Indian workers slam the Quebec government for promoting asbestos exports
An Indian workers’ rights group sent a vitriolic letter to Jean Charest this week, accusing the Quebec premier of disregarding the health of Indian workers by promoting the use of asbestos in India. Charest, wrote Mohit Gupta of the Occupational & Environmental Health Network of India, is demonstrating “profound apathy, bordering on racism, towards the workers and communities in India.” The reason: it exports its asbestos to India, one of the world’s largest markets for the stuff, largely because the known carcinogen can’t be used in North America. Through a spokesperson, Charest said he won’t be responding to the letter.