Can Better Working Conditions Improve the Performance of SMEs? An International Literature Review

[Excerpt] It is widely recognized that competitive private enterprise is the principal source of economic growth and wealth globally and makes a substantial contribution to poverty reduction. Although large and multinational enterprises have the higher public profile, the majority of businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). They are estimated to be responsible for over 50 per cent of the new jobs created globally and, in most developing and emerging countries, they also employ more people than do large enterprises. Given their importance as employers, SMEs clearly have the potential to contribute to the social and economic progress for workers and their communities. However, many SMEs – particularly those in developing and emerging countries – are not achieving this potential. Frequently, their employment is in low-quality and low-skilled jobs that offer low wages under poor and unsafe working conditions. In addition, SMEs often fall short in terms of productivity, competitiveness and market share. The ILO has long been convinced that, by improving working conditions, safety and skills in SMES, productivity and profitability can also be improved: a win-win scenario that is good for workers, enterprise owner, communities and economies. In June 2012, specialists from four ILO departments came together to implement a joint programme of work to explore how to help and encourage SMEs to achieve this. This independent research review was commissioned by ILO in order to contribute to establishing a solid empirical basis for future research and interventions. It reviews the empirical relevance of the assumption that a win-win scenario exists in SMEs, especially in the context of developing economies. It also seeks to identify the factors or conditions that influence its emergence. More broadly, the report builds upon a thorough review of international literature to present responses to a range of enquiries relating to the links between working conditions, safety and health, skills and productivity. Not surprisingly, the answers contained in this report are often conditional and are far from categorical. Although the report suggests that a win−win scenario may exist, in certain circumstances, it also underlines that more empirical research is needed, particularly in developing and emerging economies

The OHS regulatory challenges posed by agency workers: evidence From Australia

Labour leasing or agency labour (also known as labour hire in Australia and New Zealand) is a rapidly growing work arrangement in most if not all industrialized countries. Unlike the two-party employer/employee relationship, labour leasing establishes a three-party or triangular relationship between the worker, the agency that supplies them and the host employer. There is emerging evidence that this triangular relationship, in combination with the temporary nature of most placements, poses particular problems for laws regulating employment conditions (industrial relations, occupational health and safety (OHS), and workers’ compensation/social security) and the agencies administering them. This paper examines recent Australian experience with regard to protecting the health and safety of agency workers, drawing on detailed interviews and workplace visits with inspectors, as well as analysis of statutory provisions, documentary records (such as reports and guidance material), and enforcement activity (notably prosecutions) by OHS agencies

Representing miners in arrangements for health and safety in coalmines: a study of current practice

This article explores the operation of regulatory provisions for worker occupational health and safety (OHS) representation in coalmining in Australia. Using data on inspections, combined with qualitative interviews, it looks at what occurs in a generally hostile labour relations climate and what supports or constrains representation in this scenario. It finds evidence of the engagement of worker representatives with serious risks in coalmining. By using the various means with which they are provided by regulatory measures, they make a significant contribution to the operation of the regulatory strategy of enforced self-regulation of OHS management. They are successful in doing so despite the unsupportive climate of labour relations in which they are frequently situated. However, the study poses questions concerning the fit of this approach with increasingly dominant versions of OHS management pursued by large and globally active corporations and discusses some implications of this for policy and further study

A study of the role of workers' representatives in health and safety arrangements in coal mines in Queensland

Coal mining is a dangerous industry which demands a strong emphasis on ensuring the protection of miners' health, safety and well being. This study investigates the role and effectiveness of health & safety reps in Queensland Coal Mines and was undertaken by the Cardiff Work Environment Research Centre at Cardiff University in Wales, UK. The aim of the study is to contribute further knowledge of the effectiveness of the role of worker reps in managing those risks. Early mining disasters resulting in the deaths of many mineworkers highlighted the need for unions to take a proactive role in ensuring their own safety. Originally known as check inspectors, they were first appointed by unions in the Hunter Valley in the 1870s, and in Queensland they gained statutory recognition in 1915. The study, which can be downloaded as the full report or in summary form, is specifically focused on the experience of representative participation in Queensland coal mines

Congenital Malaria in Newborns Presented at Tororo General Hospital in Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Despite recent large-scale investments, malaria remains a major public health concern. Few studies have examined congenital malaria, defined as the presence of malaria parasitemia within the first 7 days of life, in endemic areas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, to describe the clinical presentation, and to examine factors associated with congenital malaria in newborns aged up to 7 days attending Tororo General Hospital in Uganda. A total of 261 mother/baby pairs were recruited in this cross-sectional study. Giemsa-stained thick blood smears for malaria parasites and rapid malaria diagnostic tests were performed on capillary blood samples from all newborns and mothers, as well as on placental and cord samples from newborns delivered in the hospital. The prevalence of congenital malaria in the newborns was 16/261 (6.1%). No single clinical feature was associated with congenital malaria. However, there were associations between congenital malaria and maternal parasitemia (P < 0.001), gravidity of one (P = 0.03), maternal age < 19 years (P = 0.01), cord blood parasitemia (P = 0.01), and placental malaria (P = 0.02). In conclusion, congenital malaria is not rare in Uganda and there are no obvious clinical features associated with it in the newborn. Based on these findings, we recommend strengthening malaria prevention during pregnancy to reduce the occurrence of congenital malaria in newborns

A study of the role of workers' representatives in health and safety arrangements in coal mines in Queensland

Coal mining is a dangerous industry which demands a strong emphasis on ensuring the protection of miners' health, safety and well being. This study investigates the role and effectiveness of health & safety reps in Queensland Coal Mines and was undertaken by the Cardiff Work Environment Research Centre at Cardiff University in Wales, UK. The aim of the study is to contribute further knowledge of the effectiveness of the role of worker reps in managing those risks. Early mining disasters resulting in the deaths of many mineworkers highlighted the need for unions to take a proactive role in ensuring their own safety. Originally known as check inspectors, they were first appointed by unions in the Hunter Valley in the 1870s, and in Queensland they gained statutory recognition in 1915. The study, which can be downloaded as the full report or in summary form, is specifically focused on the experience of representative participation in Queensland coal mines

Bayesian regression filter and the issue of priors

We propose a Bayesian framework for regression problems, which covers areas which are usually dealt with by function approximation. An online learning algorithm is derived which solves regression problems with a Kalman filter. Its solution always improves with increasing model complexity, without the risk of over-fitting. In the infinite dimension limit it approaches the true Bayesian posterior. The issues of prior selection and over-fitting are also discussed, showing that some of the commonly held beliefs are misleading. The practical implementation is summarised. Simulations using 13 popular publicly available data sets are used to demonstrate the method and highlight important issues concerning the choice of priors

Promoting students’ interest through culturally sensitive curricula in higher education

Previous studies have emphasized culturally sensitive curricula in the context of enhancing minoritized students’ education. We examined the relationship between second-year higher education students’ perceptions of the cultural sensitivity of their curriculum and both majoritized and minoritized students’ interest in their course. A total of 286 (228 F) students rated the cultural sensitivity of their curriculum on six scales using a revised version of the Culturally Sensitive Curricula Scales (CSCS-R), the perceived quality of their relationships with teachers, and their interest. The CSCS-R widened the construct with two new scales and showed better reliability. Ethnic minority students (n = 99) perceived their curriculum as less culturally sensitive than White students (n = 182), corroborating previous findings. Black students perceived their curriculum as less culturally sensitive than Asian students. There were no significant differences between ethnic minority and White students on interest or perceived quality of relationships with teachers. Five dimensions of cultural sensitivity (Diversity Represented, Positive Depictions, Challenge Power, Inclusive Classroom Interactions, Culturally Sensitive Assessments) and perceived quality of relationships with teachers predicted interest. Ethnicity did not. Ensuring curricula and assessments represent diversity positively, challenge power and are inclusive may support students’ interest while reflecting an increasingly diverse society

CONTRA: copy number analysis for targeted resequencing

Motivation: In light of the increasing adoption of targeted resequencing (TR) as a cost-effective strategy to identify disease-causing variants, a robust method for copy number variation (CNV) analysis is needed to maximize the value of this promising technology

Resilience and development: Mobilizing for transformation

In 2014, the Third International Conference on the resilience of social-ecological systems chose the theme “resilience and development: mobilizing for transformation.” The conference aimed specifically at fostering an encounter between the experiences and thinking focused on the issue of resilience through a social and ecological system perspective, and the experiences focused on the issue of resilience through a development perspective. In this perspectives piece, we reflect on the outcomes of the meeting and document the differences and similarities between the two perspectives as discussed during the conference, and identify bridging questions designed to guide future interactions. After the conference, we read the documents (abstracts, PowerPoints) that were prepared and left in the conference database by the participants (about 600 contributions), and searched the web for associated items, such as videos, blogs, and tweets from the conference participants. All of these documents were assessed through one lens: what do they say about resilience and development? Once the perspectives were established, we examined different themes that were significantly addressed during the conference. Our analysis paves the way for new collective developments on a set of issues: (1) Who declares/assign/cares for the resilience of what, of whom? (2) What are the models of transformations and how do they combine the respective role of agency and structure? (3) What are the combinations of measurement and assessment processes? (4) At what scale should resilience be studied? Social transformations and scientific approaches are coconstructed. For the last decades, development has been conceived as a modernization process supported by scientific rationality and technical expertise. The definition of a new perspective on development goes with a negotiation on a new scientific approach. Resilience is presently at the center of this negotiation on a new science for development. (Résumé d'auteur