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

-33-
Subjective factors, especially job satisfaction, were found to be
important in health problems. In both Singapore and Malaysia, there was a
steady gradient between levels of job satisfaction and occurrence of illness
and gastrointestinal, CNS, and psychological complaints. Gastrointestinal,
CHS, and psychological complaints can be construed as all stress-related.
Reasons for leaving the job relate to some interesting antecedents in
both countries. Single workers are more likely to leave for better paying
jobs and improved working conditions, while married workers are more
inclined to work until retirement. This reflects the fact that fewer single
workers have economic burdens and that many married workers continue to work
out of economic necessity. Graveyard shift workers in Singapore, most of
whom work these odd hours out of necessity, are also more inclined to
continue working until retirement. As the interviewees indicated, many fear
that their age and lack of education would render them unemployable if they
qui t. Cl erical workers, compared with production workers, are al so more
inclined to leave for better wages; this reflects their sense of having more
skills and desiring not to be in factory work.
Workers who have not had previous employment experiences or who have not
been transferred among work areas in the same firm are much less willing to
1 eave for better wages. Intervi ew evi dence suggests that those without
varied employment experience lack confidence and fear changes in work
circumstances. By the same token, those who have been moved around are more
likely to take on new changes and challenges.
Several issues stand out in reviewing these various predisposing factors
for we ll-bei ng. One is cul ture -- that ethni city means different outlooks
and expectations. Another is working 1 ife -- in the form of job category,
shift rotation, and job experience. A third factor is marital status.
These issues affect both time management and outlook.
The results of the analyses of the various factors influencing health
and well-being can be summarized as follows:
Production workers are more likely to experience lnJuries and
illnesses and to take sick leave than are clerical workers. They
are also more likely to report eye, ear, musculoskeletal, nose and
throat, and sleep complaints.
The end-of-line area is the most hazardous work area measured by
injuries, illnesses, and a variety of other complaints. This
situation is likely to be related to the use of a variety of
chemicals and machinery. The assembly area, however, is where eye
complaints are generated.
The physical working environment has direct influence on the health
conditions of workers in specific work areas. These include:
microscope on eye sight, chemicals on skin, noise on hearing, and
ergonomic design on the musculoskeletal system. Musculoskeletal