Four more men have been pulled from a flooded cave in Laos after a ten-day ordeal. The British embassy team has landed on the ground. But as the nation breathes a sigh of relief, we must ask what this costs the families left behind.
These are not just headlines. These are men who work in factories, who send money home, who worry about the price of rice. The rescue effort is a triumph of skill and bravery. But it is also a reminder of the risks that ordinary workers take every day in dangerous jobs.
Wages in Laos are low. A factory worker earns less than £2 an hour. The cost of living is rising. Bread is more expensive. Fuel is more expensive. When a disaster strikes, it is the poor who suffer most. They cannot afford to take time off. They cannot afford the medical bills.
This rescue is a success. But we must not forget the structural failures that put these men in harm's way. Poor safety regulations. Inadequate equipment. The pressure to work in dangerous conditions because there is no alternative.
Union leaders in Britain have called for stronger protections for overseas workers. They point to the recent strikes at Amazon and in the NHS. Workers are demanding better conditions. They are tired of being treated as disposable.
The British embassy team is doing vital work. But we need more than rescue missions. We need a global commitment to worker safety. We need to ensure that no one has to risk their life for a day's pay.
As the rescue continues, we celebrate the four men freed. But we must also remember the millions who are trapped in a cycle of poverty and danger. Their cave is the workplace. Their flood is the cost of living crisis.
This is the real economy. And it is time for change.
