Women in construction industry of India: Impact on health

Construction is a sector associated with high number of job-related accidents, accounting for at least 60,000 fatal accidents in the world each year (ILO, 2005). In India accidents on construction sites are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Women construction workers are more vulnerable as occupational health and safety concerns for the construction workforce are almost non-existent. The present paper is based on a case study of female migrants working in construction—the second largest industry in India, employing almost 30 million (3crore) people, approximately 30 percent of which are women. Rather than examining empirical data on these women, this paper considers the more subjective and nuanced experiences related to their reality as workers in the unorganized sector. The paper also reviews existing labor laws and other macro studies. The study is based on in-depth interviews of 110 female construction workers and captures some of the more latent risks and rewards associated with work in this hazardous occupation.
The incidences of physical strain during work are common in the case of women workers.  Around 70% women complained of fatigue and physical strain during work and have suffered from persistent body aches, mainly in their limbs and hands. Since they are accompanied by their children they are also exposed to hazardous condition at the work site. They live in the construction site in makeshift houses where there is no facility for the provision of safe drinking water and the sanitary conditions are unhygienic. Moreover due to informalisation and non-unionisation, there is no redressal mechanism and most times it goes unreported. Despite significant contribution of this industry to the national economy and providing large scale employment opportunities, there is no proper implementation of existing welfare schemes and policies pertaining to safety at work.