Impact of Covid-19 Lockdown on Socio-Economic Conditions of Semi-Skilled Returnee Migrant Workers of Bangladesh

Abstract

The study explores immediate impact of COVID-19 lockdown on socio-economic conditions of the returnee migrants in Bangladesh. Using digital platform the study collects primary data through survey on returnee migrants of Bangladesh, and it follows descriptive mode of analysis. The study finds that the majority of the returnee migrant’s family members are dependent on the remittance. The workers return home because of the shutting down of their income sources due to a prolong period of lockdown. After returning home many returnee migrants get harassed by their neighbour and have problems in receiving healthcare services and maintain quarantine. Most of the returnee workers spend their savings to survive during lockdown. After four month of lockdown, the returnee migrants who think about remigration and re-join their previous job, they face several challenges like financial problem, visa renewing, job contract renewing, unavailability of plane tickets, and getting corona negative certificate.

Mapping Antecedents and Outcomes of Marginality and Social Exclusion among Small Landholders: A Systematic Review

“…It was noted from available researches, although women performed key roles in agricultural activities, that due to local societies and customs, they were treated differently as compared to men. Females were facing social exclusion in terms of less control and access over land, income, livestock, local patriarchal system, agricultural resources, land, jewelry, and money (Eneyew & Mengistu, 2013;Jahan, 2018).…”

“…Moreover, because of the local customs, violence against women, and a lack of awareness about gender-related government interventions, women faced double marginalization, for being women and for being pastoralists. Jahan (2018) enquires about the current condition of working women in Khankhanapur, village of Rajbari, Bangladesh. The economy of the country is mainly based on agriculture, and the majority of women are related to agricultural production directly or indirectly.…”

Adapting to change: Exploring reverse migration as a coping strategy among internal migrants in Bangladesh

“…As per the findings of the study, those migrants who have a low level of savings and merely tangible or intangible resources have also moved to their village as a result of losing their employment. Semi-skilled workers are referred to as “the workers who have moderately broad knowledge and practical skills and solve regular problems by using simple techniques under supervision but autonomy to a certain degree” [ 54 , 55 ].…”

“…A survey on migrant workers in Vietnam [ 10 ] showed that approximately 37% returned home with savings, and most of the returnee workers [ 55 ] spent their savings to survive during the lockdown. Based on the findings, a study by Dhaka Tribune [ 56 ] reported that while 34% of returnees reported having sufficient resources to finance living expenses for up to three months, 33% reported having no savings at all [ 52 ].…”

“…On this premise, the study documented not only lack of health facilities but also the basic facilities regarding the daily life among the reverse migrants. However, Jahan et al [ 55 ] also focused on the socio-economic reasons for the lack of service facilitation in their findings.…”