Safe farm workers, safe families Safe farm workers, safe families and communities: How social and communities: How social

protection improves rural protection improves rural livelihoods livelihoods

Svetlana Boincean IUF

Global challenges in agriculture Global challenges in agriculture 75% of the world’s poor live in rural areas,

with 2.1 billion rural people living on less that 2 USD per day;

60 % child labour takes place in agriculture Agriculture is one of the 3 most dangerous

industries to work in; 170,000 agricultural workers across the world are killed at work each year; 40,000 of these deaths are due to pesticide poisoning

ILO’s Committee of Experts ILO’s Committee of Experts Report “Giving a Voice to Rural Workers” Report “Giving a Voice to Rural Workers”

“the dismal living and working conditions in the rural sector of many countries often appeared to be largely the same as they had been when C. 141 was adopted in 1975 – and, in fact, in some places were not dissimilar from the conditions that existed in 1921, when C. 11 was adopted”

Social protection Social protection Only 20% of the world’s population has

adequate social security coverage, and more then half lack any coverage at all.

only about 5% of the world’s agricultural workers have access to any form of labour inspection or legal protection of their health and safety rights.

Kommunal International work Kommunal International work Kommunal recognises the challenges in the sector and

support the capacity of IUF to overcome the challenges/decent work deficits in rural areas

Build capacity in India to work on NREGA Improving housing for migrant workers in CA Improving occupational health, safety and

environmental standards on plantations and farms in Africa

National Rural Employment National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (2005)Guarantee Act (2005)

Important social protection tool, guarantees 100 days employment for rural households, contributes to the reduction of the extreme levels of hunger and poverty

Help sustain livelihoods in the countryside and reduce urbanisation

Greater employment opportunities for women guarantee the legal minimum daily wage Workers entitled to drinking water, access to

shade, medical kits and childcare.

IUF member APVVU in Andhra IUF member APVVU in Andhra Pradesh, South India Pradesh, South India

Were able to achieve to achieve 3 times more-work days that the state average.

Women workers 40% in the scheme nationally 2006-2007, while APVVU members; participation was 53% women;

Daily wage before introduction of NREGA was 30-60 Rs, after introduction 81-93 Rs per day;

Rate of distress migration reduced to 70 % in several districts of Andhra Pradesh

Bihar, North of India, where the state-wide average in 2006-2007 was 8 days work per household, members in the IUF-affiliated Hind Khet Mazdoor Panchayat (HKMP) were able to access between 60-70 days employment.

In the North Bengal district of West Bengal, in East India, following inteventions from IUF- affiliate PBKMS, rural workers in one area were able to get 45 days work per household in the 2006, while the district average was 12.7 days per household .

Improving occupational health,Improving occupational health,safety and environmental standards onsafety and environmental standards on

plantations and farms in Africaplantations and farms in Africaimproved health, safety and environment

conditions at workplaces. more workers are provided with PPEs andthere is safer use of chemicals. cases of accidents and sexual harassment are

reduced. trainers continue to carry out sensitisation of

workers.

Migrant workers accommodationMigrant workers accommodation

agricultural workers often have no access agricultural workers often have no access to potable waterto potable water

CONCLUSIONS CONCLUSIONS Social protection is a Human Right and

should be extending to all workers and their families in rural areas

…over the life cycle, all in need have access to essential health care and to basic income security ….. . (Article 4, ILO Recommandation 202)