Jobless day-labourers on rise
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Refayet Ullah Mirdha
The number of unemployed day-labourers of the country's construction sector has increased significantly in recent times due to slow progress in government building and construction projects.
The influx of day labourers in the capital mainly resulted from scarcity of works in the rural areas. Slow implementation of government construction projects in the rural areas and availability of job opportunities in the capital were luring them to migrate to Dhaka, the workers said.
Talking to the FE, Abul Hossain Bepari (45) a day labourer at the city's Malibagh Railway Crossing said he came from his village home from Shariatpur district only to find a better job.
"But, it is a matter of great regret that the demand of day labourers has declined tremendously due to influx of such labourers from the village homes in the dull cultivation season," Abul Hossain Bepari said.
He said everyday at least 500 day labourers mainly the masons gather at Malibagh Railway Crossing, one of the biggest day-labourer markets, with high hopes of getting employment.
A worried Hossain said everybody does not get jobs everyday as the construction works declined significantly in the private sector also for higher costs of raw materials.
He said unskilled labourers earns between Tk 90 and Tk 110 each day while semi-skilled and skilled workers' earning varies between Tk 130 and Tk 250 a day. He said the amount a day-labourer earns in a day is quite inadequate to sustain themselves and their family in this overpriced commodity market.
He said the major day-labourers' markets in the city are located at Malibagh Railway Crossing, Jatrabari, Khilgaon Railway Crossing, Nayabazar, Dayaganj Lohar Pool, Mohammadpur Bus Stand, Shanir Akhra, Jhigatola Crossing and Badda Crossing.
Talking to the FE, an official of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) said many officials, employees and even engineers have lost their jobs over the last one year as the country's real estate sector faced a setback during this period.
He said more or less 10 million people across the country were directly involved in the construction industry.
"Many of them especially the unskilled workers became unemployed instantly as businessmen are yet to start new projects after restoration of confidence in the business community. Now, most of the businessmen are busy selling their previously completed projects," the REHAB official said.
The government in its latest move, has been campaigning for restoring confidence in the business community for bringing dynamism in the country's overall businesses situation.
Sources said many government projects were closed down and many more delayed after the political change in the country.
When asked Ismail Hossain (40) at the city's Jatrabari area said everyday they start to gather at a particular place from 6:30am and remain seated until 12 noon with the hope of receiving works.
"Everyday at least 300-day labourers gather at the Jatrabari point for getting jobs in the construction sector, but around 50 per cent get work while the remaining pass their days in agony," said Ismail Hossain.
Ismail Hossain, who is not a permanent resident of Dhaka City, said he will leave the city for his village home Sylhet after 15-days when the peak season of Aman harvesting will start.
"I can hardly save any money from the income due to higher costs of living and higher prices of essential commodities, but we have little to do as we are not skilled workers," he added.
Oli, a day-labourer at the city's Khilgaon area said previously they were employed by a contractor up to the period of completion of the project, but currently such opportunities are rare due to decline in the construction works both in the public and private sectors.
The number of unemployed day-labourers of the country's construction sector has increased significantly in recent times due to slow progress in government building and construction projects.
The influx of day labourers in the capital mainly resulted from scarcity of works in the rural areas. Slow implementation of government construction projects in the rural areas and availability of job opportunities in the capital were luring them to migrate to Dhaka, the workers said.
Talking to the FE, Abul Hossain Bepari (45) a day labourer at the city's Malibagh Railway Crossing said he came from his village home from Shariatpur district only to find a better job.
"But, it is a matter of great regret that the demand of day labourers has declined tremendously due to influx of such labourers from the village homes in the dull cultivation season," Abul Hossain Bepari said.
He said everyday at least 500 day labourers mainly the masons gather at Malibagh Railway Crossing, one of the biggest day-labourer markets, with high hopes of getting employment.
A worried Hossain said everybody does not get jobs everyday as the construction works declined significantly in the private sector also for higher costs of raw materials.
He said unskilled labourers earns between Tk 90 and Tk 110 each day while semi-skilled and skilled workers' earning varies between Tk 130 and Tk 250 a day. He said the amount a day-labourer earns in a day is quite inadequate to sustain themselves and their family in this overpriced commodity market.
He said the major day-labourers' markets in the city are located at Malibagh Railway Crossing, Jatrabari, Khilgaon Railway Crossing, Nayabazar, Dayaganj Lohar Pool, Mohammadpur Bus Stand, Shanir Akhra, Jhigatola Crossing and Badda Crossing.
Talking to the FE, an official of the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) said many officials, employees and even engineers have lost their jobs over the last one year as the country's real estate sector faced a setback during this period.
He said more or less 10 million people across the country were directly involved in the construction industry.
"Many of them especially the unskilled workers became unemployed instantly as businessmen are yet to start new projects after restoration of confidence in the business community. Now, most of the businessmen are busy selling their previously completed projects," the REHAB official said.
The government in its latest move, has been campaigning for restoring confidence in the business community for bringing dynamism in the country's overall businesses situation.
Sources said many government projects were closed down and many more delayed after the political change in the country.
When asked Ismail Hossain (40) at the city's Jatrabari area said everyday they start to gather at a particular place from 6:30am and remain seated until 12 noon with the hope of receiving works.
"Everyday at least 300-day labourers gather at the Jatrabari point for getting jobs in the construction sector, but around 50 per cent get work while the remaining pass their days in agony," said Ismail Hossain.
Ismail Hossain, who is not a permanent resident of Dhaka City, said he will leave the city for his village home Sylhet after 15-days when the peak season of Aman harvesting will start.
"I can hardly save any money from the income due to higher costs of living and higher prices of essential commodities, but we have little to do as we are not skilled workers," he added.
Oli, a day-labourer at the city's Khilgaon area said previously they were employed by a contractor up to the period of completion of the project, but currently such opportunities are rare due to decline in the construction works both in the public and private sectors.