Guilherme Guimarães Feliciano comments on an ILO report, which states that around 70% of workers already have their health affected by global climate problems

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https://jornal.usp.br/?p=748433
April 25, 2024 – Published 1 month ago

Climate change already affects the health of 70% of workers worldwide. The data is from a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO). The document states that occupational safety and health measures are struggling to adapt to this new reality. Professor Guilherme Guimarães Feliciano, from the Department of Labor Law at the Faculty of Law (FD) of the University of São Paulo, discusses the consequences of these new phenomena on workers’ quality of life.

According to the report, it is common for workers to be the first segment of the population to suffer from the new risks generated by climate change. “The changes especially affect the poorest workers, particularly in the safety and health of informal and seasonal workers.”

The data revealed by the report is concerning. More than 1 billion workers are exposed to air pollution, which is directly related to 860,000 deaths among outdoor workers. Among agricultural workers, it is noted that 870 million were likely exposed to pesticides, directly linking this number to 300,000 deaths attributed to poisoning and 15,000 deaths resulting from exposure to parasitic diseases. Additionally, in 2020, the percentage of workers affected by climate change was 71%.

Legislation

Guilherme Guimarães Feliciano – Photo: Arquivo Pessoal

The professor points out that there has been a deterioration in the legislative approach to this issue in recent years. “In the Bolsonaro government, for example, the Ministry of Labor was abolished. Issues such as health, workplace hygiene, and safety were all transferred to the Ministry of Economy. Today, the Ministry has been reinstated, but it does not address the prevention of problems; instead, it deals with extra compensation in cases of exposure to hazardous conditions,” he explains.

The professor explains that, in regulatory norm number 15, annex 3, heat is treated as a hazardous condition and states that, in case of a worker’s exposure to an unhealthy condition, the company must pay an additional salary, depending on the risk level of the working conditions. “For a medium risk level, an additional 20% on top of the minimum wage is provided, for example,” he adds. He also mentions that this law was changed in 2019, now recognizing only heat from artificial sources as eligible for the hazardous condition bonus.

“Rural workers, for example, are exposed not only to heat but also to so-called agricultural pesticides. They are particularly exposed to natural heat, and ultimately, Brazilian legislation ends up being a constraint for Labor Justice. These workers do not have this protection nor the right to the additional compensation because the change now only includes cases of heat from artificial sources. This was a very negative change,” he comments.

Gaps for the Future

The specialist also discusses the unpreparedness of institutions for the future effects of these changes. He explains that, especially in the Northern Hemisphere of Brazil, the changes can have severe consequences that Brazilian legislation has not yet addressed. “The distinct seasons are starting to disappear, and it is practically hot all year round. Combined with humid environments, we have a much higher proliferation of insects. With them come diseases and pests. This impacts not only the health of the country but also the economy. More sick people means more people using social security resources. The current case of dengue is an example of this; the disease affects public health and overall productivity by keeping workers away from their activities. These indirect effects are still not on the agenda,” concludes Feliciano.