A Labor Perspective on ADB’s Core Labor Standards in Tajikistan
By Avilash Roul and Maya Eralieva
Kalainav, 27 July — Under the sun’s scorching heat in Kalainav, Tajikistan, around ten laborers are breaking stones and cleaning the roadside for drainage work. They seem baffled with the present work conditions provided by the ADB-funded Dushanbe-Kyrgyz Border Road Rehabilitation Project (Phase-1).
The ADB has provided millions of dollars in road project investments around Asia and the Pacific. Unfortunately, the ADB has never considered consulting its main beneficiary – the laborers whom the Bank utilizes for a huge number of road construction projects. The US$15-million Dushanbe-Kyrgyz Road, which has been taking place in a war-footing, has failed to adhere to several international labor standards.
The laborer's day begins at 7:30 am till 6:00 in the evening without any break. At the end of the day, they appear exhausted and linger off without proper care for their health. The 41-year old Umed has been toiling over this road project since 2005, and he looks as if he is 60 years old. He is restless. The sad truth is that all laborers working on the road whom we interviewed seemed as restless as Umed.
In general, the Tajik woman rarely works outside their home. Thus, the Tajik man has to work uninterruptedly to feed his wife and his family of six children. For the last two years, too many workers have not even heard about vacations.
Almost all the laborers had unanimously told us that they had requested several times for days away from work, and that the executing agency rejected most of their requests and threatened them that if they ask for leave again, their jobs would be terminated. With their skills, they have no other choice but to work on this road project -- they cannot work somewhere else. It is no surprise that the workers have found it difficult to take care of their social responsibilities, primarily their duties to their families.
Ershad, who has been working since 2006 on this road project, has recently introduced his son and nephew to the work. “The payment is very low. After one month of hard labor, we receive 480 Somoni ($ 1= 3.42 Somoni). Here, 50 kilograms of flour which is sufficient for one month for our basic needs cost 130 Somoni. So, the rest of the amount is not enough to take care of my family's other needs, like my children’s education and health requirements,” said Ershad in a faint voice.
The 74-km length of Phase I of the project starts from Dushanbe to Obigarm. The project was supposed to be finished at the end of 2007, but has been delayed till June this year. Construction work is still ongoing. Actual construction work is done from Vahdat to Obigarm. According to Project Information Unit (PIU) officer Mr. Erov F., the road has not followed state standards. After the unforgettable cold winter of 2007-2008, the road was damaged in many places and reconstructed again. Several independent specialists have also agreed about the impacts of cold winters, which can be seen from Faizabad to Obigarm.
The Contractors--SinoHydro Company--has not provided the Tajik workers with necessary working and safety equipment, including jackets, on the highway where the minimum vehicle speed is 100 km/hrs. Working under the scorching heat of the sun and the paralyzing cold of winter, it is nearly impossible for workers to work at such a long stretch. And yet they do so, because they have to--for their families.
They have their lunch mostly from home, which consists of bread and water only. Water is available from a nearby stream, but it is not clean. There are no facilities for emergency health requirements. There is not even any rest shed.
One young boy just joined the force two days ago to feed his mother and four siblings. Everybody seems to be tired in the afternoon. #