Participatory work improvement in small workplaces.

Improvement of working conditions in small-scale enterprises and the informal economy (SSE-IE) is essential to raise the occupational safety and health (OSH) level in a country, as majority of labour population is working in SSE-IE in any countries. Small-scale enterprises and the informal economy promote industry and expand employment opportunities, develop a pool of skilled and semiskilled workers, and support large enterprises through supplying material components and sub-assemblies. Sound development of SSE-IE is essential for increasing economic development and stability in a country and raising workers' living standards and health conditions. Despite their importance in the national economy, working conditions of SSE-IE are usually very poor comparing with those in large-sized enterprises. It is difficult for most of managers and workers in SSE-IE to start the initial action for improving OSH conditions, as they usually fear changing traditional working conditions and spending time and money for failure. They often think that special or professional knowledge is necessary to improve working conditions and hesitate to start action for improvements. Another reason why they will not start action for work improvement is that they are too busy in daily work and forget the necessity to improve working conditions. Therefore, it has been thought that it is difficult to initiate activities to improve working conditions in SSE-IE. Furthermore, regulatory administration is not effectively working to improve working conditions of SSE-IE in many countries, as the number of SSE-IE is too large comparing to the number of labour standard inspectors. On the other hand, there are several advantages in improving work conditions of SSE-IE. One notable advantage is that most of managers of small enterprises are key decision-makers in their enterprise and improvement of work conditions can be carried out quickly if they decide to implement the improvement. Another advantage is that the relationship between managers and workers is often closer in SSE-IE, so that cooperation between managers and workers is relatively easy. If adequate technical supports are provided to them, working conditions at SSE-IE will be improved dramatically. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has applied participatory approach to improve working conditions in SSE-IE since the early 1970s. Work Improvement in Small Enterprises (WISE) Project 1–3) is the first project of the ILO in which participatory methodology was applied to improve working conditions in small-sized enterprise. The ILO has carried out several projects to improve working conditions in SSE-IE using WISE and similar methods …