VoxDev Development Economics S6 Ep17: Improving worker well-being
May 1, 2025
Achyuta Adhvaryu, a professor at UC San Diego, focuses on improving the lives of low-income workers, particularly women. He discusses the critical issues of harsh working conditions in developing countries and reviews the effectiveness of workplace interventions. Adhvaryu emphasizes the link between improved worker well-being and enhanced productivity for businesses, the role of unions, and the impact of training in emotional regulation. He advocates for further research to foster collaboration between policymakers and firms to prioritize employee welfare.
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Harsh Conditions for Workers
- Workers in developing countries often face harsh conditions and poor treatment at work.
- Many frontline workers struggle to advocate for themselves due to societal norms and disempowerment.
Profit Drives Well-being Policies
- Businesses typically adopt worker well-being policies only if they improve profits.
- Linking worker well-being to firm productivity is key to sustainable interventions.
Worker-Led Safety Committees Work
- A study in Bangladesh found that worker-led safety committees improve workplace safety.
- Worker involvement leads to better communication and accountability in safety practices.