Recognizing Women’s Rights at Work: Health and Women Workers in Global Supply Chains

These workers are primarily concentrated in agribusiness and manufacturing sectors, where they often encounter low wages, life in dormitories, and pressure to send remittances home. Women who migrate for work are frequently disconnected from their families and support systems, exacerbating their health risks. The health needs of women workers differ from those of men, and their general health and well-being can be harmed by work conditions. The relationship between health and work permeates all aspects of a worker's daily life, and a broader assessment of systemic risks to women workers' general health is essential. While attention has been paid to acute violations of sexual harassment and violence, as well as exposure to chemicals, the long-term harms to women from lack of access to general and reproductive health services and products have received inadequate attention. Occupational health and safety standards and public health standards have not been aligned, resulting in a largely gender-blind approach to OSH strategies. This approach hides the negative impact of workplace policies and practices on women's health. Business policies and practices regulating global supply chains have yet to take women's health seriously as both a human rights concern and a fundamental business interest. The failure to align OSH and public health standards with international human rights standards leaves businesses open to the risk of complicity in creating or supporting conditions that may cost women workers their health and livelihoods. Women workers in global supply chains have little or no access to quality healthcare, and their health needs are significantly different from those of men. The general health and well-being of women can be harmed by work conditions through restrictive policies and practices that fail to recognize the unique needs of women workers. The health and well-being of women workers are closely tied to their ability to earn a living and support themselves and their families. Healthy workers have more energy, improved mental health, and are less likely to be absent from work than unhealthy ones. The improvement of girls' and women's health becomes a moral and economic imperative, as healthy workers are more productive and contribute to the economic growth of their countries. The International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) recognizes the right to health as a fundamental human right. The ICESCR emphasizes the importance of ensuring access to healthcare services, including reproductive health services, and the right to a safe and healthy working environment. The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) also recognizes the right to health and reproductive health as essential components of women's human rights. The United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights emphasize the responsibility of businesses to respect human rights, including the right to health. The Guiding Principles require businesses to conduct human rights due diligence, including assessing the risks of human rights violations in their operations and supply chains. Businesses have a critical role to play in promoting the health and well-being of women workers in global supply chains. In conclusion, the health and well-being of women workers in global supply chains are critical concerns that require immediate attention. The failure to align OSH and public health standards with international human rights standards leaves businesses open to the risk of complicity in creating or supporting conditions that may cost women workers their health and livelihoods. Businesses have a responsibility to respect human rights, including the right to health, and to promote the health and well-being of women workers in global supply chains.