Abstract
Social and Health Problems of Thai Construction Workers: a Qualitative StudyThe qualitative study of the Social and Health Problems of Thai Construction Workers aims to describe the construction workers life and analize their social and health problems based on the finding. Phenomenological study was used in both big and small construction sites of 6 provinces, including Cheing Mai, Khon Kaen, Bangkok, Chonburi, Songkla and Phuket. Observation, interviews, and focus group discussion that were conducted during July 1994 - February 1995 and October - November 1997, were used for data collection. Key informants were construction workers, foremen, company manager, and government officers. The major findings are as follows: 1.Construction workers were in a vicious circle situation. 2.Context of construction workers were lack of skills, uncontinuity, uncertainty, and lack of supporting organization. 3.Working safety was the most outstanding health problem that caused construction workers sickness, injury, disability and death. 4.Social and health problems of the construction workers are caused by the lack of social awareness, lack of worker power, the weakness of law utilization and the problems of labor relations. Recommendation emphasizes on the social management, and competition in global society.
