To make matters worse, subcontractors are usually smaller companies that generally try to increase profit by limiting investment in staff benefits and safety protection measures. Therefore, a lack of occupational safety and health in external subcontractor companies are now massive problems. The accident at AUO happened during an outsourced job performed by external service providers.
The government has to stop overlooking occupational health and safety and remember the effect increased social costs will have on economic growth. Business leaders must remember that they cannot gamble with the health of workers in the pursuit of profit during these tougher economic times and remember that any company will be liable for much greater costs if a work-related safety incident occurs. Workers must not compromise their health out of fear of losing their jobs.
Chen Meei-shia is a professor of public health at National Cheng Kung University and the director of the Taiwan Association for the Promotion of Public Health. Lin Hsiao-hsin is the founder of Science Monthly.
TRANSLATED BY DREW CAMERON
RSS