Precarious workers face higher risks

Three out of four workers killed on 27 September at a mine in Indonesia part-owned by Rio Tinto were precarious workers, the global union IndustriALL has said. It says cases like this highlight the importance of its ‘Stop precarious work’ campaign.

Three out of four workers killed on 27 September at a mine in Indonesia part-owned by Rio Tinto were precarious workers, the global union IndustriALL has said. It says cases like this highlight the importance of its ‘Stop precarious work’ campaign.

The union body is demanded Rio Tinto respects workers’ rights and health and safety and stops undermining real jobs through the use of precarious work. According to IndustriALL, the tragedy in Indonesia “shows once again that precarious workers at Rio Tinto are no exception to the rule that they are more likely to be victim of a health and safety accident than permanent workers.”

It adds that unions at some Rio Tinto worksites indicated that outsourced workers are treated differently than permanent workers when it comes to health and safety. On one site, an affiliated union reported that unlike permanent workers, temporary staff were provided with ‘antiquated protective equipment.’

Studies have linked precarious work to higher injury and sickness rates and poorer health overall. There is also evidence of a greater risk of suicide, together with higher rates of depression and mental health problems and other of chronic health conditions.