Abstract
Informal Working Conditions and Health Problem:A Case Study of Industrial Home-Based Work At present, most of informal jobs employed in Thailand are mainly in the group of manufacturing industries. The majority of these informal jobs are putting-out system, i.e., the subcontraction some parts of the manufacturing work to private homes. As a consequence, the health of the workers in these home-based industrial work is at risk. The case study of these informal jobs are bronze work, seed-making, fishing-net, hand-weaving, garment and gem-cutting The result of studies found that the manufacturing process of these industrial works cause the health hazard to the workers and their family members as well as some environmental damage of their communities. The level of health risk ranging from the highest are the following: bronze work, seed-making, fishing-net, hand-weaving, garment and gem-cutting. In regard to the health problem, most of the workers’ illness are believed to be due to the working condition. Most significantly, the result from the diagnosis of some doctors reveals that these industrial work are dangerous to the workers’ health and are the main cause of the illness of their family workers. Aside from the health problem, another interesting point is that these home-based industrial workers have to invest on their own capital expenditure but earn lower wage than the minimum wage rate. They have to face the health problem without the responsibility of their employers. Therefore, the best solution in to set up a health insurance system for these informal home workers. The system which is run by the community organization. Their employers and the government have to share the responsibility.
