In Bihar, plant closures are related to obsolete machinery, low crushing capacity and low recovery rates, all of which translates into heavy losses for the mills. Two other topics discussed at the meeting were Occupational Health and Safety and Organizing Strategies. Some 600,000 people are estimated to labour as agricultural workers, they have low levels of unionization and only negotiate wages every three years. They normally live in bamboo huts, built by themselves. Harvesting is a quite demanding physical task and workers are exposed to extreme temperatures, with no facilities available to rest nor to take care of small children.
Factory workers suffer from illnesses related to bagasse dust and the handling of chemicals.
On unionization and strategy, the participants agreed that a key move is to help organize the sugar agricultural workers as they will strengthen the workers' organization and improve their capacity for negotiation. The delegates also participated in group discussions which focused on wages, occupational health, restructuring and liberalization programs. Wishing you a Happy New Year.