Health, Women's Work, and Industrialization - Center for Gender in ...

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also higher. In Malaysia, more of them have completed secondary
education than production workers.
In Malaysia, the Malays dominate among the rural-urban migrants. In
Singapore, the Chinese from Malaysia make up the bulk of the migrant
workers. In both countries, migrants are found more frequently
among production workers than among the clerical workforce.
While all three ethnic groups are represented in the workforce, the
Chinese are present in proportionally smaller numbers than Malays
and Indians among the production workers but in proportionally
larger numbers among the clerical workforce.
The Chi nese workers tend to be sl i ghtly 01 der and generally have a
bit more work experience than the Malay and Indian workers.
The workers earn below-average wages, although a variety of
incentives can mean income significantly higher than basic wages.
Except for mi grants, workers 1 ive with fami 1 i es -- often extended
famil i es, who provi de important househol d support services. In
Singapore, workers aspire to, and do, buy public housing.
For most producti on workers, meeti ng the producti on target is a
central feature of work which some find difficult to achieve.
Another central feature for nearly all production workers and some
clerical workers is rotating shiftwork.
Workers characterize their work as fast, pressured, and closely
supervi sed. Some consi der the work monotonous. Most do, however,
receive assistance when needed, generally from fellow workers.
Most workers spend their spare time on household activities. Some
mi ght characteri ze thei r 1 i ves as a dull routi ne -- from home to
work to work, and then back home to work some more, before sl eepi ng
and starting the whole cycle again.
Awareness of occupational health and safety is not high among
workers, although most are aware of at least the names of substances
to which they are exposed. Those working with microscopes,
chemicals, and radiation are generally more interested in health and
safety issues.
Major reasons for labor turnover include microscope work and
inability to adjust to shiftwork. This suggests a self-selection
factor among those who remain.
By and large, the workers are satisfied with their jobs, although
the level of satisfaction with their lives overall is higher. More
workers indicate an improvement, rather than worsening, in various
aspects of their lives. Workers, however, would leave their jobs,
given jobs with better pay or improved working conditions.