Work-related Illnesses and Injuries among Urban Informal Workers in Thailand
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Abstract
Informal workers lack labour law protection and struggle to control occupational hazards due to various constraints. This article reviews literature related to occupational health problems of Thai urban informal workers to explore the burden and provide recommendations. In 2022, there are 7 million urban informal workers, including taxi drivers, motorcycle taxi drivers, platform delivery riders, and others. Common hazards are occupational accidents, awkward postures, air pollution, stress and long working hours causing injuries, muscle pain, respiratory symptoms and cardiovascular disease. To prevent and address these issues effectively, it is crucial to establish an informal worker database system, maintain vigilant monitoring for early issue detection, and implement targeted measures for different occupational groups. For instance, the Ministry of Labour is registering self-employed, while the Department of Land Transport is enhancing service opportunities during health checks for driver's license renewals.
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