ANOTHER “H” was required in OSHA for it to more fully address workers’ needs and concerns.

The safety and health of workers in the job place should always be of paramount concern for all employers; for without their input few businesses could exist.

There are businesses which are fully owned and operated by families.

Such operations, however, are generally what you categorise as small business.

Once an operation starts to expand the hiring of employees becomes an unavoidable next step for that entrepreneurial family.

The hiring of “outside” staff is seen by many business people though as not something necessary, but as a necessary evil; that if it could be helped, not one outsider would enter the doorway to their kingdom.

And it is in this spirit of uncharitability that lots of employers hire their workers, seeing them not from the perspective that they are there to help them mind their business, keep it going, keep it making greater profits, but as parasites who everyweek or fortnight or month-end collect salaries that are rightly theirs and should be deposited to their business account instead.

With this kind of adversarial feeling a good many employers have towards their hired hands, it is not unusual that they try to make slaves out of them; that they make them perform all kinds of demeaning tasks that are really not part of their job specs; they shout at them, abusing and humiliating them in the public, for the world to see and hear who is the boss.

And what bosses they are indeed.

When lunchtime comes or at the end of the day, they could jump into their SUVs and BMWs and head for the most expensive restaurants or watering hole where they congregate with other “bosses” like themselves as they flaunt their status, while competing with one another who should pick up the tab.

In the meanwhile, their poor employees who are not provided with a lunch room stand any which way -- in the aisles and lanes (as we all see in the stores and supermarkets) -- to hustle down a bite, while still serving their bosses’ customers.

The hypocrisy and irony of this modern-day type of slavery is that when you enter these establishments you are greeted with the smell of incense signifying that you are on holy ground.

Because, first thing, before any business is transacted, the same boss who treats his workers as dirt, makes his ritual offering to the gods, lighting deyas, candles and incense, beseeching the Almighty for another full kitty that day.

Having done his worshipful act for the day, he doesn’t feel he has any other obligations to fulfill.

His poor workers who cower when he is around, who stand all day because they are not allowed a moment to rest their tired legs (even if business is at a standstill) never figure in his thinking that they, too, are human beings, that they, too, have feelings, aches and pains, feelings of love and sorrow, and that there are people who care for them because they are real people with flesh and blood just like everybody else.

If they fall short in any way it is their misfortune to end up slaving for the tyrants who hire them.

For instance, at a Supermarket in the Debe area, one could see (for verification) how at lunchtime employees have their lunches on a bench outside of the building and right next to a vehicle inspection garage.

So while they pause to take a bite and catch their breaths (because they will have been slaving away from the moment they got to work) they are offered instead of a cool drink to wash down whatever they brought for lunch, an atmosphere filled with carbon monoxide.

Inside that establishment though, you are greeted with the pungent smell of puja, for deyas are lit and offerings are made to gods in that place as if everyday is a mini divali.

Oh, for goodness sake, how could “people” (that deserves to be inverted) start their day with prayers in such a hypocritical affectatious manner then go about the day without a single thought that their employees are people too.

That they come from homes where they sit comfortably at mealtimes, and that they even though they seek employment at such establishments (as theirs) they are used to some level of homely comforts (not luxuries, perhaps) but, you know, a chair to sit, a moment to pause for a cause.

Little mercies.

And then there is the case of the merchandisers and sales promoters that deserves some attention at the International Criminal Court.

Companies hire these women to ensure that their products are visibly brought to the attention of shoppers.

They help sell products that if given away freely shoppers would hesitate to accept.

Yet, via their efforts, they move such products for the companies that are blessed to have them.

But you think these companies regard their employment as a blessing?

Just hear the wages they get for running around (at their own expense, in many cases) across the country just to fill their boss’ pockets.

They barely get the minimum wage for a job that requires of them on a given day to go to, say Rio Claro, then Debe, then Marabella.

You take that job and you know the hustle is on.

But many of the women who seek such employment are single parents or are very uncertified and so are happy for small mercies.

The aspect of this job that really evokes exploitation is that these “poor” women are expected to dress up in suits that are more deserving of an appearance before the lords at the Privy Council.

Being dressed up is good ... if you could afford it.

But who could pay for suits, with silk blouses and pumps etc. on less than the minimum wage?

Certainly not these companies who want you to flaunt their products in the best dressed-to-kill outfits.

Then every week there are staff meetings as new products are introduced into the markets.

Most of these companies are in North Trinidad, and quite a bit of their staff comes from rural South, from Siparia, Rio Claro, Princes Town etc.

And for these weekly meetings, they have to dress up (even more) leave their homes, children, head for Port of Spain to acquaint themselves with their company’s latest offerings.

This sounds like another workday, but it isn’t.

A regular workday also means another payday, no?

Not in these cases, though.

These women go on what is essentially company business, but the catch is, there is no pay for that day.

At their own expense and inconvenience they have to make that trek just to be better able to sell their company’s products.

How does the Criminal Court rule in matters of such outrage?

Is it stoning of the guilty on the Brian Lara Promenade?

Is it the recall of the guillotine?

Or should we just put in the other “H” for humanitarian in OSHA thus making it the Occupational Safety Health and Humanitarian Act?

It is true that legislation alone isn’t going to change attitudes and behaviour, but with the law in place those who feel that they had been wronged would have access to some form of legal redress.

It will not be surprising to hear that those who have been oppressed by the upper echelons of the society celebrate when they hear tragedy befall them.

It’s no doubting that we are a good and charitable people, and when we hear someone gets kidnapped, for instance, we might vote to have the perpetrators stoned on the promenade.

On the other hand, most people understand the law of karma, and know that as you sow, so shall you reap.

Thus, tragedies are often seen in that context.

Another “H” in the act might therefore provide some mitigating relief to those who are doomed to bad karmas because they are too high and mighty to treat ordinary people with respect and decency.

Who knows?