Global Challenges to Equity in Safety and Health at Work: Struggles for Fair Work in Southern Africa

Abstract

Weaknesses in social protection and risk management systems within workplaces and in the wider public health environment and weak investment in health insurance and health services shift a significant share of the burden of production risks onto worker communities and under-funded public services. Inequality has been constructed by powerful economic and political interests and by weak policies for channelling the benefits of globalization to those most in need. Powerful drivers of inequity are not simply addressed through technical interventions-they demand political and economic action. This paper explores the knowledge and evidence needed to impact public policy and the approaches to building political momentum for that knowledge to be used.