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Chapter24-WorkandWorkersWORKANDWORKERSFredaL.PaltielTheWorldHealthOrganizationconceptof“HealthforAll”envisionsastateofhealthwhichenablespersonstoleadeconomicallyandsociallyproductivelives.Thisiscontrarytotheguidingindividualisticpreceptof“economicman”,whoseeksonlytosatisfyorimprovehiseconomicwell-being.Moreover,aswere-contemplatetheworldofwork,itistimetorethinkthenotionof“humanresources”or“humancapital”,aconceptwhichviewshumansasexpendableeconomicinstruments,diminishingtheiressentialandtranscendentalhumanity.Andhowvalidisthe“dependencyratio”concept,whichviewsallyoungerandolderpersonsasnon-productivedependants?Thusourpreceptsandcurrentpracticessubordinateorsubverttheideaofthesocietytothatoftheeconomy.Advocatesofhumandevelopmentemphasizetheneedforrobusteconomiesasenginesforthesatisfactionofsocietalneeds,throughtheequitableproduction,distributionandenjoymentofgoodsandservices.Whentheemphasisisundulyplacedontheeconomy,thefamilyisviewedmerelyastheunitwhichproduces,maintainsandrestoresworkers;fromthisviewpoint,thefamilymustaccommodatetoworkdemands,andtheworkplaceisabsolvedofaccommodationtoharmonizeworkandfamilylife.TheILOWorkerswithFamilyResponsibilitiesConvention,1981(No.156),hasbeenratifiedbyonly19states,incontrastwiththeUnitedNations’ConventionontheEliminationofDiscriminationAgainstWomeninAllItsForms,whichhasbeenratifiedbynearlyallitsmembers.TheILOfoundthatveryfewcountriesreportedtheadoptionandimplementationofexplicitnationalpoliciescoveringmenandwomenworkerswithfamilyresponsibilities,inaccordancewiththeConvention.TheWorldBankHumanDevelopmentprojectscurrentlyaccountforonly17%ofloans.TheWorldBankinrecentreportshasrecognizedtheimportanceofinvestmentsinhealthandeducation,andhasacknowledgedthatasignificantnumberofdevelopmentmega-projectshavefailedbecausetheylackedtheparticipationofintendedbeneficiaries.Inavisionstatementforthefuture,theBank’spresidenthasindicatedthattherewouldbegreateremphasisonenvironmentaleffectsandonhumandevelopmenttosupporteducation,nutrition,familyplanningandimprovementinthestatusofwomen.Butthereisstillaconceptuallag.Weareenteringthetwenty-firstcenturyanachronisticallysaddledwiththephilosophiesandtheoriesofthenineteenth.SigmundFreud(despiteconferringhismantleonhisdaughter)believedthatwomenwiththeirunstablesuperegosweremorallyaswellasbiologicallydeficient;AdamSmithtaughtusthattheservantgirl,unlikethefactoryworker,wasnoteconomicallyproductive,whileCharlesDarwinbelievedinthe“survivalofthefittest”.Inthischapterwepresentessaysonthetransformationofwork,onthenewtechnologiesandtheirimplicationsforworkerwell-being,andonvariousformsofexploitationofworkers.Weconsidertheneedsofwomenworkersandthechallengeswefaceinmaximizinghumanpotential.Theworldhasarrivedatacrossroads.Itcancontinueonthepathofneoclassicaleconomicsand“SocialDarwinism”,withunequalandinequitabledevelopment,withwasteanddisparagementofhumancapabilities.Or,itcanoptforhealthypublicpolicy,nationallyandinternationally.Healthypublicpolicyisaimedatreducinginequities,buildingsupportiveandsustainableenvironmentsandenhancinghumancopingandcontrol.Toaccomplishthiswerequiredemocraticinstitutionsthataretransparent,responsive,accountable,responsibleandtrulyrepresentative.SHIFTINGPARADIGMSANDPOLICIESFredaL.PaltielAlthoughthisarticlefocusestoalargeextentonwomen,itisactuallyabouthumans,andhumansasworkers.Al...