Strict enforcement of the law guarantees workers the right to
refuse undertaking risky assignments, says a signed article in
People's Daily. An excerpt follows:
A recent report said that the All-China Federation of Trade
Unions, the State Administration of Work Safety and the State
Administration of Coal Mine Safety would join forces in a campaign
to boost the migrant workers' health and safety, part of which is
to guarantee workers the right to refuse risky assignments.
According to the Labor Law, workers are entitled to refuse risky
assignments.
The campaign indicates that the government is paying close
attention to migrant workers' safety. At the same time, it is also
a signal that safety at work has become a major problem.
According to official statistics, more than 75 percent of people
killed last year at coal mines and construction sites were migrant
workers.
Some workplace accidents took place because workers did not have
enough safety knowledge, but more occurred because employers
ignored potential dangers and forced workers to take
assignments.
Against such a background, it is necessary and timely for trade
unions and workplace safety authorities to reiterate workers' right
to refuse risky assignments.
But it would be difficult for workers to do this without strong
support.
It is impossible to solely count on workers' own initiative. If
a worker refuses a risky assignment, the most likely response will
be his dismissal. Under such circumstances, most workers would
rather safeguard their jobs.
By the same token, businesses should not be expected to protect
workers' right of refusal. With an eye on their profits, many
employers just ignore the law and the rights of their
employees.
The right to refuse risky assignments and other workplace rights
can only be guaranteed when the law is fully implemented.
Two important tasks need to be carried out to ensure the law is
fully implemented. The first is to ensure the government and
officials abide by the law, which includes tackling corruption and
cutting the ties between profit-hungry bosses and their "guardians"
within the government.
The second task is to improve long-term supervision of law
enforcement.
(China Daily June 21, 2006)