Workers, doctors welcome TN bill on right to sit

Workers, doctors welcome TN bill on right to sit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.09.2021

The state government’s bill mandating all shops and establishments to facilitate seating arrangements for their workers and staff has brought cheer among workers and healthcare professionals.

On Monday, Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development C V Ganesan introduced a Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, making it mandatory for shops and establishments to provide seating arrangements for employees working in shops and commercial establishments.

“Considering the plight of the employees, the premises of every establishment shall have suitable seating arrangements for all employees so that they may take advantage of any opportunity to sit which may occur in the course of their work and thereby avoid ‘on their toes’ situation throughout the working hours,” the bill stated.

Women workers in large shopping centres like in T Nagar and Purasawalkam are elated at the announcement as seating arrangements for shopfloor workers and salespersons are not enough. For those with health issues, standing for hours at a stretch takes a toll on their health, doctors said.

In 2018, neighbouring Kerala passed a legislation mandating seating arrangements after women workers protested condemning the same.

Dr N Sekar, former president, Vascular Society of India, said a common health ailment in people who stand for long hours is varicose vein, found among traffic cops, sales persons, waiters and those working in factory units.

Dr Sekar explained that blood tends to stagnate in the leg for those who stand for long hours. Since veins in the calf region have to push the blood back to the heart, there has to be a movement of muscles. If left unattended, blood vessels start enlarging leading to ulcers, blood clots or chronic inflammation on legs.

“As a vascular surgeon, I feel happy about the government’s move. It provides me immense happiness that workers will be offered dignity and respect at their workplace. My hope is that other states adopt it too,” said Dr J Amalorpavanathan, Director of Vascular Surgery (Retd), Madras Medical College and member, Planning commission of Tamil Nadu.

BIG RELIEF: A worker at a textile showroom in T Nagar. A common health ailment in people who stand for long hours is varicose veins