Culture & Entertainment · Singapore Bureau
Employers must absorb costs of haze-linked work stoppages, says labour advocate
Labour rights advocate Dinesh Vasu Dash has called for employers to shoulder financial responsibility when haze forces work suspensions, rather than passing losses to workers. He has also urged service clients to show flexibility toward contractors affected by air quality disruptions.
LSN Singapore ·
Dinesh Vasu Dash, a prominent labour advocate, has urged employers to bear the full cost of work suspensions triggered by hazardous haze conditions, arguing that workers should not suffer financial penalties for circumstances beyond their control.
The intervention reflects growing concerns across the region about the economic impact of transboundary haze on livelihoods, particularly for lower-wage workers and those in labour-intensive sectors. Dash's position centres on the principle that employers, as primary economic actors, bear responsibility for ensuring worker welfare during environmental disruptions.
Beyond employer obligations, Dash has called for greater understanding and operational flexibility from organisations that procure services through contractors. He argued that clients should accommodate temporary work interruptions caused by poor air quality rather than impose penalties on contracting firms, which would ultimately affect workers' earnings.
The remarks underscore ongoing debates in South and Southeast Asia about liability and burden-sharing when regional air quality crises force economic shutdowns. Labour advocates contend that workers—often among the most vulnerable economically—should not absorb costs of environmental challenges requiring systemic solutions.