These are the words of Kishore, coordinator of the Paradigm Shift project team working in the Ballikurava region of Andhra Pradesh, India. Together with team members Adil, Kalam and Lakshman, he is working to improve the conditions of granite workers in the area.
The health and safety of granite workers in Ballikurava
Ballikurava is known for its granite production, with 35 quarries and 155 factories employing around 5000 workers. Most of them are young men between the ages of 18 and 35 who come from other regions of India such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. The granite from Ballikurava is exported internationally, with a significant proportion going to European markets, where it is used to make kitchen countertops and headstones.
Visit to a granite quarry
Kishore is responsible for liaising with the quarry and factory owners. Every day he travels around the area on his motorcycle, visiting quarries and factories and talking to the owners about health and safety, and issues such as age verification and wages.
“Yesterday, a new set of PPE purchased by the owner was given to the workers at one factory.”
As there are many factories in this area and we have a small team, we cannot cover them all,’ says Kishore. So, this year we are focusing on 20 factories and 10 quarries. ‘We talk to the owners about the importance of using personal protective equipment (PPE), which includes helmets, safety glasses, earplugs, gloves, masks and safety shoes. Most of the workers do not have any of this, even though they are working with heavy materials that pose serious risks for various types of accidents. This is a first step towards discussing other labour rights topics with the owners. Fortunately, we are making progress with the factory owners. Yesterday, a new set of PPE purchased by the owner was given to the workers at one factory. We hope that they will start to use them, and we will be monitoring this in the coming weeks.’
The introduction of PPE at a factory in Ballikurava
Information sessions and training for workers
Adil and Kalam are responsible for organising information sessions and training with the workers. They travel around the area every day to meet workers and explain the importance of PPE. Due to various climatic and behavioural issues, they often tend to ignore the need to wear PPE while working. Most of the migrant workers speak Hindi, while Telugu is the most widely spoken language in the area. With their knowledge of Hindi, Adil and Kalam have easy access to the workers.
Today Adil meets a group of quarry workers at the shelter where they live. The two-room building is home to around 15-20 workers who live there when they are not working. The conditions are basic, with 7-10 workers living in one room, no sanitation and only a small stove for cooking. Adil gathers the workers together and shows them all the equipment they need for protection. They discuss the use of the different items and how they can protect them from health risks. The workers share that they have asked the owner to provide them with these items, but they have not received any. The project team explains that they are trying to convince the quarry owners to provide PPE to all their workers. At the same time, Adil urges the workers to keep talking to their contractors and factory owners to demand their rights.
“It helps when European buyers intervene and ask their suppliers questions.”
After this informative talk, Adil and Kalam travel to another factory where they organise an interactive training session with the workers on occupational health risks. A group of 15 workers draw a map of the factory and its surroundings on the floor with coloured chalk powder, identifying the different risks. Not only are the large cutting machines in the factory a safety hazard, but the water tanks and the electrical transformer just outside their living quarters can also be dangerous. All the workers actively participate in this training, which provides a clear new understanding of health and safety in the workplace. ‘In this way we try to increase their knowledge and understanding. At the same time, we advocate for more safety measures to be implemented by the owners,’ explains Adil.
Working for the benefit of the workers
‘It is difficult to get in touch with the quarry owners,’ explains Kishore. ‘They are reluctant to talk to us and it is difficult to get direct access to the quarries. It helps when European buyers intervene and ask their suppliers questions. Especially if they can explain that our project team is working for the benefit of the workers, it might help to get more direct access.’ His team is part of a project initiated by Arte Group, a Dutch company that makes kitchen worktops. With support from RVO’s Fund to End Child Labour, Arte has engaged its Indian supplier, Arisa, the MV Foundation and Paradigm Shift to address social issues in its supply chain. In the Netherlands, Arisa is informing other natural stone companies about the work of the team in Ballikurava and asking them to facilitate contact between their suppliers and the team.
Workers with their new PPE in a factory in Ballikurava
During factory visits, the project team also looks at age verification. Indian law prohibits minors from working in the natural stone industry, and as most of the workers are young adults, it is important to verify their age. ‘We explain to the factory owners how to check the identity documents,’ says Kishore. ‘At the same time, we observe the workers when we visit their homes and workplaces.’
Tackling child labour
Recently, Lakshman was in a factory and noticed a young worker who was clearly under 18. ‘I spoke to him and asked him where he was from and how old he was. He told me he was 18 and had recently come from Assam (northeast India) with a friend. He said he had left his identity papers at home, so it was impossible for us to check his age. Everything in me said he was only 16 or 17 years old. In such cases, I contact MV Foundation, the project partner that specialises in tackling child labour, to see if they can help the young worker return home and secure compensation. At the same time, we discuss the issue with the employer so that he takes responsibility and avoids this kind of problem in the future.’
An industry dependent on migrant workers
‘The labour force in the Ballikurava region is not stable. Most migrant workers stay less than a year and then return to their home states. Some come back, others look for another job. The granite industry depends on migrant workers,” explains Kishore. ‘The locals are not interested in doing this hard work for low pay, they have better options. The workers are hired through contractors who bring them here, provide them with accommodation, food and transport, and put them to work in a quarry or factory’.
As a contract worker, it is difficult to prove employment with the quarry or factory, and in the event of an accident, it is difficult to claim compensation. For this reason, the project team is now working with various contractors and factory owners to formally register both contractors and workers. ‘This is an important step as it will formalise the working relationship and give workers more rights,’ says Kishore. ‘Currently, two contractors have started the registration process and three more are planning to do so. In total, they employ around 150 workers who will benefit.’
Continuation of the work
Over the coming months, the team will continue their work in the hope of achieving a positive impact for the granite workers. Kishore is happy with the team. ‘Adil, Kalam, Lakshman and I all have different qualities and experiences and that makes us a good team. We divide the tasks according to our abilities. We learn a lot from each other and that helps us grow personally. It also has a positive impact on our work.’
