Road workers' safety

Road workers' safety

From Neraca

Government efforts to implement the Safety and Health Program
(K-3) for workers appear not to be getting the appropriate
attention from some companies. What has happened?

The fact is that road workers, who mostly work in the open air
-- like PAM (water company) or power cable diggers -- are still
not properly geared with safety equipment.

One example I recently noted is the road work along the
Shangrila Hotel road. Road workers kept working during a cold
evening in drizzling rain without the support of proper lighting
equipment.

Although they are just temporary workers, they are working for
the tender winner of a state company. It obviously does not make
sense, because although the government is trying hard to make the
K-3 program work, there are still some state companies using the
services of private companies which do not show concern for road
workers' safety and health.

We have the impression that they do not have the least care
for the road workers. It could be that their only concern is how
to make the most out of very little. This theory is applicable in
economic laws. It is unethical, however, if the fate of road
workers is at stake. In fact, these people are working under
dangerous conditions.

It is true that they are only road workers, but they are also
human beings and are thus entitled to the same human rights as
others. Do not discriminate against them merely because of their
profession.

CHAERUDIN AMRI

Jakarta