Gender Dimensions of Occupational Health and Safety of Street Vendors in

Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Presented by:

Abina Shrestha

GDS

ID: 109588

16th May, 20111

Introduction

Research Problem

Research Objectives

Research Area and Category

Methodology

Findings and Discussion

Conclusion

Recommendations

Outline

2

Introduction Informal sector

Very small-scale units with low and irregular income

Gender stereotype attitude

Often undervalued or invisible, does not fall under any labor law, no legal protection by state

Street vending visible informal sector work

Survival strategy

4Ps for OHS

Visible work 3

Working environment

Men and women different occupational health hazards

Lack national policy and license system

Ineffective support from responsible stakeholders on OHS

Research Problem

4

General objective

Gender dimensions of OHS issues among street vendors

Specific objectives

Vulnerability: working environment, health condition and occupational injuries, diseases and accidents

Coping strategies

Association/trade unions role

Recommendation on effective solution of OHS in gender sensitive way

Research Objectives

5

Kathmandu Valley

Research Area and Category

6

Occupational Group

Male Street

Vendors

Female Street

VendorsFood 27 45

Perishable 45 58Durable 52 73Total 124 176

7

Methodology

Explorative, Descriptive and Cross-sectional

Primary Data

Questionnaire survey

Key informants interview

In-depth interview

FGD

Observation

Findings and Discussion

8

Educational Status

9

51.1

21.6

9.1

16.5

1.7 0

24.226.6

11.3

27.4

7.33.2

0

20

40

60

80

100

Illiterate Literate Primary Secondary Higher Secondary

UnderGraduate

Educ

ation

Sta

tus

(%)

Female

Male

Monthly Income

10

Average monthly income NRs.11,805 (F) and NRs.11,964 (M)

0

20

40

60

80

100

Food

Peri

shab

le

Dur

able

Tota

l

Food

Peri

shab

le

Dur

able

Tota

l

Food

Peri

shab

le

Dur

able

Tota

l

Food

Peri

shab

le

Dur

able

Tota

l

Food

Peri

shab

le

Dur

able

Tota

l

NRs. 1000-5000 NRs. 5001-10000 NRs. 10001-15000 NRs. 15001-20000 NRs. 20001-90000

Inco

me

(%)

Female

Male

Working Hours

Types of occupational group

Working hoursTotal

4-9 10-15

FoodFemale 21 (46.7) 24 (53.3) 45 (100)

Male 16 (59.3) 11 (40.7) 27 (100)

PerishableFemale 38 (65.5) 20 (35.4) 58 (100)

Male 23 (51.1) 22 (48.9) 45 (100)

DurableFemale 42 (57.5) 31 (42.5) 73 (100)

Male 12 (23.1) 40 (76.9) 52 (100)

TotalFemale 101 (57.4) 75 (42.6) 176 (100)

Male 51 (41.1) 73 (58.9) 124 (100)

Average working hour 8.93 F and 10.27 M

Average HH work hour 4.7 (F)

11

Physical hazardsRoof Drinking waterLighting systemToiletTransportation

Environmental hazardsGarbage and construction siteAir, noise pollution

Mental hazardsHarassmentWork burden

Main OHS Issues and Vulnerability

12

13

Types of injuries/diseases/accidents by Gender Status

Cold/cough (91.3% F; 92.7%M)

Body, Legs, Hands, Joint, Backbone Pain (84.3%F; 85.4%M)

Chest Pain (61.9% F; 59.1% M)

Gastritis (51.3% F; 57.3% M)

Headache (64.3% F; 51.9%M)

Swollen hands/leg (35% F) Distended abdomen (1.8% F) Jaundice/tuberculosis/typhoid (12.7% M)

Fever Respiratory problem Hearing loss Throat problem Pain during urination Skin allergy

34.1% of women and 5.6% of men report of reproductive health problem

Reproductive Health Issues

14

4.03%1.60%

94.37%

Male

18.80%

14.80%

19.30%

2.80%2.30%2.80%

65.90%

Female Lower abdominal pain

Menstrual disorder

Severe pain during menstruation

No sexual desire

Pain during cohabitation

Other

Not Related to Vending or No Problem Reported

Found difference in saying and implementing more among women

More preference on family health, i.e. husband and children

Out of 300, 68.3% does not seek medical attainment that comprise 37.7% F and 30.6% M

Health Seeking Behavior

15

Medical treatments, Why Not?

16

Minor injuries (58.4% F and 56.5% M)

Lack of time (19.4% F and 4% M)

Lack of money (7.1% F and 6.5 M)

Income Level and Working Hour

Medical Treatment

Income Working hour

Low High 4-9 10-15

YesFemale

38

(21.5)

17

(9.6)

39

(22.1)

24

(13.6)

Male22

(17.7)

9

(7.2)

9

(7.3)

23

(18.6)

NoFemale

63

(35.8)

28

(15.9)

61

(34.7)

52

(29.6)

Male62

(50.0)

24

(19.3)

40

(32.2)

52

(41.9)

Education Status vs. Medical Treatment

Medical treatment

Education status

Total Illiterate

Literate

PrimarySeconda

ry

Higher seconda

ry

Under graduat

e

Yes

Female28

(15.9)

17

(9.7)

7

(3.9)

10

(5.6)

1

(0.5)

0

(0)63

Male7

(5.7)

7

(5.7)

3

(2.4)

13

(10.5)

8

(6.4)

3

(2.4)41

No

Female62

(35.3)

21

(11.9)

9

(5.2)

19

(10.8)

2

(1.2)

0

(0)113

Male23

(18.6)

26

(20.9)

11

(8.9)

21

(16.9)

1

(0.8)

1

(0.8)83

17

Knowledge on Health Hazards from Occupation

18

78.9

18.8

2.3

87

10.5

2.5

82.4

15.3

2.30

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

No Yes Some

Know

ledg

e on

hea

lth h

azar

ds f

rom

oc

cupa

tion

(%)

FemaleMaleTotal

Determine by three factors

Infrastructure (age, sex, environment, etc)

Structure (individual socio-economic status)

Super structure (education, culture, belief, fatalism, etc)

Coping Strategies: Individual Level

19

Be careful and alert

Take some interval and walk

Use umbrella (F),raincoat (M), mask (M), shawl (F), caps (M)

Consuming meat, taking massage

Antiseptic cream

Medical store, etc

Few organization NEST, GEFONT

Early stage, difficulties in organizing workers

Membership 12.3% M and 9.7% F

Advocating and lobbying with government for national and legal policy on street vending

Struggling for space management

Concern towards OHS has not become catchy

Issues of being affiliated with political institutions

Coping Strategies: Institutional Level

20

Conclusion

External Barriers

Low income earning

Educational level

Lack of time

Organization role

Internal Barriers

Socio-cultural factors like socio-cultural norms, gender role in family, patriarchal practices and attitude towards women

21

22

Recommendation

Concerned organization (trade union, NGOs, street vendors association)

launch a health campaign

introduce micro health insurance program with maternity component

creating awareness on OHS through mobilizing student, training, orientation, counseling, etc

encouraged women to unite

partner with international association (Streetnet International, WIEGO, ILO-OHS, WHO and others)

Municipal agencies and city planner Space management policy by time management

Mobile toilet

23

Acknowledgements

AIT – Government of Japan Scholarship

Dr. Philippe (Advisor)

Street Vendors in Kathmandu Valley

GEFONT, NEST

Thank You

SAFETY IS

EVERYONES REPONSIBILITY

24