We have similar (but not foldable) fixtures where the ballast is right under the lamp, and the entire fixture is enclosed in a wrap around cover. Those fixtures are very bad as the isolkation of the wires and terminal blocks etc deteriorate from the UV and fall apart after few years. This one might be of similar design
The exposed ballast is not really that dangerous as electric shock hazard - there is no part which you can just touch and get a shock (without sharp metal objects, but then even a wall socket is dangerous), unless you damage the wires or terminal block
I agreed. I went in Philippines few years ago and I found this little rusty foldable fluorescent fixture was used for street light. (very bad idea but they couldn't afford it the weatherproof light. At first look like a towel paper holder without the ballast. In poor city I could see them anywhere with 15T12 between to 40T12 attached under the wood board and wood pole! It runs on 230v 60hz and even work good in USA.
