Occupational Health of Self-Employed Skilled Labourers and Daily-Wage Workers in Pakistan.

Occupational health is a neglected and heedless domain within the healthcare system in Pakistan. Despite the formulation of a National Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases and Health Promotion in Pakistan in 2004,1 little has been achieved and much needs to be improved.2 Foremost is the need for legislation to enforce work-safety regulations and raise the status and standard of occupational health of workers, working in industries and factories. In this regard, a vulnerable population of skilled labourers, masons and welders is often overlooked, who are mostly self-employed and know little about the hazards of their occupation.