Effects of payment method on work control, work risk and work-related musculoskeletal health among sewing machine operators

This study aimed to identify payment method and its effects on work control, work risk and work-related musculoskeletal health among Malaysian sewing machine operators. The study sample comprised 337 sewing machine operators (male, n=122, female, n=215; aged between 18-54 years old; mean 30.74±8.44) from four different garmentmaking companies in Malaysia. They were being paid via time rate wages (n=246) and piece rate wages (n=91). Data was collected through Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire and pen-and-paper assessment via Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA). From the study, the piece rate wage group was found to take fewer breaks, had high work production demands, worked at a faster pace and experienced more exhaustion and pressure due to increasing work demands as compared to the time rate group. They were also observed working with higher physical exposure such as repetitive tasks, awkward static postures, awkward grips and hand movements, pulling, lifting and pushing as compared to those in the time rate wage group. The final RULA scores was also higher from the piece rate wage group (72.53% RULA score 7) which indicated higher work risks among them. The study found that the type of wage payment was significantly associated with work risks (p=0.036, df=1) and WRMSD at the shoulder, lower back, forearm, and leg (p<0.005, df=1). The musculoskeletal pain in these regions were reported more often by the piece rate wage group than the time rate wage group (At shoulder; OR = 2.94 with 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39-6.20, at lower back OR = 3.16 with 95% CI: 1.74-5.74, at forearm OR = 2.55 with 95% CI: 1.56-4.17, at hip OR = 2.49 with 95% CI: 1.52-4.07 and at leg OR = 2.97 with 95% CI: 1.72-5.15). It can be concluded that the type of wage system could be one of the contributory factors in a high prevalence of WRMSD and high ergonomic physical work risks among sewing machine operators. It is recommended that sewing machine operators are better off being paid via a time rate wage system compared to a piece rate wage system to reduce work risks and WRMSD among them.

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