Bangladesh restructures brick industry, overlooks labor reforms
In Bangladesh, the closure of over 3,500 clay brick kilns to reduce air pollution has brought about significant socio-economic challenges for the low-income brick workers. These workers, many of whom are migrants from across the country, rely on these kilns as a seasonal source of cash income, often supplementing their farming incomes.
The shutdown of these illegal or unlicensed kilns affects thousands of workers, leaving them jobless and income-insecure. Many of these workers are bonded laborers, landless, and face exploitative conditions. Their low earnings and unstable jobs make them particularly vulnerable to being marginalized by reforms without adequate support systems.
Officials suggest that workers can return to farming in the off-season or transition into growing concrete block markets, but this shift is uncertain and may not provide equivalent income or job security. The government's plan to close many brick kilns in the next few years is causing concern among workers who fear being swept aside without proper support systems.
While cleaner kiln technologies and concrete block production are being promoted to curb pollution, the adoption is slow, and the cost of upgrading is high. The closure target mostly impacts unregistered, illegal kilns with poor environmental practices. Economists and experts urge that reforms must include training and support systems for workers to transition to new sectors to prevent social displacement and hardship.
The workforce in these kilns is estimated to be approximately a million people. Workers are often given high-interest loans by contractors and cannot claim the minimum wage. They work long hours, with the workday stretching from 3 a.m. to 10 p.m. Little protective equipment is used in the brick kilns, according to a 2017 study. Labour abuses are routinely reported in local media.
Many workers suffer from serious respiratory problems due to coal burning emissions. The couple's two adolescent daughters are waiting to be married off due to financial constraints for schooling. The World Bank estimates that about 3,500 brick kilns lacking legal approval will be closed in the near future. This closure is causing significant socio-economic challenges for the low-income brick workers in Bangladesh, with a pressing need for comprehensive transition support measures to avoid deepening poverty among this vulnerable group.
- The significant socio-economic challenges resulting from the closure of the brick kilns in Bangladesh necessitate urgent attention towards SDG goals, particularly those related to health-and-wellness, education-and-self-development, and career-development for the affected workers.
- As climate change continues to be a global concern, science must play a crucial role in developing innovative, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for reducing carbon emissions, such as promoting environmental-science-driven technologies for brick production.
- The government's decision to close brick kilns to combat air pollution has led to a worrying political issue, as concerns regarding policy-and-legislation and the consequences for vulnerable workers continue to rise.
- In the context of the closure of the brick kilns, general-news outlets should highlight the environmental, social, and health implications of the situation, raising awareness and fostering public support for policies that protect workers and improve living conditions.
- Addressing the socio-economic challenges facing the brick workers in Bangladesh requires a thorough understanding of the underlying issues and devising comprehensive support systems that support their transition to new careers while ensuring their well-being in line with environmental and health objectives.
- The closure of unregistered, illegal brick kilns with poor environmental practices is a positive step towards combating climate change, but it must be accompanied by measures to protect vulnerable workers, implement sustainable solutions like cleaner kiln technologies, and foster a legislative landscape that encourages corporate responsibility and promotes the welfare of all participating parties in the environmental-science sector.
