labour exploitation, absenteeism and industrial ...

ISSN: 2249-9903 Journal of Frontline Research in Arts and Science Vol. 01 (2011) : 37-43, Research Paper

LABOUR EXPLOITATION, ABSENTEEISM AND INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF ASSAM : A SOCIO-PHILOSOPHICAL STUDY *PARISMITA CHETIA1, RANJIT BHATTACHARYYA2 & C. K. GOGOI3 1 Department of Sociology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam. 2 Department of Philosophy, J. B. College, Jorhat, Assam. 3 Department of Sociology, Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh, Assam. *(Corresponding author: [email protected]) Abstract In this paper an attempt has been made to find out how the industrial workers are exploited in the context of their facilities, incentives, welfare schemes, wages etc. which immensely affect on workers mindset and ultimately leads to absenteeism in two industries of Namrup viz. Namrup thermal power station (N.T.P.S.) and Assam Petro Chemicals Limited. (A.P.L.). An attempt has also been made to find out the moral or the ethical reasons due to which the workers of two industries seem to remain absent from their works. Key words: Labour Exploitation, Absenteeism, Industrial Worker, Socio-Philosophy, Assam

INTRODUCTION The study of human relations in the establishment of industries is not a new phenomenon. A number of studies have been conducted by various sociologists and scholars in the field of human relation at work. The study of work and worker’s problem is definitely a prominent field of enquiry in the context of modern industrial organization. Studies have suggested various dimensions of labour exploitation which leads to absenteeism among the industrial workers of Namrup viz; the two industries Namrup thermal power station (N.T.P.S.) and Assam Petro Chemicals Limited. (A.P.L.) Since industrialization has been a significant phenomenon in Indian context, a host of sociophilosophical factors of workers have been a concern for study; when productive control and efficiency of Industrial management are kept in view. Industrialization has played a dominant role in the socio-economic development of the underdeveloped countries. In early fifties after independence Indian Government has introduced the progress of Industrialization as a conscious and deliberate policy of socioeconomic growth. During 1960 to 1980 a good number of studies have already been conducted by social scientists and scholars in industrial setting in western thought, particularly in American Mills and factories. These studies in general were concerned with the study of some major areas of 37

Journal of Forntline Research/01/37-43

P. Chetia, R. Bhattacharyya & C. K. Gogoi

Industrial organization such as social relations in organizations role of trade union management, organizational system of the factories, worker’s job satisfaction, management procedures in industry and also studying psychology of the workers. In India, application of sociological approach to industry and industrial organizations seems to be vibrant due to increasing problem faced in this industry. A number of studies and inquiries suggest that remaining absent from work, duties responsibilities and non attachment to normative values of society have got attentions having universal prominence, so the studies on absenteeism among workers in an organized situation are simply a direction to this context. Significantly, here we mention the name of B.R. Sharma[1], K.N. Vaid[2], Herbert Blumer[3], Szubertetal and Sabala[4], Rolen et. al.[5], Virtanen et.al[6]. Rowhala et. al.[7]. They have tried to find out the problem of absenteeism in various angles. B.R. Sharma pointed out that socioeconomic variables and involvement with unions have importance in studying absenteeism. Vaid referred to entrepreneurs, status seekers, sick workers, old workers and family oriented absentees. H. Blumer argued that problem of absenteeism is used the direct outcome of industrialization, but a product of large number of variables, covering social, economic and cultural background of the workforce. Szubert and Sabala, Rolen etal, Virtanen etal, Rowhala et al. opined that sickness, long term disease, unfit health condition, psychic distress have also been reported as causes of absenteeism among workers in general western industrial setup. There is another reason due to which the workers seem to remain absent from their works. Each and every profession is based on certain norms. There is a branch in ethics called professional ethics[8]. We are having different professions and cannot go against the ideals of our own professions. A doctor’s profession is to treat his patients properly to try his best to save his patient’s life, a student’s professions is to study properly, a teacher’s profession is to teach honestly. So, each and every individual living in a society is having his own profession in accordance with his qualities. But while engaging in their own professions, they must maintain the ethics of their own professions. There are so many important reasons of absenteeism of the workers in the industries. But the real cause of labour exploitation and absenteeism is the lack of morality on the part of the managements and the lack of morality on the part of the management and lack of knowledge of professional ethics[8,9,10]. The managements of the industries have no respect to their own professions. Their duty is to create an atmosphere in which the workers can work properly happily and dedicatedly. But if the management or the industrialist try to neglect their professions problems arises. The workers work non – voluntarily under the pressure of their managements so it is difficult to judge rightnen and wrongnen of their actions. They are often influenced by some psychological factors which may cause absenteeism. On the other hand, the industrialists perform their duties voluntarily. If they want they can respect their professions and their workers. Moreover this problem of labour exploitation and absenteeism can be observed from an another stand point. Now-a-days man seems to be materialistic day by day. The owners of the 38


Labour Exp., Absent. and Ind. Workers of Assam : A Socio-philosophical Study

industries often make distinctions between them and their workers; which creates two classes viz; capitalists and the proletariats or the workers. The capitalist treat their workers as lower than themselves and exploit them. This can distinction is against humanism. Due to the de-humanistic nature of the industrialists, the workers often remain absent from their works. ANALYSIS The entitled work was based on case study with 100 respondents from two industries and interview scheduled, observation are the major tools for data collection. Further a detailed observational guide is prepared to collect all sorts of secondary data for study. Here, Namrup is an urban industrial small town. Administratively, Namrup is located within Dibrugarh district and its today an important industrial town of upper Assam. There are three industrial organizations at Namrup, these are Brahmaputra valley fertilizer corporation Ltd. (B.V.F.C.L.), Assam Petro Chemicals Ltd. (A.P.L.) and Namrup Thermal Power Station (NTPS). We have selected two industries for this study. These two industries – The Assam Petro Chemicals Ltd. (A.P.L.) and second one is the Namrup Thermal Power Station (N.T.P.S.) In this present study, the age group of (20–30) young workers are comparatively less absent than the workers of the age group of (51–60) because newly appointed young workers are more energetic and their family problems are comparatively much less than the old ones. Table 1: Age group of the respondents Name of the Industry A.P.L.

N.T.P.S.

Age group 20 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 – 60 Total

No’s of respondents 15 7 11 17 50

Percentage 30% 14% 22% 34% 100%

20 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 – 60 Total

15 11 5 19 50

30% 22% 10% 38% 100%

From the Table 1, it has been analysed that maximum of the respondents belonging to the age group of (51–60) in both the industries are found to be absent from their works. From economic profile of the respondents it is highlighted that N.T.P.S. respondents are deprived from high salary from their work which creates problem in maintaining their family in terms of children, high admission fees in their educational institutions, marriage of children, social ceremonies etc. There is gap between the number of family members and their expenditure. 39



In this way, the expenditure is higher than the income. This leaves them with no alternative and ultimately results in their debt. In contrast, the respondents of A.P.L. provide high amount of salary to maintain their family but the other causes i.e., waste of income by their regular indulgence in alcohol compel them to remain in debt and creates psychological disturbance in them, therefore leading to absenteeism in industries. From Table 2, it is seen that in both industries, the respondents have more or less family problems due to high expenditure. In some cases it is found that the family burden compels the workers to remain in debt sometimes the personal habits like (alcoholism) highly affects their economic condition. Table 2: Economic condition of the respondents Name of the Industry A.P.L.

Economic Condition Family burden Salary expenditure Debt Personal Habits Total


Percentage

N.T.P.S.

Family burden Salary expenditure Debt Personal Habits Total

25 5 9 11 50

50% 10% 18% 22% 100%

44% 18% 8% 34% 100%

Organizational reasons which exploit the workers such as job-satisfaction, motivation recreation facility, salary, commitment to work, occupational satisfaction, alienation housing facility etc. Consequently leads to absenteeism in two industries. In A.P.L. the respondents are dissatisfied due to lack of promotion. Promotion is the prime factor i.e., 34% respondents are exploited from promotion in accordance with qualification or performance of their work on the other hand 4% is the lowest respondents which remain absent from work due to lack of adequate welfare facilities (Table 3).

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Table 3: Reasons of dissatisfaction of respondents A.P.L.

Responses

Nos. respondents 4 17 welfare 2

Low Income Promotion Lake of adequate facilities Nature of work House of work Dissatisfaction with seniors Dissatisfaction with Juniors TOTAL N.T.P.S. Low Income Promotion Lack of adequate welfare facilities Nature of work House of work Dissatisfaction with seniors Dissatisfaction with Juniors TOTAL

of Percentage 8% 34% 4%

7 10 4 6 50

14% 20% 8% 12% 100%

15 9 11

30% 18% 22%

5 3 4 3 50

10% 6% 8% 6% 100%

Table 4: Medical facility of the respondents

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Name of the Industry A.P.L.

Sufficient or not Yes No Total

No’s of respondents 39 11 50

N.T.P.S.

Percentage 78% 22% 100%

Yes No Total

13 37 50

26% 74% 100%



From Table 4, it is observed that highest medical facility provide to A.P.L. workers is 78% and the lowest medical facility offered to the N.T.P.S. workers which is 26%. The chemical gas evolved in A.P.L. causes many physical problems and this is the reason why their medical facility is so good. Table 5: Do the workers feel dissatisfied with the immoral nature of their management? Name of Industry A.P.L.

N.T.P.S.

the Age group

Percentage

20 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 – 60 Total


20 – 30 31 – 40 41 – 50 51 – 60 Total

5 6 10 29 50

10 % 12% 20% 58% 100%

10% 10% 26% 54% 100%

From the above table it is clear that in A.P.L. (51–60) age group of respondents highest i.e., 54% feel dissatisfied with the immoral nature of their management and in the same way in the organization N.T.P.S. shows highest i.e., 58% feel dissatisfied with the immoral nature of their owners. CONCLUSIONS In this present study the age group of (20–30) young workers comparatively less absent than the workers of the age group of (51–60). Because newly appointed young workers are more energetic and their family problems are comparatively much less than old ones. But there is another factor by which the workers of the age group of (51–60) are influenced. Since they have already worked so many years, they feel dissatisfied with the immoral and de-humanistic nature of their management. They are familiar with the immoral nature of their management. For that reason they gradually feel detached towards their duties. On the other hand the young workers having age of (20–30) can not feel the immorality of their management. They feel happy to get appointed to the new job. So they want to be present in their works as much as possible. They are unable to feel that they are being exploited by their management. SUGGESTIONS 1. We would like to suggest that the management of these two industries should try to 42



respect their own professions. Until and unless they maintain the ethics of their professions, the problem of absenteeism will not be vanished. They should try to develop their moral faculty so that their workers will get the desired value on their works. By maintaining the ethics of their own professions, they can very easily solve the problem of absenteeism. No doubt, the labourers have so many problems. But if the managements work and behave as moral being, the workers will be able to overcome other problems. 2. The management should not be materialistic. Materialism is never welcome. It will destroy civilization. The management of these two industries should not be make distinction between them and their workers. The management should try to understand the problems of their workers and should try to solve their problems. Because, without the workers, an industry cannot be survive. They should try to be sympathetic towards their workers. REFERENCES 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

7. 8. 9. 10.

Sharma B.R. 1970. Absenteeism: A search for correlates. Indian Journal of Industrial Relation. 3: 268-289. Vaid K.N. 1967. Papers on absenteeism, Asia Publishing House, Bombay. P 51. Blumer H. 1964. Early Industrialization and Labour Class. The Sociological Quarterly. 1: 5-14. Szubert Z., Sobala W. 2004. Health reasons for workers disability among persons before going into early retirement. Medical Profession. 55(3): 249-255. Rolen C.A., van der Pol T.R., Koopmans P.C. and Goroothoff J.W. 2006. Indentifying workers at risk of sickness absence by questionnaires. Occup. Med. (Lond.), LVI(7): 442-446. Viratanen M., Vahtera J., Pentti J., Honkonen T., Elovainio M. and Kivimaki M. 2007. Job Strain and Psychological distress influence on sickness absence among Finnish employee, Ame. Jour. Prev. Med. XXXIII(3): 182-187. Rowhala A. et.al. 2007, Absenteesim among the Nurses”, Journal of advance nursing 57(3):pp286-95. Durkheim E. 1957. Professional Ethics’ & Civic moral, Carnelia Brookfield, Rouledge & Kagan Paul Ltd. London. Sinha J. 1978. A Mannual of Ethics, New Central Book Agency (P)Ltd. Kolkata. Chaliha A. 2003. Some thought on moral philosophy and professional ethics in the present day society. Beekshan. 3: 45-49.

Manuscript Accepted : 3 Nov., 2011

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