Non-skilled Workers Research Articles

Do Women Benefit from Global Production Networks? Evidence from the Indonesian Footwear Industry

Despite the remarkable improvements in key economic and social standards, the Indonesian footwear industry still struggles to ensure decent work, particularly for women workers. In this paper, female workers are divided into production and non-production workers. Women production workers are used as a proxy for occupational segregation based on sex, called non-skilled workers, while women non-production workers are used as a proxy for women’s share of work in managerial and administrative work, called skilled workers. This paper examines the close links between decent work (DW) and global production networks (GPNs) in the Indonesian footwear industry. More specifically, this article scrutinizes fair employment treatment for local female employees within the DW framework in the country’s footwear industry with the expansion of GPNs based on Indonesian footwear firm-level panel data from 2001 to 2015. Vertical specialization is a proxy for GPNs and is the main independent variable in this paper. The results show that vertical specialization is in line with the fair treatment indicators and has a significant level for female production workers. In addition, the other independent variable, namely the wages of production workers, has a significant level, and the results are inversely proportional to the fair treatment indicator, while the wages of non-production workers show results that are inversely proportional to female production workers but positive for female non-production workers. This shows that an increase in the wages of production workers is less profitable for female production workers than for female non-production workers. Thus, the results show that the expansion of GPNs in the Indonesian footwear sector has essentially led to improved fair employment treatment, especially for women workers.

Mental Health Support Strategies for Skilled and Non-Skilled Workers during and after Disease Outbreaks: A Systematic Review

Objective: The study aims to understand the various crisis interventions implemented by HCWs and non-skilled workers in society during outbreaks of immediate public concern. The primary diseases utilised for the study include COVID-19, MERS, SARS, Ebola, and Influenza. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed to identify the papers and write the systematic literature review (SLR). Medline, Pubmed, PsychInfo, and Cochrane databases were used for searching the papers. Results: This systematic literature review observed that few countries employed psychological interventions for HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many stress, trauma, and anxiety are associated with pandemic or epidemic outbreaks in HCWs and other non-skilled workers. This needs to be addressed extensively for successful implementation. Conclusion: Crisis-based interventions which address psychological trauma are lacking in many countries though there have been significant outbreaks of pandemics. Various organisations must commit more effectively by setting up committees and making appropriate frameworks for implementing resilience measures, mind-based interventions, and coping strategies for effectively encountering pandemic disease outbreaks.

A Framework for Technical Vocational Education and Training for Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines

Technical education and vocational training (TVET) serves as a key strategy for raising employability of the Philippine labor force and reducing the polarity between skilled and non-skilled workers along with employed and unemployed graduates since the development of the Philippine Qualifications Framework. This study establishes a working model or a Competency-based TVET Framework for Indigenous Peoples in the Philippines. It will serve as an intervention paradigm that will guide TVET curriculum developers and policymakers in identifying and integrating theoretical and culturally appropriate disciplines into the curricular design of education and skills training for Indigenous Peoples. It will be a new framework, separate from but parallel to the current TVET Framework.

Sociodemographic Factors Affecting the Cognitive on Tuberculosis in Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly infectious disease that is responsible for millions of deaths annually across the whole world. The disease is caused by infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria. It can spread through the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings releases these bacteria with numerous tiny droplets in the air and people nearby breathe in these bacteria and become infected. TB usually affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body like the kidney, spine, brain, and many other parts. The present study includes to estimate of the role of many sociodemographic determinants on tuberculosis among the general population of different age groups belonging to both rural and urban areas of district Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh. Methods: A study was done by using a standardized structured questionnaire including various sociodemographic variables such as age, weight, residential area, and worker type like farmers, unemployed, skilled, and nonskilled workers. Data was collected by a random survey of tuberculosis-affected individuals and then data analysis was done to see the effect of chosen sociodemographic variables on the prevalence of the disease tuberculosis. Results: Most affected age group found in the study was 41 to 50 years and young individuals were found at higher risks also. In the case of weight, about 62% of total affected individuals were found underweight category while very less individuals were found belonging to the normal weight category. Further out of the total individuals most affected were approximately 74% from rural areas while the remaining belonged to urban areas. On the basis of occupation, it was found that out of four categories taken in my study as farmers, unemployed, skilled workers, and nonskilled workers, the percentage of affected individuals was approximately 18.4%, 20.4%, 29.6%, and 31.7% respectively. Conclusion: Tuberculosis remains one of the most fatal diseases from ancient times responsible for the highest level of mortalities next to HIV. The government is continuously trying to control the disease by making and issuing various plans and guidelines for this global burden of tuberculosis. Many more efforts are still required for its control. This study reveals that sociodemographic factors play a key role in the prevalence as well as the spread of the disease. It is today's need to update all health professionals, policymakers, patients, and the general public about current trends in the management of tuberculosis and its rapid control.

Gendered Work, Skill, and Women's Labor Activism in Romanian Tobacco Factories from the 1920s to the 1960s

AbstractIn this article, I choose struggles over skill development as an entry point to uncovering features of women's labor activism in state-owned tobacco factories in Romania, from the 1920s to the early 1960s. I look at the processes that constructed women tobacco workers, especially those at the Tobacco Manufactory in the city of Cluj, as non-skilled workers, and examine the forms of labor activism in the tobacco industry that challenged those constructs. I describe how women's work at the Cluj Tobacco Manufactory, from the mid-1920s to the mid-1950s, was shaped by successive waves of production intensification and rationalization, demonstrating that these reorganizations affected female workers more than they affected their male coworkers. I point out that although they were considered non-skilled laborers, female tobacco workers exercised an amount of control over their work and were important contributors to their families’ maintenance. I show that spanning two different political regimes, matters of skill were at the core of labor activism. For female workers, in the interwar period, labor activism in male-dominated organizations and structures entailed skill-mediated political strategies that emphasized experience and shopfloor status besides skill. By the 1950s, labor activism encompassed engaging in confrontational politics over seasoned women workers’ lack of access to skill training programs. I show that both in the late 1920s and in the early 1950s, illiteracy and women's more limited access to formal schooling in general shaped new experiences of participation in labor politics.

Disaster Preparedness Among Residents of Ilocos Sur

This study determined the Disaster Preparedness of residents of Ilocos Sur, particularly in disaster-prone areas like the municipality of Bantay, Cabugao, Candon, Caoayan, Santa, and Sta. Cruz. The study made use of the descriptive-correlational method of research. Using the G power, a sample of 193 was chosen through purposive sampling. Results show that a great percentage of respondents are young, non-skilled workers, college graduates, have a meager income, live in a nuclear family, and are members of CARD Inc./PAGASA. The majority live in flood-prone areas, are female, married, and have no training or seminar. A great majority owned a permanent house. Different agencies support them with programs related to disaster preparedness. The respondents are knowledgeable and practice disaster preparedness and environment and personal practices. There is a significant relationship between the socio-demographic profile and the extent of practices on disaster preparedness along with environmental and personal practices but with an inverse relationship between sex and civil status. Knowledge of disaster is significantly related to the extent of disaster preparedness. It is recommended that the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, Local Government Units, and Non-Government Organizations should conduct regular training seminars and updates related to disaster preparedness for the Community, especially housewives for they usually left at home to man the house. The Academe should integrate disaster preparedness into the curriculum.

Socio-Demographic Factors Associated with Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Knowledge and Practices in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Survey.

(1) Background: Antibiotic resistance (ABR) has been escalating to seriously high levels worldwide, accelerated by the misuse and overuse of antibiotics, especially in Vietnam. In this work, we investigated the Vietnamese public socio-demographic and knowledge factors associated with inappropriate practices of antibiotics to better understand the country’s antibiotic use and ABR. (2) Methods: To this end, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among Vietnamese people aged 18–60 years via Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATIs) from May 2019 to November 2019. (3) Results: Among 3069 responses distributed equally in all 63 provinces in Vietnam, 1306 respondents completed the survey (response rate of 42.5%). Socio-demographically, most participants were male (56.4%), 18–25 years old (40.4%), located in Southern Vietnam (67.1%), highly educated (93.7%), and possessed medical insurance (95.3%). Respondents with higher education levels (college and above) had 2.663 times higher knowledge scores than those with lower education levels (p < 0.001). High-income respondents possessed more knowledge than low-income respondents (OR = 1.555, CI 95% 0.835–2.910, p = 0.024). Students, non-skilled workers, skilled workers, and professionals and managers had 0.052, 0.150, 0.732, and 0.393 times lower practice scores than the unemployed group, respectively (p < 0.001). Furthermore, respondents with higher/adequate knowledge scores had higher practice scores than those with inadequate knowledge scores (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: The findings indicate that socio-demographic differences in knowledge and practices exist, and focusing on these issues should be the priority in forthcoming interventions. The research data also provide information for policy makers to raise the community’s awareness of ABR.

Occupational position and alcohol use disorders in Poland.

The following analysis covers the role of the occupational structure in the prevalence of alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The authors investigated whether the occupational position affected the prevalence of AUDs among men and women, and how this relationship varied in lifetime and past year periods. Data were taken from the General Population Survey on Mental Health in Poland (EZOP) utilizing the Composite International Diagnostic Interview questionnaire (N = 2806). Binary and multiple regression models were employed to assess the risk of AUDs adjusted for the occupational structure and socio-demographic variables. The occupational position affects the prevalence of AUDs in men, while it has no impact on AUDs in women. Skilled and non-skilled workers suffer from AUDs to a greater extent than those in higher occupational positions. However, the risk of alcohol harm in women seems to be equally distributed across the occupational structure. The uneven pattern of alcohol harm in men and women can be possibly explained by shifting working conditions and work environments, as well as traditional gender roles affecting alcohol behaviors. The findings of the study support further development of the occupational position concept in alcohol research. The problem of harmful alcohol drinking in women across the occupational structure warrants a more in-depth inquiry. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(5):591-602.

Analisa Kebijakan Pemerintah Republik Indonesia terhadap Pemberlakuan Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) di Negara-Negara Anggota ASEAN

This paper analyzes the Indonesian government's response to the implementation of the Mutual Recognation Agreement implemented by ASEAN. high number of unskilled workers, the high competition of work, and the lack of employment for local residents, will make the MRA a challenge for Indonesia. Instead of getting benefits, Indonesia can experience overwhelm between the number of professional workers from outside and the use of local workers. whereas, Indonesian unskilled workers are unable to compete at the ASEAN level. This paper uses a qualitative method by collecting documents in a library research. This paper found that Indonesia has high number workforce, but the proportion of non-skilled workers is greater than skilled workers. In order to face the competition of skilled foreign workers in response to the MRA, the Indonesian government has prepared an increase in the quality of education and the implementation of qualifications and efforts to raise awareness of this situation to the community. However, this effort has not been able to run well due to differences in the level of qualifications between education owned by Indonesia and the unequal distribution of related institutions to make efforts to improve the quality of Indonesian workers in all regions of Indonesia

Non-skilled occupation as a risk factor of diabetes among working population: A population-based study of community-dwelling adults in Hong Kong.

Diabetes among working population brings to society concerns on productivity and social welfare cost, in addition to healthcare burden. While lower socio‐economic status has been recognised as a risk factor of diabetes; occupation, compared with other socio‐economic status indicators (e.g., education and income), has received less attention. There is some evidence from studies conducted in Europe that occupation is associated with diabetes risk, but less is known in Asia, which has different organisational cultures and management styles from the West. This study examines the association between occupation and diabetes risk in a developed Asian setting, which is experiencing an increasing number of young onset of diabetes and aging working population at the same time. This is a cross‐sectional study of working population aged up to 65 with data from a population‐based survey collecting demographic, socio‐economic, behavioural and metabolic data from Hong Kong residents, through both self‐administered questionnaires and clinical health examinations (1,429 participants). Non‐skilled occupation was found to be an independent risk factor for diabetes, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.38 (p < 0.001) and adjusted OR of 2.59 (p = 0.022) after adjusting for demographic, behavioural and metabolic risk factors. Older age (adjusted OR = 1.08, p < 0.001), higher body mass index (adjusted OR = 1.23, p < 0.001) and having hypertriglyceridemia (adjusted OR = 1.93, p = 0.033) were also independently associated with diabetes. Non‐skilled workers were disproportionately affected by diabetes with the highest age‐standardized prevalence (6.3%) among all occupation groups (4.9%–5.0%). This study provides evidence that non‐skilled occupation is an independent diabetes risk factor in a developed Asian setting. Health education on improving lifestyle practices and diabetes screening should prioritise non‐skilled workers, in particular through company‐based and sector‐based diabetes screening programmes. Diabetes health service should respond to the special needs of non‐skilled workers, including service at non‐office hour and practical health advice in light of their work setting.

Social factors and pain worsening: a retrospective cohort study

BackgroundPain, specifically chronic pain, is a major public health issue worldwide with considerable health-related consequences and large economic impact. The relation between socioeconomic status and pain occurrence is well established. However, little is known on the relation between socioeconomic factors and worsening of pain, including progression from non-chronic pain to chronic pain. MethodsTo assess the relation between socioeconomic status and pain worsening, we used the Stockholm Public Health Cohort Study from 2006 to 2014 and analysed data of 9721 participants who completed follow-up. The adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of moderate and severe pain worsening episodes were computed, using a pain amplification model, which encompasses spreading, somatisation, and psychological distress components. Multiple imputation analysis was performed subsequently to adjust for cohort attrition. ResultsCompared with non-skilled workers, self-employed subjects (IRR=1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01–1.39) and non-manual employees were at higher risk of moderate worsening (lower non-manual employees: IRR=1.21; 95% CI, 1.03–1.41; intermediate non-manual employees: IRR=1.26; 95% CI, 1.10–1.44; higher non-manual employees: IRR=1.25; 95% CI, 1.08–1.45). This risk increase was limited to worsening starting at stage 0 (non-chronic pain). No association was found between socioeconomic status and severe pain worsening. ConclusionOur results support a moderate association between intermediate and high socioeconomic status, and moderate pain worsening. This association could be explained by the heterogeneous composition of the socioeconomic variable used in this cohort, and by changes in exposure and other time-varying covariables' status during follow-up.

Class, Social Mobility, and Voting: Evidence from Historical Voting Records

We explore the connection between social class, social mobility, and voting behavior in nineteenth-century England. To avoid pitfalls associated with survey or aggregate data on voting behavior, we use administrative longitudinal records preceding secret ballot on voters’ choices and occupation. These data reveal that the landed gentry, farm workers, non-skilled workers and white-collar workers voted, on average, more for the Conservatives, and petty bourgeoisie and skilled workers for the Liberals. The changes in voting behavior within individuals due to social mobility are immediate and mainly consistent with the same cleavage. Our interpretation is that voting was influenced by economic incentives.

조직지원인식이 비숙련 제조업 외국인 근로자의 역할 내·외 성과에 미치는 영향: 외국인 근로자 적응과 상사신뢰의 조절된 매개효과

조직지원인식이 비숙련 제조업 외국인 근로자의 역할 내·외 성과에 미치는 영향: 외국인 근로자 적응과 상사신뢰의 조절된 매개효과

Identification, determine and control of health, safety, and environmental hazards associated with the construction projects: State-Of-The-Art

The industry of construction is considered a strong economic factor and one of the most dangerous industries. This industry involves a wide range of activities that subject all employees from experts to non-skilled workers to intense undesired situations. Everybody is vulnerable to the hazards, risks, and dangers of this massive industry. Insufficient health and safety management, damage to construction, and constructed environments can also lead to increased accidents and injuries. Accidents not only have consequences of significant suffering and pain, but they are also marginalizing efficiency, time, productivity, negatively impact the environment and overall adding the construction costs. The results of the study will help to identify the essential factors that cause rising rates of risks in construction projects. By identifying these causes, emphasis on environmental, health and safety management will help in implementing awareness to all of those participating in the construction projects. This study demonstrates the criteria and guidelines for the identification, to determine the controlling environmental effects and health and safety hazards at construction project worksites. Furthermore, attempt to explain the techniques of decreasing hazards by the development of pre-construction planning and provide adequate controlling equipment for executing a safer, more profitable construction project from start to the end. Also, in the study suggestions are given for management that they must provide adequate health and safety training for the entire workforce, a supervised workplace by professional site safety managers and operators that will attempt to reduce health and safety hazards at sites.

Heroes and Toilers: Work as Life in Postwar North Korea, 1953–1961

Heroes and Toilers: Work as Life in Postwar North Korea, 1953–1961

Identification of construction productivity components in Indonesia. Case study of construction projects at the ministry of public works and housing provision (PUPR)

The problem faced by Indonesia at this time is the lack of information related to supply and demand related to the productivity component, so it needs a study to formulate an index of construction productivity in Indonesia. The analysis of the determination of the productivity component is carried out by the desk study approach with the standard of construction productivity calculation, the standard for construction work financing, and mapping analysis approach based on project technical document data from 3 Unor, namely Water Resources, Highways, and Cipta Karya. The mapping analysis results obtained that the Workforce Component consists of Experts, Skilled Workers, and Non-Skilled Workers, Work Equipment Components include heavy equipment and light equipment and Construction Material Components. Experts for Unor Water Resources consist of Water Resources Experts, Quality Management System, and K3 Construction, Unor Bina Marga, namely Road Engineering, Bridge Engineering, Quality Management System and OHS Construction. Unor Cipta Karya’s experts consist of Environmental and Sanitation Engineering, Environmental Sanitation, Project Management, and Construction Management Experts. Skilled Workers from 3 Unor, namely Supervisors, Measurers, Land Mapping, Road Implementers/Irrigation, and K3 Officers. Non-skilled personnel consist of administrative and financial staff.

Yukio SAKA, Acceptance and Facts on Foreign Non-Skilled Workers: With a Focus on Technical Intern

Yukio SAKA, Acceptance and Facts on Foreign Non-Skilled Workers: With a Focus on Technical Intern

Grunnleggende ferdigheter for arbeidslivet? Bruk og betydning i restaurant- og matfagyrker

A framework for basic skills is included in all subjects and curricula throughout the Norwegian school system. These basic skills are defined as reading, numeracy, and oral, written and digital skills.&#x0D; In this article, I question to what extent these basic skills are being used in professional practice within a selection of restaurant and food processing occupations. The empirical data in the article is based on a survey done autumn 2015 (Spetalen, Eben &amp; Jahanlu, 2016).&#x0D; The report shows that basic skills are being used to various degrees. This variation is not only between different restaurant- and food processing trades, but also in relation to certified skilled workers and those with management responsibilities. Data from this survey indicate that managers and skilled professionals correlated significantly when using basic skills for work. Both mangers and skilled professionals make use of basic skills far more often than professionals without managerial responsibility and non-skilled workers, do.&#x0D; Influenced by Michael Young’s (2004) theory, this survey gives valuable input in developing new vocational curricula relating to a reformed structure in Norwegian vocational training, starting autumn 2019.

Neo-Marxian social class inequalities in self-rated health among the employed in South Korea: the role of material, behavioral, psychosocial, and workplace environmental factors

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to examine the pattern of social inequality in self-rated health among the employed using the Wright’s social class location indicator, and to assess the roles of material, behavioral, psychosocial, and workplace environmental factors as mediating factors in explaining the social class inequality in self-rated health in South Korea.MethodsThis study used data from the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2009. Study subjects included the employed population of 4392 men and 3309 women aged 19–64 years. Subjects were classified into twelve social class positions based on the Wright’s social class map. The health outcome was self-rated health. Material, psychosocial, behavioral, and workplace environmental factors were considered as potential mediators in explaining social class health inequality. We calculated prevalence ratios of poor self-rated health according to social class, adjusted for age and mediating factors using Poisson regression models.ResultsNonskilled workers and petty bourgeoisie reported worse self-rated health than other social classes among men. The age-adjusted prevalence of petty bourgeoisie and nonskilled workers were about four-fold greater than that of managers. Expert supervisors in the contradictory class location had a greater prevalence of poor self-rated health than experts in men. In women, the prevalence of poor self-rated health was greater in most social classes than their male counterparts, while the differences among social classes within women were not statistically significant. Workplace environmental factors explained the social class inequality by from 24 to 31% in nonskilled and skilled workers and nonskilled supervisors, respectively, and material factors showed an explanatory ability of about 8% for both nonskilled workers and petty bourgeoisie in men.ConclusionsWe showed the inequality in self-rated health according to the Wright’s social class in an industrialized Asian country. Policy efforts to improve workplace environments in nonskilled and skilled workers and nonskilled supervisors would have a moderate effect on reducing the magnitude of social class inequality in self-rated health. Furthermore, the means to improve power relations in the workplace should be devised to further reduce the social class inequalities in health.

Abstract P184: Occupation Type, Hypertension Status and Awareness Among Hispanic/Latino Adults: Findings From the Hispanic Community Health Study/ Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Introduction: Occupation types, e.g. service, have been associated with hypertension (HTN). Data from Hispanics/Latinos are limited, despite high rates of HTN-related morbidity. We examined prevalence of HTN status and awareness by occupation type and association of occupation type with HTN status among Hispanic/Latino adults. Methods: Baseline data from HCHS/SOL, a cohort of diverse Hispanics/Latinos ages 18-74 in 2008-11, were used. Participants (N=7,429, mean age 38.9 years) reported current occupation (definition in Table). HTN was defined as elevated blood pressure (≥ 140/≥90 mm Hg) or self-reported use of antihypertensives; HTN awareness as self-reported physician diagnosed HTN. Survey statistical analyses were weighted and stratified by sex. Effect modification by years in the US, language and social acculturation was tested. Results: Non-skilled worker was the most common occupation type (males 30.1%; females 25.3%). Age-adjusted prevalence of HTN was highest in service workers (males 20.7%; females 17.4%); lowest in non-skilled workers (males 15.5 %; females 14.2%). The prevalence of HTN awareness was lowest in non-skilled male workers (48.2%); highest in females in higher status occupations (76.8%). The association of occupation type with HTN status varied by social acculturation (i.e. preferred ethnicity of social relations). In males, service workers with low social acculturation (preferred Hispanic/Latino social relations) had lower odds of HTN compared to those in higher status occupations, while service or skilled workers with high social acculturation had higher odds of HTN. Female non-skilled workers with low social acculturation had higher odds of HTN compared to higher status occupations (Table). Conclusions: Among Hispanics/Latinos, prevalence of HTN status and awareness varies by occupation type. Occupation type and social acculturation are jointly associated with HTN status. Strategies for HTN prevention and awareness should take into account occupational differences.