Feature: Nappy-wearing Thai bus conductors fight for rights

[webfact]

Feature

Nappy-wearing Thai bus conductors fight for rights
by Daniel ROOK

BANGKOK, May 30, 2014 (AFP) - Stuck for hours each day in snarling traffic, bus conductors in Thailand's sprawling capital have found a radical solution to a lack of toilet breaks -- adult nappies.

Despite years of brisk economic growth, many of Bangkok's blue-collar workers find themselves on the sharp end of relentless urbanisation and stubborn wealth inequalities.

From rubbish collectors to factory workers and taxi drivers, for many of the people who keep the sprawling metropolis of 12 million people running, rising wages do not necessarily translate into a better life.

With congestion worsening, conductors on the capital's ageing buses spend long days on the polluted roads in the tropical heat -- often with no toilet stops along the route.

When she developed a urinary tract infection, Watcharee Viriya had little choice but to start wearing adult nappies to cope with the many hours away from the restroom.

"It was uncomfortable when I moved, especially when I urinated inside," she recalled.

"When I arrived at the bus terminal, I had to run to get changed. I used at least two nappies a day."

She was later diagnosed with cancer of the uterus and needed to undergo surgery.

"The doctor told me that it was because of wearing dirty nappies and the substances from them going into the uterus."

With only a handful of underground or elevated rail links, many Bangkok residents rely on buses, cars, tuk-tuks or motorbikes to get around, and tax incentives have helped a growing number of people to buy their own set of four wheels.

- Shocking results -

Watcharee is not alone in opting for such an extreme answer to a lack of toilet breaks: a recent survey found that 28 percent of female bus conductors in Bangkok had worn nappies on a job that requires them to work up to 16 hours a day.

"We were shocked," said Jaded Chouwilai, director of the Women and Men Progressive Movement Foundation which carried out the research.

"We also found that many of them suffer urinary tract infections and stones in their bladders," he said.

"Many of the female bus conductors also have uterus cancer."

The gulf between Thailand's working class and its wealthy elite is one factor in a complex political crisis that has seen months of deadly opposition protests on the streets of Bangkok, culminating in a military coup on May 22.

The demonstrators wanted to wipe out the influence of ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra, who reshaped Thailand's political landscape by wooing poor and rural voters with universal healthcare, farming subsidies and microcredit schemes.

The tycoon-turned-politician clashed with a Bangkok-based royalist establishment before he was toppled as premier by the army in 2006. History has now repeated itself with another military takeover ousting a Thaksin-allied government.

Experts say Thailand has made some progress in reducing the rich-poor gap based on the Gini coefficient, a commonly used measure of income inequality that places the kingdom behind regional neighbours Cambodia and Indonesia but ahead of Malaysia and the Philippines.

The figure fell below 0.36 in 2013, down from about 0.42 a decade earlier, according to data from the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI).

Zero represents perfect equality and 1 total inequality.

"Even though it has shrunk, the rich-poor gap is still considered quite wide," said Somchai Jitsuchon, research director for inclusive development at the TDRI.

"Our social and political systems have given more opportunities to people in the establishment such as the rich and big business people," he said.

- Education gap -

Education inequalities also contribute to the problem.

"The children and grandchildren of the rich have the chance of a good education. The children and grandchildren of the poor cannot compete," said Somchai.

Some of Thailand's worst jobs, such as working on fishing boats and as agricultural labourers, are done mostly by illegal migrant workers from neighbouring countries such as Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.

Unlike their more assertive European counterparts, Asian workers rarely strike. In Thailand, it is illegal for employees of state enterprises to walk off the job.

But Bangkok's bus conductors and unionists are starting to speak out to demand better working conditions.

"Their working conditions are not good," said Chutima Boonjai, secretary of the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority labour union, who has asked for more toilets to be placed along bus routes or in bus terminals.

"They have to work long hours in the heat and when they are hungry, they cannot eat. When they want to go to the toilet, they cannot," she said.

Bus drivers also suffer problems ranging from back pain to hemorrhoids.

"The worst cases are cancers, strokes and high blood pressure because of tiring and hot working conditions," said Chutima.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it is a struggle to attract new recruits to work on the buses with a starting salary of 300 baht a day -- about $10.

And far from improving their lives, smartphones and other technological innovations have only made their jobs even harder.

"If they're not happy for any small reason, people can use the technology to complain about our services, but they don't think about how the workers feel," said Chutima.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-05-30

[1plumber]

umm......say what?

[NongKhaiKid]

The way some drivers perform there are times I wish I'd invested in adult nappies.

[stoneyboy]

This has to be a P-SS take.

[kimamey]

There's 2 parts to this.

Firstly the standard of living of the poorest is more important than the divide between them and the richest. The spread of the wealth is a factor as well. you might have a few extremely rich people and a few equally poor. That isn't such an issue as it's fairly easy to help the few but you can have less of a gap but a large number falling at the bottom and that's not so easy.

The problem of bus conductors and others in the same situation is very sad. If toilets can't be provided then that's a very sad state of affairs. It's a situation where a bit of compensation culture would actually help. If those that run the buses had to pay the medical bills and compensation for those who suffer health problems due to their working conditions then things would probably change very quickly.

[chainarong]

Reminds me of the time the OZ Perth Sunday Times ran an story on interstate truckies wearing ladies silk nickers, however if the lady conductor brings a medical certificate she should be confined to depot duties until cleared back by the doctor, that's what supposed to happen in an enlightened world , maybe it is now a cause for a crusade by both Suthep and Yingluck to lobby for toilets on busses for the conductors, as for the rich and poor divide , well that's happening in Kiwi land and all the other lands as well, only on a different scale .

[MMarlow]

Taking a leak at the start of the route and at the end of it might solve this massive problem.

[Bluespunk]

Taking a leak at the start of the route and at the end of it might solve this massive problem.

"With congestion worsening, conductors on the capital's ageing buses spend long days on the polluted roads in the tropical heat -- often with no toilet stops along the route."

[emanphoto]

Now you know why they are in such a hurry.

The way some drivers perform there are times I wish I'd invested in adult nappies.

[Tomtomtom69]

So sad. Nobody should be forced to work 16 hour days in such conditions. No wonder why urinary tract infections, bladder infections and urinary tract cancer etc. have become problems. I would imagine kidney stones could be a problem for some too (not enough fluids being consumed, poor bladder habits, lack of exercise, long periods seated etc.)

Bangkok is the world's hottest city according to the WMO, most likely because of the year round heat where nearly every day on average has a maximum temperature of above 30 degrees Celsius. Working on rusty, rickety old buses without access to the luxury of air-conditioning must be one of the most punishing jobs out there.

[northernjohn]

Well I fail to see how lessoning the gap between the rich and the poor is going to help a bus driver when they have to take a leak.

In fact I don't give a sh#t about it. The important thing is how the poor live not how much money they have less than the rich man. The middle class man lives good and is almost as far away from the rich man money wise as the poor man. It is more a problem of standard of living.

What ever happened to the plan to have a toilet at each bus stop?

[kimamey]

Taking a leak at the start of the route and at the end of it might solve this massive problem.

The trouble is not everyone can do that. Some need to go more than others and if you've got a urinary infection then you may need to go more often and of course there's the 'other side' to this as well. If you've eaten a lot of spicy food then having a pee isn't your only problem. Then there's age and gender as I believe women need to go more often although I've not researched this.

[Tomtomtom69]

Taking a leak at the start of the route and at the end of it might solve this massive problem.

The trouble is not everyone can do that. Some need to go more than others and if you've got a urinary infection then you may need to go more often and of course there's the 'other side' to this as well. If you've eaten a lot of spicy food then having a pee isn't your only problem. Then there's age and gender as I believe women need to go more often although I've not researched this.

Depends on how long the route is. Sometimes if you're stuck in traffic and it takes 3-4 hours then normally within that time some of us might need to go between 1 and 3 times depending on how much we've been drinking, our age, any bladder, kidney problems etc.

I'm quite sure men have to urinate more often than women, irrespective of age. Men are more likely to have prostate problems and getting up at night seems to be far more of a male than female problem.

Even so, it is ABNORMAL to only go to the toilet a couple of times a day. Normal human beings should be urinating about 5-7 times a day, depending on how much they've been drinking, their age, etc.

Edited May 30, 2014 by Tomtomtom69

[marko kok prong]

Taking a leak at the start of the route and at the end of it might solve this massive problem.

The trouble is not everyone can do that. Some need to go more than others and if you've got a urinary infection then you may need to go more often and of course there's the 'other side' to this as well. If you've eaten a lot of spicy food then having a pee isn't your only problem. Then there's age and gender as I believe women need to go more often although I've not researched this.

I agree Thai ladies seem to pee a lot.

[moe666]

Well I fail to see how lessoning the gap between the rich and the poor is going to help a bus driver when they have to take a leak.

In fact I don't give a sh#t about it. The important thing is how the poor live not how much money they have less than the rich man. The middle class man lives good and is almost as far away from the rich man money wise as the poor man. It is more a problem of standard of living.

What ever happened to the plan to have a toilet at each bus stop?

Your post really doesn't make any sense.

[belg]

i think they also need gas masks, dangerous with all those fumes

[ezzra]

Now I understand why those buss are driving at high speed, to get to the nearest toilet

and also why they face are always not happy probably from holding it in al day....

[chotthee]

This Tokyo taxi drive must have been born in the wrong city.

http://www.medicaldaily.com/toshihiko-nishi-tokyo-cab-driver-drugs-female-passengers-watches-them-pee-due-creepy-fetish-281378

[kinmaew]

Surely they must understand the benefits of smart carts/SVC like they use on BTS and Subway. When will they ever get rid of those old buses and replace with new ones. What is in the transport ministers head? Hes probably too busy off to London on a shopping trip.

Benefits of not being colonized what exactly are they apart from 99% of the pie going to the elite who dont give a rats about everyone else I feel sorry for the poor working class in that country. How will things ever change for them?

[Nemesis7]

Sad but it's the reality.

[Bangmod]

If Thaksin was really interested in his people he could all provided catheters for them under the 30 baht scheme, problem solved.

[Doc46]

Taking a leak at the start of the route and at the end of it might solve this massive problem.

The trouble is not everyone can do that. Some need to go more than others and if you've got a urinary infection then you may need to go more often and of course there's the 'other side' to this as well. If you've eaten a lot of spicy food then having a pee isn't your only problem. Then there's age and gender as I believe women need to go more often although I've not researched this.

Depends on how long the route is. Sometimes if you're stuck in traffic and it takes 3-4 hours then normally within that time some of us might need to go between 1 and 3 times depending on how much we've been drinking, our age, any bladder, kidney problems etc.

I'm quite sure men have to urinate more often than women, irrespective of age. Men are more likely to have prostate problems and getting up at night seems to be far more of a male than female problem.

Even so, it is ABNORMAL to only go to the toilet a couple of times a day. Normal human beings should be urinating about 5-7 times a day, depending on how much they've been drinking, their age, etc.

The doc told me in Oz , you should be able to go to the toilet for a wee every hour if you are taking in the right amount of fluids.

[Jing Joe]

My wife used to get out of her car in the Bkk traffic jam, run into the nearest hotel toilet for 45 seconds, get back to the car still stuck in the traffic jam.

It's left an ongoing legacy and feel sorry for those mentioned in the main article in worse and more embarrassing situations.

[technologybytes]

This article is clearly stupid and totally untrue.

To suggest that many conductors have cancer of the uterus is stupid.

Bus drivers surely have to stop to use toilet!

The answer is simple, the conductors should instruct the driver to stop every 3 hours or whatever for a quick toilet stop or refuse to work..simple.

[mogy]

Taking a leak at the start of the route and at the end of it might solve this massive problem.

"With congestion worsening, conductors on the capital's ageing buses spend long days on the polluted roads in the tropical heat -- often with no toilet stops along the route."

more like the driver simply doesn't want to stop....

[ggt]

Why not do like many other Asians do...just get off the bus...squat and take care of business...then resume your work...

[Payboy]

Nappy-wearing Thai bus conductors

Not half as tough as posting on Thai Visa wearing nappies 24/7.

Edited May 30, 2014 by Payboy

[Don Aleman]

Happy days are here again as the govt. is putting up I, ( one ), Porta Potty for the exclusive use of these ladies - all 1,326 of them !

[gigman]

 

Taking a leak at the start of the route and at the end of it might solve this massive problem.

 

Sorry mate but it is not a case.

I was a bus driver in Europe long time ago and even over there it was a problem on long routes .

Even over there is not perfect situation with toilets ..specially in big towns.

Believe me I know this feeling... and never forget.

I Bangkok drivers must use offensive methods driving in this road "mess" and i am fully sorry for what they must suffer.

I must take their side ...

[ratcatcher]

I am glad someone's pampering the bus crews. Can't be much fun when urine a traffic jam most of the day.