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Chinese Lawmakers Seek Solutions to Working Hazards
Chinese lawmakers are seeking solutions for working hazards through expediting the adoption of a national law on prevention and treatment of occupational diseases.
Members of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the highest legislative body of China, reviewed the law draft after it was submitted to the newly-opened 23rd session for the second-round examination.
Many members of the Standing Committee agreed that the law draft should be passed as soon as possible so that millions of employees working at potential health risks can be sheltered from occupational diseases such as pneumoconiosis, or black lung.
In China with a work force of nearly 700 million, occupational diseases have become the biggest threat to workers' health as well as the leading cause of early retirement due to disability.
"Some working units, especially privately-owned and foreign- funded enterprises, have ignored the health of their employees and caused very serious working hazards," Chen Shoupeng, member of the NPC Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee, said during a group discussion Tuesday.
Accidental poisonings commonly reported in shoe-making and garment factories are another leading killer, claiming several hundred lives every year.
Peng Peiyun, vice-chairwoman of the NPC Standing Committee, suggested that the law should stipulate responsibilities of the county and township-level governments in supervision of labor safety since major occupational illness cases have occurred in township enterprises.
Her opinion was echoed by the lawmaker Chen Xinzhao, who said governments at all levels have to shoulder responsibilities for serious accidents of occupational hazards.
Lawmakers also showed their concern for migrant workers from poor rural areas, who are most vulnerable to occupational diseases since they are often exposed to poisonous and dangerous working conditions while having least power to protect themselves.
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