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Encouraging safety and health culture at work need of the hour

By The Assam Tribune
Encouraging safety and health culture at work need of the hour
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Guwahati, April 28: There are several challenges when it comes to workplace safety and it can directly impact workers both physically and mentally. From industrial injuries to workplace stress, upskilling workers in health, safety and wellbeing can significantly help mitigate risks associated with these challenges.

For instance Japan's work culture has been criticized for strenuous work environment which often leads to health issues and general unhappiness. The highly competitive work culture resulted in dire consequences which sometimes led to 'death by overwork', the phenomenon is so common that the Japanese have even coined a term for it: 'karoshi'

The most common medical causes of karoshi deaths are heart attacks or strokes due to stress and a starvation diet or in some cases suicide when the pressure becomes too much. This was brought to national, and international, attention in 2016 after a 24-year-old employee at advertising firm Dentsu killed herself over work stress.

However, with the help of government reforms and grassroots movements, Japan's work culture is moving in a new direction. In 2018, the Japanese government passed the Work Style Reform Bill which attempts to modernize and improve Japan's archaic workstyle by providing equal pay for equal work" in order to eliminate wage gaps, capping excessive working hours to increase flexibility, as well as encouraging employees to take time off from work.

In 2019, Jack Ma, founder of Ali Baba Group faced backlash when he praised China's 996 work culture and termed it as a "blessing" for anyone to be part of the so-called "996 work culture". The 996 derives its name from its requirement that employees work from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm, 6 days per week; i.e. 72 hours per week.

The 996 has provoked nationwide debate as China's tech workers, take to the internet to complain against the work culture. Moreover critics argue that the culture is a violation of Chinese law and have called it "modern slavery".

According to China's labour laws, a standard work day is eight hours-long, with a maximum of 44 hours a week. Any work beyond that requires extra pay for overtime.

Last year the 996 culture was deemed illegal by China's Supreme People's Court and issued a stern reminder to companies that such punishing work schedules are in fact, illegal.

Keeping in view the ardous work cultures around the world, the World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated annually on April 28 to highlight one of the neglected issues in workplace. The idea is to promote the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases globally. It underscores the need to raise awareness on the magnitude of the problem and on encouraging a safety and health culture that can help reduce the number of work-related deaths and injuries.

The World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2022 focuses on enhancing social dialogue towards a culture of safety and health. The day also marks the International Commemoration Day for Dead and Injured Workers which is organised all around the world by the trade union movement since 1996.

A safe work environment is essential for both employees and employers alike. After all, the feeling of assurance that one will return safely from work, is more significant than anything else.

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