Welfare To Work Research Articles

Integrating Lean Construction with Sustainable Construction: Drivers, Dilemmas and Countermeasures

Sustainable construction (SC) has become a primary objective of the building and construction industry due to the growing demand for reduced environmental impacts and more efficient resource use. Simultaneously, lean construction (LC), which focuses on minimizing waste and maximizing productivity, offers an opportunity to achieve greater sustainability in the construction process. This study explores the integration of LC and SC through a systematic literature review, employing VOSviewer software for quantitative analysis alongside qualitative analysis in conjunction with a comprehensive literature review. The findings reveal substantial synergies between LC and SC, including cost savings, waste reduction, and enhanced safety. However, challenges such as cost conflicts, environmental trade-offs, and worker welfare concerns act as barriers to effective integration. To address these challenges, this study proposes leveraging dynamic capabilities (DCs)—such as change management, organizational learning, organizational flexibility, and continuous improvement and innovation—as strategies for the successful integration of LC and SC. These insights contribute to academic research and industry practice, providing a practical framework for integrating LC and SC to improve sustainability and efficiency in construction projects.

Crime in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry—The Role of Subcontractors

This article examines the challenges posed by criminal subcontractors in the construction industry. It aims to delineate the specific crimes committed by these subcontractors and assess their impact against the broader backdrop of industry-related criminality. Employing a scoping literature review, the study explores the existing research, summarizes key findings, and highlights gaps in the current knowledge. The construction industry’s inherent complexities and reliance on extensive subcontracting create an environment ripe for criminal activities. The research questions addressed are the following: (1) What crimes are carried out by subcontractors? (2) What are the consequences of crimes carried out by subcontractors? This study identifies several major concerns: (1) adverse impacts on project management in terms of timelines, quality, and budgetary control; (2) widespread exploitation within supply chains, ranging from wage disparities to modern slavery; (3) prevalent fraudulent practices, such as bribery, collusion, and embezzlement; and (4) the detrimental effect on Health, Environment, and Safety (HES) standards. The article underscores the diversity of legal frameworks across jurisdictions and signals the need for concerted efforts to enhance crime prevention measures, foster industry-wide collaboration, and establish robust control systems. There is an urgent need for a profound understanding of the contractor–subcontractor dynamic and procurement of substandard materials. The findings suggest that the construction industry faces formidable challenges due to criminal elements, profoundly affecting project efficiency, legal compliance, and worker welfare.

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) as social enterprise

ABSTRACT Discontinuities between the positive outcomes for business entities in Western capitalist countries and low-quality standards of living for large segments of their populations have grown in recent decades. Combined with environmental degradation worldwide and a poor quality of life for many, the future does not look bright for the ability of these societies and their economies to continue to prosper. Proposed institutional solutions include the development of a different form of organization, the social enterprise, broadly defined as a mission focused and profit-making entity. In the United States, these organizations are few, of varied legal form, relatively small and relatively young. Sometimes a mission focus is the reason for the organization’s existence, while for others, the business is the focus with the mission secondary. The Employee Stock Ownership Plan company (ESOP) has been in existence in the United States for decades. It is also varied in legal form, always profit-focused, and often focused on the welfare of workers and communities. Can the ESOP business fill any part of the societal need for which the social enterprise is justified? This paper examines the argument for, purpose, and features of social enterprises and ESOPs to consider possible commonalities in purpose and outcomes.

Construction Project Performance Based on Occupational Safety, Occupational Health and Work Motivation

Many construction organizations still employ workers without regard to the application of accident risk, although a focus on safety is predicted to improve worker performance. This study aims to examine the effect of occupational safety and health and incentive factors on worker performance in housing construction projects. This study used a quantitative approach and was tested using the SEM-PLS method with a sample of 72 respondents. The results showed that well-implemented occupational safety and health significantly improved worker performance, by reducing the risk of injury and improving worker welfare. In addition, high work motivation plays a role in increasing project productivity and efficiency. Emphasis on safety, health, and work motivation was shown to have a positive impact on achieving better project performance. The implications of this research provide important insights for construction managers and policy makers in optimizing project success through the implementation of effective safety protocols, wellness programs, and appropriate motivation strategies. Thus, this study highlights the importance of integrating occupational safety and motivation as key factors in achieving superior project performance.

"Green Hills And Golden Brews: The Tea Profile Of Kerala"

The plantation sector in Kerala, encompassing key crops like tea, coffee, and rubber, faces significant challenges that threaten its economic viability and the livelihoods of workers. High production costs, coupled with fluctuating market prices, have positioned Kerala as one of the highest-cost producers of plantation commodities in India. The cost of producing tea has escalated dramatically over the years, severely impacting profitability and leading to financial instability for many growers. Additionally, climate change has introduced further complications, resulting in unpredictable weather patterns, increased pest infestations, and damage to plantation infrastructure. These factors have not only diminished productivity but have also jeopardized the sustainability of the entire sector. To address these issues, a multifaceted approach is necessary. Implementing a support price mechanism can stabilize incomes for growers, while crop diversification can enhance revenue generation and reduce dependency on a single crop. Moreover, investing in skill development programs tailored to the needs of the plantation workforce is vital, enabling workers to adapt to value-added production processes. Strengthening worker welfare through the enforcement of the Plantation Labour Act and improving access to education and healthcare in remote plantation areas are also crucial. Collaborative efforts between government entities and plantation stakeholders can lead to enhanced infrastructure, better access to technology, and educational opportunities, ensuring a resilient and sustainable plantation sector that benefits both producers and local communities alike. By prioritizing these strategies, the plantation industry in Kerala can navigate its current challenges and pave the way for a more sustainable and prosperous future

Optimal taxes and basic income during an episode of automation: a worker’s perspective

Abstract Motivated by distributional concerns raised by recent breakthroughs in AI and robotics, we ask how workers would prefer to manage an episode of automation in a task-based model, which distinguishes between automation and traditional technical progress. We show that under majority voting with the option to implement a “partial” UBI (as transfers to workers) it is optimal to tax capital at a higher rate than labor in the long run to fund the partial UBI. We show that, unlike traditional technical progress, automation always lowers the labor share in the long run, justifying distributional concerns. A quantitative analysis of an episode of automation for the US economy shows that it is optimal from the workers’ perspective to lower capital taxes and transfers over the transition. Nevertheless, this policy increases worker welfare by only 0.7% in consumption-equivalent terms, compared with a 21.6% welfare gain to entrepreneurs, because the welfare gains to workers from lower capital taxes are second-order, while the gains to entrepreneurs are first-order.

Heat causes large earnings losses for informal-sector workers in India

Abstract Heat reduces labor productivity and output in formal manufacturing but little is known about its impacts on the earnings and welfare of workers in the informal sector that comprise 82\% of the labor force in low-income and lower-middle-income countries. This study reports the results from daily surveys of nearly 400 workers in two slums in Delhi for a month in the summer of 2019. Every degree Celsius increase in wet bulb temperature was associated with a fall in gross earnings of 13(± 3.5) percentage points, a fall in earnings net of work-related expenditure of 19(± 4.5) percentage points, an increase in the self-reported probability of sickness of the worker or a family member of 6(± 0.5) percentage points, and a decrease in the probability that a worker went to work of 2(± 0.5) percentage points. Net earnings were 40\% lower during the two heatwaves that occurred during the study period.Over 320 million informal-sector workers in low-income and lower-middle-income countries are currently exposed to temperatures similar to those observed in this study.

The Impact of Decree 70/2023 on Labor Regulation and Industrial Relations in Argentina: A Legal and Economic Analysis

Decree 70/2023, issued by the Argentine government, addresses critical issues in labor and industrial relations amidst ongoing economic and social challenges. This study evaluates the decree’s impact on labor regulations, focusing on minimum wage standards, protection against unfair dismissal, and dispute resolution mechanisms. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, both qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted. Qualitative methods included legal document reviews and expert interviews, while quantitative methods involved assessing changes in wage levels, unemployment, and productivity. Key findings indicate that the decree’s increase in minimum wage aims to enhance worker welfare and stimulate economic growth, but poses challenges for employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises. Stricter procedures and improved compensation for layoffs are expected to reduce job insecurity and foster fairer employment practices, though these measures may raise operational costs and administrative burdens for businesses. Additionally, the new dispute resolution mechanisms, which emphasize mediation and arbitration, are designed to resolve conflicts more efficiently and transparently. However, consistent implementation and oversight remain critical challenges. The study concludes that while Decree 70/2023 represents a significant step towards better labor conditions and industrial relations in Argentina, its success will depend on rigorous enforcement and stakeholder cooperation. Further research should focus on the long-term effects of these regulations on Argentina’s labor market and economic stability, as well as continuous evaluation to refine these policies for optimal outcomes.

Underexplored Key Population: The Impact of Substance Abuse on the Health and Well-Being of Male Sex Workers—A Systematic Review

Research has primarily focused on female sex workers, leaving a large gap in our understanding of the factors affecting the welfare of male sex workers (MSWs). The purpose of this study was to review the body of research on how substance addiction affects MSWs’ health and welfare. Using Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Medline, and CINAHL, a systematic search was carried out. Included was all the research on the effects of drug misuse on the health and happiness of sex workers. The methodology for conducting systematic reviews developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute was applied in this review. The research encompassed English-language papers authored between 2000 and 2024 to guarantee a thorough analysis of current patterns and breakthroughs in the domain, mirroring the current obstacles and progressions in tackling substance addiction among male sex workers. Exclusion criteria were developed to guarantee the relevance and rigor of the included research, whereas inclusion criteria were set based on demographics, exposure, and results. Nineteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were found during the review. This study revealed three main themes: factors contributing to substance abuse among male sex workers; the correlation between substance abuse and mental health among sex workers; and the correlation between substance abuse and the incidence of STIs, including HIV. This study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive, inclusive approaches to address the specific needs of MSWs, ultimately aiming to improve their quality of life and reduce health disparities.

Monitoring airborne pathogen transmission for enhanced safety at food processing facilities

AbstractFood manufacturing and processing are part of the nation's critical infrastructure. Due to the recent global spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the potential contamination of the food chain and the resulting public health implications are of high consequence to society. The current primary food manufacturing and processing facilities already have various mechanisms such as hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) system in place. However, the widespread microbial infections in these facilities raise concerns that they will not only threaten the welfare of food processing workers, but also have a potentially greater consequence on the public if the food is contaminated with an infectious agent.Despite the increasingly recognised role of the environment in the spread of microbes, the effect of air properties remains poorly understood. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in meat processing facilities not only provide a means of transport for viruses and bacteria but may also deposit them on surfaces where they can survive for days. To maintain a stable and safe food chain supply during the pandemic, the challenges to ensure safe food supply and protect the workers' health must be quickly addressed through sustainable, safe and economic approaches. With these two imminent challenges in mind, the overall goal of this review article is to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of the environment in the impaction and resuspension of bioaerosols, focusing on airborne bacteria and viruses. The review includes the latest results of modeling the spread of microbial aerosols in the airflow and the development of preventive measures to mitigate virus contamination in the unique environment of meat processing operations. By understanding how the environmental factors and seasonality affect the infectivity and spread of airborne pathogens, mitigation measures can be designed to minimise future infections within and beyond these facilities.

Fairness in crowdwork: Making the human AI supply chain more humane

The vast quantities of data required to build artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are often annotated and processed manually, making human labor a critical component of the AI supply chain. These workers are sourced through digital labor (“crowdwork”) platforms that often are unregulated and offer low wages, raising concerns about labor standards in AI development. Using the results of a survey, this article aims to shed light on the experiences and perceptions of fair treatment among workers in the AI supply chain. The study reveals significant variability in workers’ experiences, identifies potential drivers of fairness, and highlights how design choices by labor platforms can significantly affect worker welfare. Drawing on lessons from physical supply chains, the article offers practical guidance to managers on how to enhance worker welfare within the AI supply chain and ensure that AI technologies are responsibly sourced.

Analysis of occupational well-being and its relationship with sociodemographic factors in public workers

Workplace well-being is a general feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment at work that goes beyond the absence of health problems, therefore, well-being focuses on how individuals and groups view the circumstances and limits of their work. This study analyzed the level of labor welfare of public sector workers by comparing results between sociodemographic variables. 580 public collaborators from the Arequipa Region in Peru participated. The results showed that 64.1% of the workers had moderate to low occupational well-being. Likewise, opinions in this regard suggested the need to improve conditions that enhance the contribution to labor welfare.

Mapping and Evaluating the Localized Migrant Assistance Services in Ilocos Norte, Philippines: An Asset-Based and Multi-Stakeholder Approach

This qualitative (QL) case study aimed to map and evaluate the localized migrant interventions in Ilocos Norte, a province in northwestern Philippines with a large population of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Using an asset-based approach, this study sought to emphasize the strengths of local government agencies and their problem-solving capacities. Interview and focus group discussion data were collected from 37 participants, specifically from returned OFWs, provincial and local governments’ employees, and volunteers from an OFW family group. Results show that localized migrant interventions include those that were delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic, namely, repatriation and quarantine and testing services. There were social protection services provided pre-pandemic and during the pandemic, including socioeconomic, social, health, and legal assistance, and capacity-building programs. Coordination among government agencies also occurred. Participants evaluated pandemic interventions as inconsistent and lacking, and these interventions were marred by poor communication and coordination. Results also show the centrality of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, which offers many programs but whose service provision received mixed assessment. The other government agencies also had mixed evaluations, marked by limitations in mandate and resources. Lastly, perceptions of the effectiveness of information dissemination by government agencies were varied. Results show that localized interventions are important in providing social protection to distressed OFWs. Policies to promote sustainable reintegration, prepare for future mass repatriation, and improve decentralization are recommended. Findings are useful in promoting awareness of government services and improving the lives of OFWs and their families. Future research can investigate linkages between government levels (e.g., between national and provincial, national and local) and the health status of service providers.

Gestión de factores de riesgo psicosocial: estudio de caso en una mediana empresa salvadoreña

Psychosocial risk factors are anything in the design or management of work that increases the risk of work-related stress. Their assessment is legally required in Salvadoran companies, nevertheless, the legislation itself lacks a specific methodology to comply with such requirements. In 2020, the Spanish National Institute of Health and Safety at Work (INSST) published a methodology to assist Micro and Small Enterprises in managing these factors that can also be used for larger companies. This article presents a case study in a medium-sized advertising Salvadoran company, where this methodology was applied in positions of its production department. The information required for its application was obtained through consultation with workers along with the review of their job descriptors and direct observation of work. The results indicate that all the jobs analyzed have psychosocial factors in adverse conditions. The most predominant ones were associated with autonomy, work pace, time and emotional demands, all with a medium level of importance. It was identified that taking on orders with short delivery deadlines modified the planning and extension of working hours, contributing to the situation observed. Based on this information, various measures were suggested, such as conducting capability and workload studies along with improving planning visibility. Given that the methodology facilitated the management of psychosocial factors, was easy to use and had a participatory approach, the experience of this research suggests that it can be an alternative for other micro, small and medium-sized Salvadoran companies to respond to regulatory requirements, ensuring the welfare of workers. Realidad Empresarial No. 18, 2024: 76-95.

Informal employment and subjective well-being in urban China: do employment sector and working time flexibility matter?

PurposeThis paper tests if there exists a subjective well-being gap between informal workers in the informal and formal sectors in urban China, and explores the mechanisms behind such differences.Design/methodology/approachThe author develops a simple theoretical model to analyze the effects of the employment sector and work time flexibility on workers' happiness and conducts a descriptive study to examine the relationship between employment type and subjective well-being using the China General Social Survey (CGSS) 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2017 datasets, a nationally representative sample.FindingsThe results show that only dependent informal work in the formal sector impairs workers' happiness, while the effect of independent informal work is not statistically significant. The potential mechanisms suggest that independent informal workers have higher working time flexibility and can work more hours to increase their earnings, which increases their subjective well-being. However, it is difficult for dependent informal workers to earn more by working more hours due to poor working time flexibility.Originality/valueThis study indicates that informal workers in the formal sector have lower subjective well-being in urban China and deserve more attention from policymakers. The author also suggests that increasing working time flexibility and encouraging self-employment can contribute to the welfare of informal workers.

Analisis Faktor Internal dan Faktor Eksternal Kepatuhan Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Kerja (K3) pada Pekerja Unit Teknik di PT X Kabupaten Magetan

Engineering units are complex activities with diverse jobs such as maintanace, machine operation and machine supervision. These jobs have a high risk of occupational accidents, so they must comply with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) to reduce the risk of accidents and improve worker welfare. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Compliance can be influenced by internal factors and external factors. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the factors that cause Occupational Safety and Health (OHS) compliance. This research method uses quantitative research with a cross sectional research design with logistic regression analysis. Based on the output of statistical tests, the significance results of internal factors of age 0.015 <0.05, tenure 0.009 <0.05, knowledge 0.006 <0.05, attitude 0.016 <0.05, motivation 0.028 <0.05, ability 0.003 <0.05 and the significance results of external factors of work environment 0.12 <0.05. Internal factors (age, tenure, knowledge, attitude, motivation, ability) and external factors (work environment) influence and have a positive relationship with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) compliance.

Peran Pemerintah Kabupaten Banjarnegara dalam Pemberian Upah Minimum: Kesesuaian dengan Surat Keputusan Gubernur Jawa Tengan Nomor 561/57 Tahun 2023

This study aims to examine the role of the Government, especially in this case the Manpower Office, which has an active role in supervising workers in getting salaries in accordance with government regulations, and legal efforts against companies that have not set minimum wage standards, minimum wage is one of the important instruments in protecting workers' welfare and ensuring fairness in work compensation. This study uses a qualitative approach with the Empirical Juridical method, which uses field data collection as the main data such as through interviews, observations, and analysis of policy documents and applicable regulations. This research is expected to contribute to improving the welfare of the people in Banjarnegara Regency by increasing the minimum wage and ensuring the welfare of workers in the region. The results of the research obtained by the author that the role of the Banjarnegara PMPTSP Manpower Office has a monitoring and socialization role as well as a meeting to determine the district minimum wage every year, and has legal efforts in the process of complaints of UMK violations with the availability of the Complaints Agency Commission and the First Expert Mediator to resolve conflicts of UMK violations by the reported workers against companies in Banjarnegara.

Study of Psyhcosocial Risk in MEGASTOCK Enterprise - Ecuador

The study of Psychosocial Risk in the MEGASTOCK company, was developed in the context of the welfare and health of workers in Ecuadorian environments, demonstrating the topic importance about the development and productivity of the company. It was empowered by the CoPsoQ-ISTAS 21 methodology, the different proposed categories were analyzed allowing the identification of the high risk dimensions factor of work rhythm, role conflict, quantitative demands per job and per department, job insecurity per job and per department, insecurity about working conditions, emotional demands per job and per department, double presence per job and per department, demands to hide emotions; situations that intersect the labor aspect with the conditions and realities of society and its development.It’s important that the obtained results are due to many factors inherent to the political, social and economic context of the country, whose volatility and sudden changes force institutions to look for adaptation mechanisms to avoid uncertainty and probable extinction. It is for this reason that people have been exposed to these factors that determine the level risk, and the result of which, according to the different dimensions, has been high

The realities of return migration: Reintegrating women migrant domestic workers in Sri Lanka

This paper critically analyzes the Sri Lankan government’s management of return migration. Adopting an intersectional lens, it examines how exclusionary policies and programs fail to protect the rights and welfare of returnee women migrant domestic workers, resulting in poor reintegration outcomes. The paper focuses on three interconnecting issues that disproportionately impact upon their rights, as revealed by empirical fieldwork carried out in Colombo in 2018. Research findings from interviews and focus group discussions with civil society organizations (9), government agencies (3) and international organizations (3) highlight the need for an inclusive policy approach. Such an approach would involve a holistic response guided by inter-agency coordination and comprehensive data that would better tailor services to the specific skillsets and diverse circumstances of returnee women domestic workers.

A Clean and Health-Care-Focused Way to Reduce Indoor Airborne Bacteria in Calf House with Long-Wave Ultraviolet.

Long-term exposure to a relatively high concentration of airborne bacteria emitted from intensive livestock houses could potentially threaten the health and welfare of animals and workers. There is a dual effect of air sterilization and promotion of vitamin D synthesis for the specific bands of ultraviolet light. This study investigated the potential use of A-band ultraviolet (UVA) tubes as a clean and safe way of reducing airborne bacteria and improving calf health. The composition and emission characteristics of airborne bacteria were investigated and used to determine the correct operating regime of UVA tubes in calf houses. Intermittent exceedances of indoor airborne bacteria were observed in closed calf houses. The measured emission intensity of airborne bacteria was 1.13 ± 0.09 × 107 CFU h-1 per calf. Proteobacteria were the dominant microbial species in the air inside and outside calf houses. After UVA radiation, the indoor culturable airborne bacteria decreased in all particle size ranges of the Anderson sampler, and it showed the highest reduction rate in the size range of 3.3-4.7 μm. The results of this study would enrich the knowledge of the source characteristics of the airborne bacteria in intensive livestock farming and contribute to the environmental control of cattle in intensive livestock production.