"To all these who have, more will be given, and they will have (abundance); but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." This (saying) from the Bible is what the Matthew effect refers to. This is (precisely) what is now happening to the more than 200 million migrant workers in China.
Ministry of Health (statistics) show that almost 90 percent of those suffering from occupational diseases are migrant workers. Hazardous working conditions are (taking) away what many of these laborers (rely) on for a living - their health.
In one of the most well-known cases, of the more than 60 (migrant) workers from a county in southwestern Yunnan province who work in quartz sand plants in (eastern) Anhui province, about half have developed pneumoconiosis. Twelve have already died.
Even more (terrible) is that none of the affected have any idea as to what ails them. All they know is that, of late, they have been finding it hard to (breathe), and are bereft of the energy required to do anything. Many believe that they are (suffering) from a mysterious disease.
Their case is only the tip of the (iceberg). The total number of factories in China with hazardous working conditions likely to cause (occupational) diseases is more than 16 million. Most workers in these factories are rural laborers, who are usually exposed to hazardous air, dust or other poisonous (material) without any protection.
There is a law on (prevention) of occupational diseases, which took effect in 2002. Workplaces with hazardous working conditions are required to (adopt) measures to protect workers from contracting occupational diseases through constant (exposure) to harmful materials.
It is (mandatory) for health departments at all levels to ensure that employers of such factories comply with requirements to (safeguard) workers from afflictions arising out of their work. But, investigations show that more than 60 percent of such factories have failed to do what they should for protecting employees from (harmful) material.
The (ignorance) of most rural laborers about likely harm from their working conditions has also contributed to their (tragic) situation.
A rural laborer losing his physical capacity to work in the (prime) of life can be a calamity for his family. Those who are (somewhat) better off are reduced by such ailments to a hand-to-mouth life; and those who are poor are driven to destitution. More (rural) laborers being rendered unfit to work also means a drain of labor with its (predictable) adverse effect on economic development. Local governments have to extend a helping hand to such families, which have become a (burden) to local finance.
Besides plants, local govern-ments are (obviously) to (blame) for failing in their duty to ensure safe working conditions in enterprises under their authority.
Question)
1. How to prevent the workers from occupational hazard ?
2. How to improve the migrant workers work atmosphere ?
