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Agricultural workers account for a particularly high proportion of unprotected workers, especially in developing countries. Their work is generally heavy, their working hours can be very long, they are often exposed to difficult climatic conditions, and many are exposed to hazardous chemicals, especially pesticides. These problems are compounded by poverty: living conditions are often extremely poor, and many have limited access to clean water, fuel and power, adequate shelter and nutrition. Literacy is often low. Organization of workers is low.
The ILO is participating in the development of a voluntary, participatory and action-oriented training programme (Work Improvement in Neighbourhood Development — WIND)(download 10.6 MB), promoting practical improvements in agricultural households by the initiatives of village families. The principles underlying this approach are based on the ILO's WISE methodology. The uniqueness of the WIND approach lies in improving both working and living conditions as inter-related aspects of rural life, ensuring the equal involvement of village men and women together in planning and implementing improvements, and its close links with community development and empowerment of agricultural workers and farmers. The methodology is being developed to maximize use of existing mechanisms in rural areas, including organizations of agricultural workers as well as local health services, and to minimize the cost of intervention, especially the need for expertise external to the local area.
The WIND programme was first developed by ILO together with other organisations in Viet Nam. It is currently being adapted to local conditions, translated and pilot-tested in Ethiopia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Senegal, in collaboration with other ILO technical units at Headquarters (in particular SECTOR and CIS), ILO colleagues in the field, the national social partners and other local organisations.
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