Disaster Workers

The global union federation for essential service workers, Public Services International, says the rights of response workers in disaster hit areas are often neglected. Briefing the media on their concerns and challenges at the Third World Conference of Disaster Risk Reduction in Japan last week, the organisation's Deputy General Secretary - David Boys - said there was generally no help for the helpers. Boys said workers often respond to crises without proper briefing, training and equipment and wages are often not paid. He says governments all over the world are well aware of these challenges but do nothing about them.