The monthly average income of a rickshaw puller in the capital city is estimated to be at TK 13,382, according to a latest survey conducted by Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS).
Ninety six per cent of the pullers ply rented rickshaws at an average daily rate of Tk 111, it revealed Thursday at a programme held at BILS office in the city.
Majority of them or 62 per cent ply rickshaw each day of the week while 28 per cent ply six days in a week, it said adding that they ply rickshaw for at least one shift or an average nine hours a day.
The BILS conducted the survey through interview of 200 rickshaw pullers, 20 garage owners, two executives of City Corporation and two traffic police personnel in Badda, Hazaribagh, Jatrabari and Shahjahanpur of Dhaka city.
The report estimated that about 1.1 million rickshaws are plying the streets of the capital city while in two shifts about 2.2 million pullers are engaged in the profession.
In 1986, some 79,554 rickshaws were registered with the then Dhaka City Corporation, according to the study.
About 89 per cent of the surveyed pullers expressed the view that rickshaw pulling is their main profession while agriculture is main profession for 8.0 per cent and 3.0 per cent are day labourers, it showed.
Some 85 per cent of the surveyed pullers said that they won't leave their profession in case they get opportunity of other works.
Almost all rickshaw pullers have migrated from different areas of the country followed by 36 per cent from Rajshahi, 22 per cent from Rangpur, 11 per cent from Barishal, 9.0 per cent from Chattogram, each 4.0 per cent from Dhaka and Khulna and 1.0 per cent from Rangpur.
The average age of a rickshaw puller is 37 years, an ideal age to do hard labour while 5.0 per cent of the surveyed pullers are aged over 60, it showed.
The study revealed that the pullers' living condition is very poor and 52 per cent of the them dwell in rented houses while 47 per cent live in rickshaw garages.
More than half of the workers depend on their families while the rest eat food from hotels and tiny boarding house (mess).
Eighty two per cent of the surveyed workers are addicted to smoking and on an average they spend Tk 46.46 daily for smoking purpose.
The survey revealed that they faced misbehavior from passengers, police.
The rickshaw pullers are deprived of many rights and face discrimination, it said adding even they are not well aware of their rights, not organised and associated with any organisation.
The report made a good number of recommendations that included formulation of a policy, developing a database, creating separate rickshaw lanes on the main roads of the city and strictly maintaining them.
Other recommendations included providing licences to new rickshaw and rickshaw pullers to bring discipline in the sector, housing facility and training.
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