks / Gardeners / Drivers /Janitors
• Maids (worst affected)
• ‘Personal Care’/Illegal workers
• Many others working 10 hour + days/>60hr weeks
What does your own welfare risk assessment tell you?

14. Poor Housing = Poor Health

15. Poor Worker Welfare Leads to…
Aspects/Factors
• Unsafe transport
• Illegal accommodation
• Distance of travel
• Inadequate / unsafe housing
• Social isolation / Boredom
• Fatigue / Exhaustion
• Heat stress (home/van/work)
• Malnutrition/food poisoning
• Sleep deprivation
Impacts/Outcomes
• Greater # Near Miss / Accidents /RTA
• Non-conformance to rules/strikes
• Reduced concentration/performance
• Heart Attacks / Sickness
• Business interruption from strikes
• Psychological damage
• Suicide / self harm
• Absenteeism
• Crime/Antisocial behaviour

16. Towards Worker Welfare Solutions
Audience Survey/SLIDO
• Aware of WW legislation?
• Who handles WW for your
organisation?
• Surveyed or audited WW in
last 12 months?
• Top 3 WW issues leading to
OSH failures in your org?
• Your plans for WW this
year? % of OSH budget?
Responses
• Yes / No / Unsure
• OSH Manager / WW Rep /
Supervisors / Unsure Everybody /
Nobody
• Yes / No / Unsure
• Heat/ Fatigue/ Stress / Food
Poisoning/ Sleep / Boredom
• Worker Survey / Inspection /Train
Reps/ Train Supervisors / Provide
care packs /Work with govt / Use
NGOs / Change contract terms

17. Work as welfare
• Paid, safe work = escape from worst health
inequalities
• Salaries sent ‘home’ improve public health
• GCC growth funds improvements elsewhere
• OSH culture / skills embedded in GCC migrant
workforce to transfer to worker place of origin
• Work migration may become a choice
GCC workers wages posted overseas positively impact on
Environmental Health at their ‘home’

18. What Are You Doing on Welfare?
(Reactive)
• Post-employment survey
• Investigate complaints
• Post accident analysis
• Saying Welfare Matters
(Proactive)
• Embed welfare in contracts
• Consider before OSH change
• Worker surveys
• Regular medicals
• Investing
• Listen, Monitor & Inspect
• Training – AED/First Aid
• Knowing Welfare Works!

19. What Else Can You Do?
• Put up visual aids / Welfare Safety Campaigns /posters in
accommodation
• Share OSH info with sponsors / recruiters
• Appoint & Train Welfare Reps
• Encourage open dialogue and suggestions with workers/stakeholders
• Distribute ‘care packs’ – sleep matt, food containers, soap, rehydrates
• Work with Govt. Agencies, NGOs and other welfare groups
• Sporting, art, cookery clubs and regular/organised recreation activities
• Encourage/support labour camp safety groups
Keep laying the bricks!

20. GCC Positive Initiatives
• Increase of Government
Inspections in UAE/Qatar
• HAAD - ‘Working in Heat’/
‘Working at Height’
• BuildSafe UAE –audit tool
• Ministries of Labour / QF
• SmartFoundation UAE
• Labour of Love UAE
• Better Connections Qatar
• ‘Thank You Day ‘ H.H. SM
• Safety Groups
• Bollywood on Wheel’
Emirates NBD
• Indian Workers Resource
Centre
• Migrant Workers Protection
Society
• Adopt a Camp

21. What does ‘Good’ look Like?
From Qatar Pearl/Shell ‘The Village’ model
• Access to healthcare and counselling
• Workers Rights, Benefits, Salaries
• Transportation
• Personal Development
• Accommodation/community
• Welfare Officers/Advisors
• Nutrition/Food Safety
• Organised Recreation
• Training and Education
• Leave / Job Rotation
• Access to family/spouses

22. Closing Thoughts
• See WW as a visible OSH activity/tool,with good ROI
• Mandate and monitor compliance in all contracts
• Welfare drives productivity&OSH engagement- ‘wins hearts’
• Do more in hidden sectors/workers in supply chain + SMEs
• WW supports GCC legacy of achievement and dignity
• Celebrate the positives, and progress
• Consult, engage & unite stakeholders
• More (unannounced) enforcement…

23. Thank you for listening/Shokran!
…Any Questions?
C.HOPPER@CIEH.ORG
+44 207 827 6341 / +971 4 454 1241
Office 206, Building 26, Healthcare City, Dubai UAE
www.cieh.org/middleeast
NB: Images: © Copyright to individual artists /via Google Images