The informal sector or informal economy plays an important role in economic development by creating employment as well as reducing underemployment. Unlike the formal economy, the informal economy is not regulated or monitored by any form of government structure, taxed or included in the gross national product (GNP).A wide range of skills can be found within the informal sector and include, but are not limited to: subsistence farming, catering, carpentry, car repairs, street traders, crafts, gardening and domestic work.
Opportunities are thus provided for many to earn a living through various skills and businesses within the informal sector.Some of the major problems challenging the informal sector workers are poor working environments, lack of safety and health standards and environmental hazards. Such exposure impairs health, productivity, general well-being and quality of life for informal workers and their families. Often informal workers are not aware of the hazards which they may encounter. If they are aware, then the possibilities as to how to avoid them are limited owing to the lack of knowledge, attitudes and behavioural constraints.
A very common element of the informal sector present in our society is street traders. This encompasses people who sell clothing and knickknacks, as well as food handlers.These people face much more routine occupational hazards than the formal sector. Lifting and hauling of goods to and from point of sales are a common, everyday practice. The physical environment of these workers typically lacks proper infrastructure, such as clean running water, toilets and solid-waste removal.Absence of fire safety equipment, improper regulation of traffic in some commercial areas, high concentrations of air pollutants and bad weather are some of the physical hazards to which street traders are also exposed.
Young children who must accompany their parents to vend on the streets are much more susceptible to such physical conditions.In the process of earning a daily living, these are some of the challenges which must be faced by street traders, as unsafe working environments have become the norm.Own-account auto mechanics are a necessity when our vehicles need repair. They are also challenged by a number of occupational hazards on a daily basis. The working environment of auto mechanics is usually littered with derelict vehicles, sharp objects, chemicals and various biological hazards likely to cause morbidity.Other challenges include working under vehicles, using heavy machinery and power tools, poor postures and ergonomics.
There are more than just the physical hazards. Chemical hazards are also present: a common practice is siphoning petrol into containers and using petrol as a degreaser. Exposure to heavy metals such as those in brake fluids, paints, metal cleaners and solvents, just to mention a few, has adverse health effects and can lead to chronic poisoning.Other people in these environments exposed to such substances can also experience the same. In addition, not wearing personal protective clothing and free movement between workplace and home can also mean transferring potential harm. Many times perceived knowledge takes precedence over actual and current knowledge in this field.Domestic workers in informal employment are amongst the most vulnerable group of workers. Often work is done in private households, without any defined terms of employment. Duties can include cleaning, cooking and providing care to children, the elderly or disabled individuals.
Domestic workers face a variety of workplace hazards when working in clients' homes, including exposure to harmful cleaning chemicals, verbal and physical abuse and injuries caused by lifting and moving clients with limited mobility.Since domestics work in individual homes, we tend to assume that they work in a safe environment and thus don't require the protection afforded to most other workers.But the perception of the home as a "safe haven" obscures the reality that the home setting can present serious dangers that can be threatening to health and safety.
Contrary to popular beliefs, the informal sector is grounded and continues to expand. The protection of the health, safety and welfare of informal sector workers is a challenge. Often perceived knowledge or traditional methods are used, in their limited capacities, to prevent harm.In addition, low levels of technology, irregular employment relationships, improper investment capacity and low productivity increase the exposure of informal-sector workers to occupational accidents and diseases.
The Caribbean Institute for Security and Public Safety trains people from companies as well as individuals in a wide array of programmes on occupational safety and health and security-related areas which are delivered by experts in the field. Contact us at 223-6999, e-mail: info@caribbeansecurityinstitute.com or www.caribbeansecurityinstitute.com