Innovision Consulting’s Digest 3 analyses the COVID-19 impact on RMG Workers in selected clusters across Bangladesh. The rapid survey of garment workers (82% married, average family size 4.8) shows that all factories remained closed in early April 2020. As a result, 79% of RMG Workers received no salary or incentives, while only 21% got partial payment before shutdown.
Cash reserves averaged BDT 3,686, which was barely enough for just 16 days of family expenses. Households cut daily food spending by 27% (from BDT 266 to BDT 193) and overall regular expenses by 30%. Female RMG Workers reduced food costs even more sharply (32.5%) and 76% stopped sending remittances to village families.
Innovision Consulting highlights that prolonged non-payment will push RMG Workers into heavy informal borrowing and deeper nutrition risks. Immediate targeted food assistance (estimated BDT 5,586 per family per month) and long-term savings schemes plus disaster funds are essential to protect these vulnerable RMG Workers and prevent ripple effects on rural households.
Read the full report here: Link
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