Um estudo sobre o impacto do trabalho das minas na saúde dos migrantes moçambicanos: caso dos mineiros residentes na cidade de Maputo (1975-2011)

Abstract

The objective of this work is to analyze the impact of the work of mines in South Africa on the health of Mozambican migrants, with a particular focus on those who came from the city of Maputo, and who contracted tuberculosis, between 1975 and 2011. In the first section, the historical process involving the migratory work to the mines, where it is highlighted not only how the control of the migrant flow was seen as a source of revenue collection by the subjects who tutored it, but also how these migratory projects constantly endangered the health of the subjects involved in such migration, a fact that naturally resulted in the contraction of several diseases such as tuberculosis, silicosis, pneumonia, among others. In the second section, it brought the experience of working in the mines by the subjects of this research. Through it, it is concluded that, in general, the work of the mines was harmful to the health of the workers, a fact that made diseases such as tuberculosis or silicosis to be “natural” consequences. The treatment of miners with health problems varied from mine to mine - some provided exemplary medical care, others less so - but the common denominator was that, once sick, workers became prone to losing their jobs, sometimes with compensation and sometimes not.