Feminisation of Work and Health Care: Occupational health needs and access to the ESI corporation for Karnataka garmet workers

Authors: Mohan Mani and Prathibha R

Abstract 

The garment industry in Karnataka is among the largest employers in the formal sector, and has among the largest sectoral memberships of the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Corporation. Many garment workers look to the ESI to avail of outpatient medical benefits, associated benefits of paid leave, and free hospitalised care for major interventions, for themselves and their dependant family members. The medical coverage under the scheme is of significant importance to low wage workers, who could otherwise face severe financial burden. However, the ESI
Corporation is also overstretched, catering to a large number of workers and their dependents across Karnataka. The ESI Scheme covered more than 34.96 lakh workers from 96192 factories in Karnataka during the year 2018, catering to the health care needs of an estimated 1.39 crore beneficiaries. This worked out to one dispensary doctor per 76370 beneficiaries for treatment of common ailments; and one hospital bed per 11300 beneficiaries for major health interventions. Further, the ESI coverage was poorer for workers outside Bengaluru city, where the need of workers
was greater, given the lack of alternative health resources in the private sector and the grossly insufficient medical care infrastructure in the public sector. This study, covering a sample of 326 garment workers, examines the health issues faced by garment workers; attempts to relate the health issues to occupational and living conditions; and seeks to understand from the perspective of workers how the ESI scheme is addressing the needs of workers.