Day-labourers, rural workers to suffer most

BRAC Institute of Governance and Development said the day labourers including rickshaw pullers, vendors and housemaids may face incredibly vulnerable situation because of the impact of the spread of Coronavirus in the country and elsewhere.

In a press release the institute said these urban folks together with millions of rural workers will be affected in the near future as the economy will be battered by the Covid-19 disease.

The institute (BIGD) and Power and Participation Research Centre jointly launched a large scale telephone survey among 6,000 households in both rural and urban areas, beginning April 1. The target group constituted of cross section of people to understand the magnitude of the impact on their livelihood.

The outcome of the survey now incorporated into a research paper is intended to support better design and targeting of emergency need programs for the vulnerable population.

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman, PPRC and Dr. Imran Matin, Executive Director, BIGD will unveil the findings of the research through a virtual press conference on April 16, in the city, the release said. It adds that as the Covid-19 health crisis continues to unfold, the economy of Bangladesh is also coming under threat.

“This crisis will be most acutely experienced by the low income population--- families depending on the informal sector, especially in the urban areas, including rickshaw pullers, day laborers, housemaids, restaurant workers, vendors, auto drivers among others,” reads the release.

/teb