On the other hand, the “nimble fingers” no longer belong to Slovenian women; these “nimble fingers” are in Asia now. Race has become an important constituent of this skill in the Slovene public mindset and forms part of discussions about globalization....The notion of nimble fingers, mainly presented in relation to female textile workers, is not valued in the contemporary global world. Albeit not valued highly in today’s labor market, nimble fingers are still relevant at the shop floor level. Workers’ definition of nimble fingers is however different and extends beyond purely bodily explanations: it is not merely about fingers, it also implies the knowledge to adapt quickly and be flexibile. These
characteristics are all interdependent, intensively interconnected and relate to one’s ability
and knowledge to “know the machine,” to know the way it reacts and also potential reactions
of different material processed through it. The knowledge of how to operate machines and
long working hours are important factors on the shop floor
80% of the global textile workforce is female
“It is a widely accepted fact that. Page 21. 21 the nubile fingers of children are preferred in the organic cotton fields of India”
Results: The female workers reported that their work has led to back and joint pain, continuous headache, eye pain and difficulty in breathing associated with inhaling fabric dust. Inadequate lighting, constantly sitting in one position without back rest and continuous noise from hundreds of machines makes them feel permanently tired. Further, the female workers reported that working in the factory and meeting the expectations of the families at home has doubled their workload. The doctors indicated that the physical work environment, their low job status and the nature of the job affect the health of female workers.
Conclusion: This study found that female workers in the ready-made garment industry face a high risk of health problems. Both government and non-government organizations need to be better involved in designing interventions targeting these women, to protect them from such health risks. In addition, recognition by the whole society of the important role the women play in the economy is needed, so that support by both family and society can be improved.
the production quotas are so high that they routinely
work ten to twelve hours to meet the quota. The extra
hours to meet the quota should be paid according to the
regulations, but not all factories participating in this
study fulfil this obligation. The female workers reported
that they also do not refuse to do paid overtime (above
the normal hours) as they can earn some extra money.
However, these extra hours of work make them feel sick.
Female workers reported that they suffer from headaches,
eye complaints, body aches, and fatigue. They further re-
ported that these physical illnesses have become ‘normal’
in their lives and they can live without treatment.
She worked 12-15 hours a day with no labor rights. “My fingers were bleeding, but they forced me to work grueling hours for less than two dollars a day,” she said. The rules were simple – no pay unless they finished the entire job. They played loud music to keep workers from falling asleep, and splashed cold water on their faces to wake them up.
Food was very scarce, and she was always pulling threads from her mouth when she ate. Chemical fumes sometimes stifled her breathing. At the end of the workday, she would collapse on the mountains of clothes she used as a bed. “We were fed like animals and worked like machines.”
“We are the invisible, slaves who are living, working and dying in sweatshops, and the same will happen to our children.”
A million signatures for a living wage
Sheikh’s tale of modern-day slavery is not unique. According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), nearly 50 million people are victims of this type of exploitation, a toll that has increased in recent years, and 12% of them are children.
Representations of the textile industry are
strongly interrelated with gender relations and ideologies: nimble fingers are one such
example. Even though not as highly valued in the present globalizing world, nimble fingers
are an important constituent in the identity construction of female textile workers on the shop
floor of a still-operating factory in Slovenia. This article focuses on female textile workers’
experiences of postsocialist transformation in this factory while addressing changing
meanings of work and skill in relation to the body and notions of femininity.
an uncertain future, lack of social acceptance and isolation, fears of
social stigma and being burdens on their families, our women of the
nimble fingers have become terrible victims of such a disaster.
No comments:
Post a Comment