Labour in Sector of Mapping, Status and Awareness about Right

Labour in Fishing Sector of Bangladesh Mapping, Status and Awareness about Rights

Md. Rezaul Karim Asaduzzaman Saadi Tanjim Tamanna

Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies Dhaka

30 December 2015 Acronyms 1

ADB Asian Development Bank BILS Bangladesh institute of Labour Studies BFRI Bangladesh Research Institute BFDC Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation BJMSS Bangladesh Jatio Matshyajibi Samabay Samity BJMS Bangladesh Jatio Matshyajibi Samity BSBL Bangladesh Samabaya Bank Ltd CARE Cooperation of American Relief Everywhere CIDA Canadian International Development Authority CSO Civil Society Organisation DFID Department for International Development DoF Department of Fisheries DANIDA Danish International Development Agency EU European Union EUS Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation FGD Focus Group Discussion GDP Gross Domestic Product GJJD Jatiotabadi Jele Dal GOs Government Organisations IDA International Development Association IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development ILO International Labour Organisation IMF International Monitory Fund IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency LWD Labour Welfare Division LGI Local government Institution LWO Labour welfare Officer MoFL Ministry of Fisheries and Labour MT Metric Ton NGOs Non Govermentl Organisations NORAD Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation NSP National Policy ODA Official Development Assistance OHS Occupational Health Safety PSONR Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources TU Trade Union TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training UCCA Union Central Cooperative Associations UFO Fosheries Officer UNDP United Nation’s Development Programme USAID United States Agency for International Development

Acknowledgement

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Table of contents

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Acronyms Acknowledgement Table of Contents List of Tables List of Charts

Executive Summary Introduction and methodology Key Findings Recommendations and Advocacy Issues Recommendations Advocacy Issues

Chapter I: Introduction and Context of the Present Study Introduction Labourers engaged in fishing sector Objectives of the study Methodology of the study Study area and sample size Data collection instruments Research Team Data analysis

Chapter II: Mapping of Fishing Sector and Fishing Labourers in Bangladesh in Bangladesh Geographical area of fishing in Bangladesh Water resources and fishing in Bangladesh Human resources in fishing Sector Manpower employed in fishing sector in Bangladesh The fishers Type of Fisheries work in fishing sector Women in fishing Socio-economic status of fishermen / fishing labourers OHS (Occupational and Health Safety) of the fishers Laws and Policies in the Fishing Sector Legal Provisions for the Fishing Labourers The institutional framework of the fishing sector in Bangladesh Problems and Constraints of Bangladesh Fishing Sector Risk Factors Associated with Fishing in Bangladesh

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Chapter III: Socio-economic Status of the Labourers in Fishing Sector Fishing labourers Family of the fishing labourers Living condition of the fishing labourers Economic condition of the fishing labourers Membership in social organisation

Chapter IV: Working Condition of the Fishing Labourers Duration of work as fishing labourer Type of employer of the fishing labourers Type of work perform by the fishing labourers Unit/basis of contract/wage of work Food & drinking water arrangement at workplace Toilet facility at workplace Overall condition of the workplace Condition of wage of the fishing labourers Benefits received by the fishing labourers

Chapter V: State and Awareness of Labour Rights of the Fishing Labourers Appointment Letter ID card Security and risks at workplace Incidence of illness at workplace of the fishing labourers Accident at workplace of the fishing labourers Treatment facility at workplace Lockup/no work situation Retirement Leave provisions of the fishing labourers Working hour Trade union

Chapter VI: Discussion and Issues for Advocacy for Fishing Labourers Situation of labour rights of the fishing labourers Awareness of the fishing labourers about labour rights

Reference

Annex Annex-1: Tables Annex-II: Questionnaire Used for Survey of Fishing Labourers Annex III :Photos of field visit and multi-stakeholder workshop

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List of Tables

Table 1: Labour Rights situation in the fishing sector Table 2: Awareness of the fishing labourers about labour rights Table 3: Advocacy recommendations for labourers in fishing sector of Bangladesh Table 1.1: Sample and method of data collection Table 2.1: Annual fish capture from different sources in Bangladesh (2014-2015) Table 2.2: Fish production in Bangladesh over the period by various sources Table 2.3: Primary criteria for categorizing livelihoods dependent on inland fisheries Table 3.1: Home upazila and upazila of present work of the fishing labourers (%) Table 3.2: Gender of the fishing labourers (%) by location Table 3.3: Position of the fishing labourers (%) in the family by gender Table 3.4: Age of the fishing labourers (%) by gender Table 3.5: Education of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 3.6: Fishing labourers (%) by work sector Table 3.7: Nature of work of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 3.8: Average months labourers engaged in 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd occupation in 9 locations Table 3.9: 2nd Occupation of the fishing labourers Table 3.10: 3rd Occupation of the fishing labourers Table 3.11: Average monthly income of fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 3.12: Average number of family member of the fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 3.13: Gender of the family member (%) of fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 3.14: Age structure of the family members of fishing labourers Table 3.15: Marital Status of the family members (%) of fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 3.16: Gender and education of the family members (>6 year) [%] Table 3.17: Average monthly income of the family members of the fishing labourers Table 3.18: Ownership of homestead land of the fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 3.19: Average monthly house rent of the fishing labourers rented in 9 locations Table 3.20: Wall materials of the houses fishing labourers living Table 3.21: Amount of land owned by the fishing labourers Table 3.22: Average amount of land owned by the fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 3.23: Average annual family income (BDT) from different sources of the fishinglabourers in 9 locations Table 3.24: Average annual family income (BDT) from different sources of the fishinglabourers by gender Table 3.25: Overall solvency of the fishing labourers (%) families in 9 locations Table 3.26: Overall solvency of the fishing labourers (%) families in 9 locations Table 3.27: How the fishing labourers’ families manage their deficit Table 3.28: Whether the fishing labourers have savings in 9 locations Table 3.29: Whether the fishing labourers (%) have any loan at present in 9 locations Table 3.30: Average number, amount and duration of loan in 9 locations Table 3.31: Sources of loan of fishing labourers in 9 locations (%) Table 3.32: Whether the loans of fishing labourers (%) have interest in 9 locations Table 3.33: Purpose of loan taken by the fishing labourers Table 3.34: Membership of family members in social organisation in 9 locations Table 3.35: Orgnisation of membership of fishing labourers’ family members

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Table 3.36: Fishing labourers’ membership in social organisation Table 3.37: Whether the fishing labourers’ family received any help so far (%) Table 3.38: Time of help received by the fishing labourers’ family Table 3.39: Type of help received by the fishing labourers’ family Table 4.1: Duration of work as fishing labourers Table 4.2: Average duration (month) of work as fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 4.3: Type of employment of fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 4.4: Type of work perform by the fishing labourers in fishing sector Table 4.5: Unit/basis of work of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 4.6: Sector of work of the fishing labourers %) and basis (time duration) of work Table 4.7: Food arrangement at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 4.8: Food arrangement at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) by work sector Table 4.9: Source of drinking water at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 4.10: Latrine facility at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 4.11: Latrine facility at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) by gender Table 4.12: Hygienic condition of latrine at workplace of the fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 4.13: Overall condition of the workplace of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 4.14: Overall condition of the workplace of the fishing labourers (%) by gender Table 4.15: Reason behind identifying work condition not good Table 4.16: Unit of wage of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 4.17: Whether fishing labourers (%) receive wage regularly in 9 locations Table 4.18: Other benefits received by the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 4.19: Whether fishing labourers (%) receive other benefit by work sector Table 4.20: Whether fishing labourers (%)receive other benefit by employer type Table 4.21: Whether satisfied with present salary and benefits by gender (%) Table 4.22: Whether satisfied with present salary and benefits by work sector (%) Table 4.23: Whether satisfied with present salary and employer type (%) Table 4.24: Desire of the fishing labourers at present Table 4.25: Whether work of fishing labourers (%) available whole year in 9 locations Table 4.26: Whether work of fishing labourers (%) available whole year by gender Table 4.27: Whether work of fishing labourers (%) available whole year by sector of work Table 4.28: Whether work of fishing labourers (%) available whole year by employer type Table 4.29: Survival strategy during no work of fishing labourers Table 4.30: How the fishing labourers acquired fishing skills Table 5.1: Fishing labourers (%) by whether have appointment letter in 9 locations Table 5.2: Whether fishing labourers (%) know appointment letter as a right in 9 locations Table 5.3: Gender and awareness of the fishing labourers (%) about appointment letter Table 5.4: Employer type and awareness about appointment letter of fishing labourers (%) Table 5.5: Fishing labourers by whether have ID card in 9 locations Table 5.6: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know ID card as a right in 9 locations Table 5.7: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know ID card as a right by gender Table 5.8: Whether the fishing labourers (%) have ID card by employer type Table 5.9: Whether have attendance register at workplace in 9 locations (%) Table 5.10: Whether have attendance register at workplace by gender (%) Table 5.11: Whether the fishing labourers have attendance register at workplace by employer type

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Table 5.12: Whether know attendance register at workplace as right in 9 locations (%) Table 5.13: Whether know attendance register at workplace as right by gender (%) Table 5.14: Whether the fishing labourers (%) have attendance register by employer type Table 5.15: State of security at workplace in 9 locations (%) Table 5.16: State of security of workplace of the fishing labourers by gender (%) Table 5.17: State of security of workplace of the fishing labourers (%) by employer type Table 5.18: Whether face any risk at work place in 9 locations (%) Table 5.19: Whether face any risk at work place by gender (%) Table 5.20: Risks faced by the fishing labourers at work place Table 5.21: Whether know security at workplace arrangement by employer as right of labour in 9 locations (%) Table 5.22: Whether know security arrangement by employer as right of labour by gender Table 5.23: Whether know security arrangement at workplace by employer as right by sector of work Table 5.24: Whether fishing labourers (%) experienced illness at workplace in 9 locations Table 5.25: Whether fishing labourers experienced illness at workplace by gender Table 5.26: Whether the employer of fishing labourers (%) informed about risks at workplace in 9 locations Table 5.27: Whether the fishing labourers (%) saw any accident at workplace in 9 locations Table 5.28: Whether the fishing labourers (%) saw any accident at workplace by gender Table 5.29: Whether the fishing labourers (%) saw any accident at workplace by sector of work Table 5.30: Type of accident seen at the workplace in 9 locations Table 5.31: Whether fishing labourers (%) received compensation for accident in 9 locations Table 5.32: Fishing labourers (%) received compensation for accident by gender Table 5.33: Whether compensation received adequate in 9 locations (%) Table 5.34: Whether compensation received adequate by gender (%) Table 5.35: Treatment facility for fishing labourers (%) at workplace in 9 locations Table 5.36: Whether treatment facility for fishing labourers at workplace by gender Table 5.37: Whether treatment facility at workplace by work sector Table 5.38: Adequacy of treatment facility for fishing labourers (%) at workplace in 9 locations Table 5.39: Adequacy of treatment facility for fishing labourers (%) at workplace by gender Table 5.40: Whether the fishing labourers know treatment facility by employer as right in 9 locations Table 5.41: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know treatment facility by employer as right by gender Table 5.42: Whether know treatment facility as right of labour by sector of work (%) Table 5.43: Whether fishing labourers (%) receive salary during sickness in 9 locations Table 5.44: Whether the fishing labourers (%) receive salary during sickness by gender Table 5.45: Whether the fishing labourers (%) receive salary during lockup by employer type Table 5.46: Whether the fishing labourers (%) receive salary during lockup in gender Table 5.47: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know salary during lockup as right in 9 locations Table 5.48: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know salary during lockup as right by gender Table 5.49: Type of employer and whether know salary during no work as labour right Table 5.50: Notice period in case of dismiss by the employer in 9 locations Table 5.51: Fishing labourers (%) by work sector and notice period before termination Table 5.52: Notice period before termination by employer type (%)

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Table 5.53: Whether know one-month notice to dismiss as right of labour (%) in 9 locations Table 5.54: Whether know one-month notice to dismiss as right of labour by gender (%) Table 5.55: Whether the fishing labourers (%) receive any benefit during retirement in 9 locations Table 5.56: Whether the fishing labourers receive any benefit during retirement by employer type Table 5.57: Whether fishing labourers (%) know benefit during retirement as right of labour in 9 locations Table 5.58: Whether fishing labourers (%) know benefit during retirement as right of labour by employer type Table 5.59: Whether fishing labourers (%) have pre-determined leave at work in 9 locations Table 5.60: Whether fishing labourers (%) have pre-determined leave at work by employer type Table 5.61: Whether fishing labourers (%) know leave as right of labour in 9 locations. Table 5.62: Whether fishing labourers (%) know leave as right of labour by employer type Table 5.63: Daily work hour of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Table 5.64: Average daily work hour by Gender, Work sector and employer type Table 5.65: Whether fishing labourers (%) know Weekly/daily working hour as right of labour in 9 locations Table 5.66: Whether fishing labourers (%) know Weekly/daily working hour as right of labour by gender Table 5.67: Whether fishing labourers (%) know trade union as right of labour in 9 locations Table 5.68: Whether fishing labourers (%) know trade union as right of labour by gender Table 5.69: Whether fishing labourers (%) know trade union as right of by sector of work Table 5.70: Whether fishing labourers (%) know trade union as right of labour by employer type Table 5.71: Whether fishing labourers face any obstacle in joining in trade union Table 5.72: Whether the fishing labourers (%) member of any trade union in 9 locations Table 5.73: Fishing labourers’ membership in trade union by gender, work sector and employer type (%) Table 5.74: Activities of the trade union of the fishing labourers Table 6.1: Rights situation of the fishing labourers Table 6.2: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 6.3: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourers by gender Table 6.4: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourers by sector of work Table 6.5: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourers by employer type Table 6.6: Awareness of the fishing labourers about labour rights Table 6.7: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourers in 9 locations Table 6.8: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourers by gender Table 6.9: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourers by sector of work Table 6.10: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourers by employer type

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List of Charts/Figures

Chart 1.1: Marital status of the fishing labourers (%) by gender Chart 3.2: Percent of fishing labourers work in different sector Chart 3.3: Sector of work of fishing labourers (%) by gender Chart 3.4: Average monthly income (BDT) of the fishing labourers by gender Chart 3.5: Type of family of the fishing labourers Chart 3.6: Average amount (decimal) of land owned by gender of fishing labourers Chart 3.7: Annual per capita income (BDT) of the family labourers Chart 4.1: Duration (average month) of work as fishing labour by gender Chart 4.2: Type of employer of the fishing labourers Chart 4.3: Toilet facility at workplace of the fishing labourers Chart 4.4: Condition of workplace by sector of work Chart 4.5: Regularity in salary/wage receive by gender Chart 4.6: Regularity in salary/wage receive (%) by sector of work Chart 4.7: Regularity in salary/wage receive (%) by employer type Chart 4.8: Fishing labourers by whether receive benefit other than wage/salary in 9 locations Chart 4.9: Fishing labourers by whether receive benefit other than wage/salary and gender Chart 4.10: Fishing labourers by whether satisfied with present wage/salary and benefits Chart 5.1: Possession of appointment card by employer type Chart 5.2: Possession of appointment card by gender of fishing labourers Chart 5.3: Possession of ID card by gender of fishing labourers Chart 5.4: Possession of ID card by employer type Chart 5.5: Attendance register at workplace of the fishing labourers Chart 5.6: State of security of workplace of the fishing labourers Chart 5.7: Fishing labourers by whether any risk at workplace Chart 5.8: Sector of work of fishing labourers and risk at workplace Chart 6.1: Fishing labourers by state of having different rights Chart 6.2: Awareness of the fishing labourers about labour rights

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Executive Summary

Introduction and methodology

This study was undertaken to know the state of labour rights and awareness of about the labour rights among the labourers in the fishing sector of Bangladesh. Fishing sector in Bangladesh is considered as a rapidly growing sector and important for the socio-economic improvement of the country. Despite the contribution of the fishing sector to the GDP is about 4 percent and about 12 million full or part-time manpower engaged in the sector, it is still largely unorganized. Only a tiny proportion 2.3 percent of the total catch of the country comes from industrial trawler. With this reality huge number of labourers of this sector remaining outside the purview of the labour laws and hence uncertainty over the state of their rights. There is no dearth of study in the fishing sector but most of those are focused on increase in production. Some studies, however, focused on fishermen. But those were limited to the traditional fishermen communities. Nowadays, however, fishing is not limited to the traditional fishermen communities. Despite there is no study estimating the proportion of non-traditional manpower in the sector, it is evident that with growing importance and rapid expansion of the sector huge number of non-traditional labourers have become engaged in the sector. There is always confusion between the traditional fishermen who are mostly self-employed and labourers work for others in the sector. This study exclusively focused on the fishing labourers. Fishing labour has been defined as those persons who are employed to catch, process, transportation and other related jobs on the basis of wages in any form. Both secondary and primary data were used in the study. Secondary data were used for mappings the fishing sector and fishing labourers of Bangladesh. Both quantitative and quantitative data were collected from primary sources using survey, in-depth interviews and FGDs. The study was conducted in 9 locations (upazila & district HQ) along the coastal belt of the country. The sample size for the survey was 450.

Key Findings

Fish production from different sources: During 2014-15 the total fish production of the country was 3.7 million metric ton. Of this 83.7 percent from inland sources (open water 27.8%, close water / culture 55.9%), and 16.3 percent from marine fisheries sources (industrial 2.3% and artisanal 14.0%).

Manpower involved in fishing sector: The fisheries sector employs 9.0 percent of the labour force of the country. About 12 million people are associated with the fisheries sector, of which 1.4 million people rely exclusively on fisheries related activities. About 768,000 inland water fishermen who are often concurrently farmers, and 510,000 marine water fishermen, the majority of whom being traditional artisanal are engaged in the sector. Labour employment in fishing 11 sector has been increasing approximately by 3.5 percent annually. It is worth mention all these persons are not fishing labour. There are fishermen/fishers too. In both and fish capture activities mainly males are involved in Bangladesh. Very recently a few women have engaged in fishing sector, especially in the sector.

Types of work fishing labourers involved: Fishing labourers are involved in verities of activities. Some of these are: fish culture / aquaculture, fish capture, post-harvest processing, , and non-fishing economic activities such as, cultivation, fish feed, maintenance, making fishing gears and supply of subsidiaries, etc.

Socio-economic condition of the fishing labour: As stated, fishing labourers are overwhelmingly male. They are soci-economically poor with more than half face deficit in managing family with incomes throughout the year. Female labourers earn less than half of male. Among the families 64 percent have loan at present, of which 54.6 percent with interest. Despite there are several programmes for the fishing labourers 61 percent never received any help. Membership in development organisation is 54.9 percent of which 84.1 percent in NGOs.

Work and working condition of the fishing labourers: Among the 450 labourers included in the present study 77.8 percent employed in individual enterprises and 22.2 percent in company. They are working for long time as fishing labourers, average 14 years with a maximum of 55 years.

Types of fishing work is important in regard to working condition and safety of the labourer. Distribution of fishing labourers of the present study is marine fishing 38.9 percent, fish marketing 25.1 percent, fish processing 19.1 percent, Sundarban fishing 9.8 percent and fish culture 7.1 percent. Women are engaged in fish processing (94.6%) and fish marketing sectors (5.4%).Fish processing plants of Khulna and industrial marine fishing of Chittagong found relatively organized compared to other sectors.

Condition of workplace: More than 80 percent labourers need to arrange food at workplace by their own and one-fourth drink water from unsafe sources. While more than half has no toilet at workplace. Overall,40 percent of the labourers termed the condition of their workplace as ‘not good’ mainly because of fear of robber (Sea&Sundarban), fear of wild animals (Sundarban), dirty condition and housing problem. Female labourers, being employed in relatively organized enterprises termed the condition of their work place as ‘good’. Among the sectors marine and Sundarban fishing termed as ‘not good’ by most of the labourers work in these sectors.

Despite smaller (12.9%) proportion of fishing labourers do not receive wage regularly, female and labourers engaged in fish processing and fish culture sectors do not receive wage regularly. Less than half (40%) of the labourers receive benefit other than wage. Despite organized sector labourers work in companies receive other benefits in lesser proportion (35%). Finally, 66% of the labourers are not satisfied with their present wage and benefits; more among female (82%), Sundarban fishing (86.4%) and fish culture (81.3%) sectors. Prominent desires are: wage increase, financial support in need and security measures at workplace.

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About half of the labourers mentioned that security of their work place is not good with highest 98 percent in Sarankhola and 92 percent in Charfashion; male being higher than female and all labourers in Sundarban fishing, 70.3 percent of marine fishing, and 30.5 percent of fish culture.

As high as 84 percent fishing labourers reported they face risk at work; all of Sarankhola, Patharghata and Charfashion and almost all of Barisal, Khulna and Cox’s Bazar; all of work in Sundarban fishing, 93.1 percent of work in marine fishing, and three-fourth of fish processing and fish marketing each. Risks are fear of robber, wild animals and cyclone; sickness (fever, diarrhea, cold etc.); injury/fracture; pain due to carry overweight. In case of two-thirds of the labourers employer didn’t inform about the risk of the workplace.

About three-fourth of the labourers faced sickness and more than two-third saw accident at workplace, again highest in Sundarban and marine fishing.

Fishing labourers work long hours, 15.7 hours per day with highest 24 hours; male higher (16.8) compared to female 8.2), highest in Sundarban and marine fishing, and higher for individual enterprises.

Situation of labour rights in the fishing labourers: Situation oflabour rights in the fishing sector is deplorable as presented in the following table about 15 selected rights considered: Table 1: Labour rights situation in the fishing sector

Labourers enjoy or not Rights Yes No Have appointment letter 7.6 92.4 Have ID card 22.0 78.0 Have attendance register 22.7 77.3 Treatment facility 30.7 69.3 Wage during sick 30.2 69.8 Wage during no work 12.2 87.8 Retirement benefit 3.1 96.9 Predetermined leave 16.7 83.3 TU membership 18.4 81.6 Termination notice 7.3 92.7 Working hour (8/day) 23.3 76.7 Received training 0.4 99.6 Break during work 60.0 40.0 Regular wage 87.1 12.9 Security at workplace 57.8 42.2

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The average score for situation of above 15 rights is only 4.00 out of 15; lowest in Charfashion (1.80) & Patharghata (1.94) and relatively better in Khulna (8.24), Chittagong (5.60)’ Cox’s Bazar (4.8) and Shyamnagar (4.10) despite still very low. Situation of female fishing loabourers (5.59) is relatively better than male (3.77). Among the sectors, fish processing (5.85), fish culture (5.00), and fish marketing (4.61) are relatively better and Sundarban (2.59) and marine (2.86) fishing being the worsts. Rights situation is much better for labourers in companies (7.06) compared to individual enterprises (3.12).

Awareness of the fishing labourers about the labour rights: Awarenessofthe fishing labourers about labour rights is also disappointing measured through 11 selected labour rights as presented in the table 2: Table 2: Awareness of the fishing labourers about labourrights Aware or not Rights Yes No Appointment letter 29.3 70.7 Identity card 42.4 57.6 Attendance register 34.7 65.3 Security arrangement 26.7 73.3 Wage during no work 20.2 79.8 Termination notice 14.0 86.0 Retirement benefit 5.3 94.7 Predetermined leave 24.2 75.8 Specified work hour 25.6 74.4 Treatment facility 25.6 74.4 Trade union 26.0 74.0

The average score for awareness about labour rights stands at only 2.74 out of 11. Fishing labourers of Sarankhola, Charfashion and Patharghata are least aware about the labour rights with average score of only 0.36, 0.42 and 0.50 respectively out of 11 and Khulna (7.10) & Chittagong (6.44) being in relatively better position. Awareness of female fishing loabourers (3.98) is relatively better than male (2.56). Among the sectors, fish processing (4.59), fish marketing (3.50), and fish processing (3.31) are relatively better and Sundarban (only 0.39)and marine (1.83) fishing being the worsts. Rights situation is much better for labourers in companies (6.58) compared to the labourers in individual enterprises (1.64).

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Recommendations and Advocacy Issues

Recommendations The state of and awareness about labour rightsin the fishing sector found deplorable. This has been found through findings of survey, FGDs and in-depth interviews. To improve the state of and awareness about rights, based on the findings of the present study following recommendations are made.

1) Despite overwhelming majority of the labourers remain out of Trade Unions (TU), those who were related with TUs found in better position. Roundtable meetings also revealed that unorganized labourers are unable to realize their rights. So, fishing labourers should be organized in TUs or some other organisations like TUs. Most trade unions in our country are politically affiliated. There is no harm in organizing labourers under TUs affiliated with national political parties. But leaders should be careful about using the TUs for other political reasons than that of the labour issues. 2) Number of organistions are found already existing in some of the study locations but inactive. Initiatives should be taken to identify these organisations and BILS may undertake programmes for the purpose. 3) It was found that government officials meet the owner of the enterprises during their occasional visits. The frequency of their visit should be reasonably increased and during the visit they should meet the labourers and labour unions. 4) More control should be imposed on the employers, especially owner of boats/trawlers out for fishing in Sundarbanand Sea. There should provision of license. License should be given to only those who fulfils the predetermined conditions. Information at the office located in the landing stations or like placesshould be kept when the boats/trawlers leave for fishing and immediately after return. During out for fishing the controlling agency should keep contact with the boat on regular basis. 5) Fear of robber and abduction found rampant and identified as number one problem by the labourers as well as all others concerned. This situation can be improved only through the help of law enforcing agencies. Advocacy session should be conducted with Coast Guard, Forest Guard, Police, and other law-enforcing agencies. 6) Sundarban and marine fishing are found full of risks. Special programmes for the labourers engaged in these two sectors should be undertaken. 7) Labour rights mentioned in the existing Labour Laws are not implementable for the labours of unorganized fishing sector. So, new policy should be formulated and laws should be enacted incorporating the situation of the fishing sector of Bangladesh. 8) Despite not enough, there are some useful government programmes for the fishing labourers. This are, however, in most cases do not cover the labourers. For example, ID card project has

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been targeting the fishermen who are actually owners in most cases. The card is known as jele card and includes primarily fishermen (some labourer may be included for example, labour engaged in ghat ) engaged in marine and Sundarban fishing and, as such, excluding majority of the labourers of the fishing sector. So, the policy for registering and distributing ID card should be changed so that all fishing labourers would avail that. 9) Governance is always an issue for the government projects. ID card and Allowance during ban on Hilsha catch, allowance in case of death during marine fishing, projects are reported lack of good governance. Despite that ID card project have been proved very useful. Other programmes are also beneficial for the labourers. So, governance problems should be eliminated through involving competent people from different categories so that malpractice would be minimized. 10) Fishing labourers do not receive any benefit other than wage. Employers, during FGD, also endorsed that. Moreover, labourers are not satisfied with their present amount of wage. Other issues like security arrangement, treatment, etc. are also need to be addressed. Employers are important in this regard. So advocacy session with the employers should be conducted about wage increase, other benefit such as bonus, treatment facility 11) Overall security also found a general concern of the fishing labourers. All boats/trawlers should have provisioned with enough security measures like providing wireless, radio, life jacket, medicine, food &water, etc. according to requirement determined by the competent authority. Government should establish a strong and effective mechanism to monitor this. 12) Illness has been experienced by almost all labourers at workplace. This problem is not solvable by the employer. Government should come forward in this regard. Floating hospitalwould be very effective in this regard. Besides well-equipped hospitals should be constructed at all the landing stations. 13) Almost all fishing labourer families found with one or more loan. FGD findings also reveal that there is a provision of dadon when there is no work. Necessary arrangements should be made by the competent agencies including bank and other financial institutions to provide loan to the fishing labourers in simple terms. 14) Insurance (general & life) would also be an effective measure against uncertainty of the sector. It is learned that there was initiative to introduce insurance for the fishing labourers. Despite it progressed well due to some legal limitations it could not be completed. The project should be revived immediately through contacting the insurance authority and laws/policies should be enacted clearing the obstacles. 15) Large trawler cause severe harm for small trawlers or artisanal boats in the sea. Sometime boat capsizes as collides with or by the waves of the large trawler. So, it is also necessary to include the owners of the large trawlers in advocacy sessions to find out solution to the problem. 16) Robbers and law enforcing agencies of the neighbouring country has also been identified as a threat for the labourers in the sea and in Sundarban fishing. If intrusion occurs unconsciously there should be arrangements for easy repatriation and friendly treatment.

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Advocacy should be conducted with the respective government agencies (Foreign and Home ministries) in this regard. 17) Fishing is a huge potential sector and increasing rapidly in Bangladesh. Productivity of the sector, however, still far less than expected. Fishing requires special skills. Findings of the present study reveals that none of the fishing labourers have any training from anywhere. Whatever skills they have, acquired through work. There is a false conception that fishing does not require any special skill and even literacy. This should be eliminated. Training institutes should be established to train the labourers in the fishing sector, especially those engaged in marine and Sundarban fishing. 18) There is wide difference among the locations, between gender, among the sectors and between types of employer in terms of situation of and awareness about labour rights. So, measures must be location, gender, sector and employer specific. Advocacy issues should also planned considering these differences. 19) The whole fishing sector should be declared as industry so that all labourers engaged in different sectors would fall under the purview of labour laws. 20) Fishing is a dynamic sector. There are areas within the sector not well known. Such as, the proportion of traditional and fisherman from other communities not known to us. Moreover, new issues are emerging continuously. To ensure the sustainable welfare of the labourers, regular research should be undertaken on existing and emerging issues in the sector.

Advocacy Issues To improve the state of and awareness about labour rights advocacy session should be organized participated by all relevant stakeholders. There is no specific agency for the purpose. So, it is suggested that BILS shall take the responsibility of conducting advocacy. For the purpose, based on the above recommendations following (Table 3) specific advocacy recommendations are suggested.

Table 3: Advocacy recommendations for labourers in fishing sector of Bangladesh Issue Participant/ stakeholder Focus/subject Orgnisation/TU form • Labourers • Labour issues/problems • TUs • Social issues/problems • Employers • LGI representatives • GOs • NGOs Awareness build up • Labourers • Labour rights • Employers • Labour welfare • TUs • LGIs

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Activate existing • TUs • Identify problems and measures organisations • Particular organisations required to reactivate Development workers (GO & • GO & NGO officials • Need for meeting the labourers NGO) meets only employers Increased supervision and • DoF • License control • LWO • Inspection • Information exchange • Input Robbery & abduction • Coast guard • Threats inSundarban • Naval police • Threats in sea • Forest guard • Threats in gher • Administration • LGIs General labour laws not • LWD • Labour laws appropriate for fishing sector • DoF • Conditions of fishing sector • Law makers All sub-sectors of fishing • Ministry of industry • Marine fising sector not treated as industry • Ministry of Fisheries & • Sundarban fishing livestock • Gher work • Law makers • Fish processing • Fish marketing Fishing labourers are • DoF • Fishing labourers should get excluded from existing • LWD priority programmes such as ID card • LGIs • Administration Lacking good governance in • DoF • Benefits should go to genuine implementation of projects • LWD fishing labourers / fishermen with • LGIs full transparency • Administration Labourers receive low wage • Employers • Tripartite meetings to fix and no other benefit • Labour unions/organisation minimum wage and other benefit • Government representatives • Security arrangement • Strong monitoring Labourers face illness • Employers • Provide effective first aid • Ministry of health • Hospital at landing stations • Floating hospital • Medical consultation over mobile Labourers need loan • Finacial institutions • Loan in simple terms • Employers • Grant in need • LGIs • DoF Labourers are not ensured • Insurance company • Comprehensive insurance • Financial institution • Contribution to be shared by • Employers Labour • Government representative Employer Government Industrial/large trawlers • Industrial trawler operators • Coordination between large and

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cause harm to smaller trawler • Coast guard small/artisanal boats • Naval police Harassment by law enforcing • Ministry of Home • Exchanges of views regarding agencies of the neighbouring • Ministry of Foreign Affairs common issues countries • Law enforcing agencies • Friendly treatment of labourers in case of intrusion mistakenly • Easy repatriation No skill training for the • Ministry of education • Appropriate skill training on fishing labourers • TVET providing institutions safety issues and increased • NGOs productivity • Employers • Basic skill about trawler/boat and • Labourers fishing gear operation • Common health problems • Insufficientinformation/data • Research organisations • Prepare database • Identify issues continuously • Researchers • Study issues & suggestion to • Develop new knowledge • Donors Resolve • Direction for formulation/ change policies • New theory build up

ChapterI Introduction and Context of the Present Study

Introduction

With an area of only 147,570 sq. km. Bangladesh is the home of 163,014,351 people 1. The country is mainly agro-economy based with approximately 75 percent of the workforce involved

1 http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/bangladesh-population/ 19

in agriculture. Fisheries are now considered as the second most effective sector for employment generation and poverty eradication in Bangladesh. Bangladesh have 580 Kilometre cost line with total off shore area of 125,000 sq. km. of which 70,000 sq. km. for fishing;3,907,488 ha inland open water area; and 800,705 ha inland close water area that produced 3,684,894 MT fish during 2014-15 (Hussain, 2016). The fisheries sector contributes about 4.0 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 17.8 million (11%) of total population, of which 1.1 million women (8.5% of fisheries sector employment)2. Labour employment in fishing sector has been increasing by approximately 3.5% annually 3.

Labourers engaged in fishing sector As stated 17.8 million manpower is employed in fishing sector. These manpower may be grouped into four categories as follows: 1) Traditional caste fishermen, 2) Non-traditional fishermen, 3) Jalmahal lease-holders, trawler or mechanized boats owners (who are not fishermen); and 4) The public who catch fish for subsistence purposes.

Historically, traditional caste fishermen in Bangladesh are socio-economically severely underprivileged. Culturally their status was at bottom of the tier. In fact majority of them belonged to the untouchable caste and subjected to all sorts of discrimination. Subsequently, there was no question of worker right. With increasing contribution of fishing sector in the economy and involvement of more and more worker including non-traditional fishermen, the sector has become the focus of the human rights organisations and activists as some areas of fishing sector have been proved extremely hazardous for the workers engaged. However,to large scale, the rights and benefits affecting the socio-economic status of majority workers in this sector are yet to address. These include their appointment letters as a job security document that describes the work, gives details of the wage, hours of work, weekly holiday, number of days as paid leave, etc. There are already some polices in the fisheries sector such as National Fisheries Policy, 1998; National Shrimp Policy, 2014. Despite the main thrust of these policies is increase the productivity of the sector and socio-economic development of the fishermen, the NSP has clause to protect the labour rights. There is already some laws formulated for the labourers in the shrimp sector as it has emerged as the second highest export earnings sector and as such becomes the concern of the international communities. Yet those are only related to the workers of post- harvest processing, marketing and exporting shrimp. Moreover, shrimp is only a tiny part of the whole fishing sector. As stated there are varieties of work in the fishing sector. Some of those are

2 Hussain, M. (2016). Fisheries Statistics in Bangladesh: Issues, Challenges and Plans. Asia and Pacific Commission on Agricultural Statistics , Thimphu, Bhutan, 15-19 February 2016. http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/ess/documents/apcas26/presentations/APCAS-16-6.3.2_-_Bangladesh_- _Fisheries_Statistics_in_Bangladesh.pdf 3 (http://www.marinefreshbd.com/pro.html ). 20

extremely injurious to health. But little is known about those except shrimp industry. There are number of research works too but like labour rights, most of those are also shrimp centred. For example, Nuruzzaman conducted a study on “Rights, Benefits and Social Justice: Status of Women Workers Engaged in the Shrimp Processing Industries of Bangladesh”. The study explored that casual women worker under labour contractors face violence. At least 70 women workers reported verbal abuse and harassment by their male counterpart, supervisor or by bosses. Thirty women respondents reported physical harassment, while nine young women workers reported sexual abuse at their work place. In majority of the cases, the victims are young and unmarried (Nuruzzaman, 2014). There are some studies related to production, processing and marketing too. However, despite extremely important, very few studies have looked at increasing number of the worker involved in the sector, their identity, their socio-economic status, nature of their work, state of their awareness about labour rights. In this context the present study has been conducted with the following objectives:

Objectives of the study 1. To mapping of wage workers in fishing sector in selected three locations of Bangladesh, i.e., greater Khulna, greater Barisal and greater Chittagong; 2. To explore types of work fishing sector labourers are engaged in Bangladesh; 3. To know the socio-economic state of workers in fishing sector of Bangladesh; 4. To know the awareness and status of worker rights and OHS of the workers in fishing sector of Bangladesh; and 5. To identify the worker issues for advocacy for workers in fishing sector of Bangladesh; and

Methodology of the study The nature of the study was exploratory and descriptive. It explored the workers engaged in fishing sector and nature of their work, described their socio-economic status and state of awareness about worker rights, and identify issues for advocacy for conducting advocacy sessions with the stakeholders. For the purpose both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from primary & secondary sources through, survey, FGD, multi stakeholder meeting, divisional round table, in-depth interview and document study.

Study area and sample size The study covered nine locations under three regions of Bangladesh, i.e. Khulna, Barisal &Chittagong. Study locations under three regions were as follows: • Khulna : Shyamnagar of Satkhira, Sarankhola of Bagerhat and Khulna Sadar; • Barisal : Patharghata of Borguna, Charfashion of Bhola and Barisal Sadar; and • Chittagong : Cox’s Bazar Sadar, Shitakundu of Chittagong and Chittagong Sadar.

Mapping of fishing labourer in Bangladesh was done based secondary data. In the study area,

21 based on secondary data and discussion with Upazila Fisheries Officer (UFO) as well as trade union representatives, locations having concentration of fishing labourer were selected. From the selected location(s) of a particular area, 50 fishing labourer were selected on quota basis for survey, that is, survey continued unless the quota of 50 fulfils. The survey was conducted to know the socio-economic status, nature and conditions of job, and state and awareness of rights of the labourers. To supplement the quantitative data, FGDs were conducted with two groups of fishing labourers and one group of employer in each area. In-depth interviews were conducted with union workers, manpower Officer / Labour Welfare Officers, fisheries officer in each area. One multi stakeholder meeting took place in each area where workers, employers, trade union leaders, relevant government officials & local level CSOs working on fishing labourers’ rights were present to identify the labour issues in fishing sector. All data received were used for situation analysis and identify advocacy issues for fishing labourer.

Data collection instruments Seven separate instruments for different categories of respondents were used in data collection as follows: Instrument # 1 Survey Questionnaires for Fishing Labourer : A semi-structured questionnaire used for collection of detail data about fishing labourer’s socio-economic and working condition, state and awareness about worker rights, etc. Instrument # 2 Interview Guideline for Upazila Fisheries Officer : This guideline was used for in- depth interview with the Upazila Fisheries Officer about the legal provisions and government programmes for the security and welfare of the fishing labours. Instrument # 3 Interview Guideline for NGO Officials : This guideline was used for in-depth interview of the NGO officials working for fishing laourers in the study areas. Instrument # 4 Interview Guideline for Labour Welfare Officer : This guideline was used for in- depth interview of the labour welfare officer at each district of the study areas. Instrument # 5 Interview Guideline for Employers : This guideline was used for in-depth interview of the employers of fishing labourers in the study areas. Instrument # 6 FGD Guideline for Fishing Labourers : This guideline was used for focus group discussion participated by 8-10 fishing labourers. Instrument # 7 FGD Guideline for TU members : This guideline was used for focus group discussion participated by 8-10 trade union activists. The total sample size along with methods of data collection has been presented in table 1.1.

Table 1.1: Sample and method of data collection Method of Respondent No. of respondent No. of Total Type of Nature of data collected Data collection category in each area area sample Instrument Document - - 9 - Document Mapping review study Survey Fishing labourers 50 9 450 Interview Socio-economic, work schedule & worker rights

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In-depth Upazila Fisheries 1 9 9 Semi- Programmes and activities interview Officer structured related to fishing labourer NGO Officials 2 9 18 questionnaire Programmes and activities related to fishing labourer Labour Officer/ 1 3 3 Labour rights and labour (Dist.) welfare Trade Union Worker 2 9 18 Labour rights & welfare

FGD Fishing labourers 2 9 18 FGD guideline Work & worker rights (8 in each FGD) Trade union activists 1 9 9 worker rights & fishing (8 in each FGD) sector Multi Labours, 1 9 9 Guideline Worker rights and stakeholder Employers, advocacy meeting/FGD TU-leaders Gov. (labour officer, Fisheries officer) Local CSO (Codec)

Research Team Three Research Teams, each for three areas of a division, collected data during December 2015. Each Research Team was composed of two members and worked in each area for about 7-10 days.

Data analysis Quantitative data were computerized using SPSS software under the supervision of the Research Coordinator. The research Coordinator himself analysed the data according to the study objectives. Qualitative data were categorized thematically and used independently as well as supplement to the quantitative data. Findings derived through analyzing qualitative data collected from each district were presented in the Multi-stakeholder meetings held in each district. The multi- stakeholder meetings also generated useful information which are incorporated in the research report.

Chapter II Mapping of Fishing Sector and Fishing Labourers in Bangladesh

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Bangladesh ranked 5 th asaquaculture producing country intheworld (FAO, 2015).Last 10years average growth rateoffisheries sector is 5.4 percent.Whereas, aquaculture shows theannual growth performance of8.2 percent(Hussain, 2016). This chapter has presented the state of fishing sector and human resources (more specifically fishing labourers) engaged in this sector mainly through study of documents.

Diversity of fish in Bangladesh There are diverse varieties of fish in Bangladesh; about 795 native species of fish and shrimp in the fresh and marine waters and 12 exotic species that have been introduced. In addition, there are 10 species of pearl bearing bivalves, 12 species of edible tortoise and turtle, 15 species of crab and 3 species of lobster (FAO, 2011).

Geographical area of fishing in Bangladesh Bangladesh is a low lying riverine country. Along with vast coastal area, water bodies like rivers, canals, beels , ponds, etc. are abundant throughout the country. Moreover, during monsoon majority of the country become inundated. Thus, all regions of the country produces fish. Yet, regional concentrations of fish production can be observed. Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Joypurhat and Rangpur districts have formed a region in the northern part of Bangladesh. While Natore, Pabna, Kushtia, Chuadanga and Meherpur in the western region; , Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj in the eastern region; Brahmanbaria, Narshingdi, Gazipur, Narayanganj, Munshiganj, Shariat-pur and Madaripur in the middle part; Barisal, Jhalakathi and Bagerhat in the southern part of Bangladesh are high-growth regions for fisheries (Bayes, 2015). On the other hand, coastal districts like Satkhira, Khulna, Bagerhat, Barisal, Bhola, Bouguna, Noakhali, Chittagong, etc. are prominent for marine and inland fish capture and shrimp farming.

Water resources and fishing in Bangladesh Bangladesh is rich in resources in its vast inland and marine water with high potential fish production. The fisheries sector of Bangladesh can divided into following sectors and sub- sectors: A. Inland fishing i) Inland capture or open-water fisheries; ii) Inland culture or closed-water fisheries; B. Marine fishing iii) Marine industrial () fisheries; and iv) Marine artisanal fisheries.

The open-water fishery is a self-sustaining system although human interventions have significantly waned its health and productivity in recent years. The culture fishery on the other hand is primarily an economic venture managed by private individuals and farms. The marine fishery is an open access resource, which has become a major source of economic return for the

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country.An account of the water bodies of Bangladesh is presented in table 2.1 . It is evident that overwhelming majority (83.72%) of fish production comes from inland fisheries and more than half (55.93%) from close water (culture). The proportion of inland open water capture is little more than one-fourth (27.79%). The proportion of marine fish capture is 16.28 percent and marine industrial catch is only 2.3 percent of the total catch.

Table 2.1: Annual fish capture from different sources in Bangladesh (2014-2015) Sector of fisheries Water area Production Percent (Ha) ( MT) Inland Open River and 853863 174878 4.75 water 177700 17580 0.48 Beel 114161 92678 2.52 Kaptai Lake 68800 8645 0.23 Floodplain 2692964 730210 19.82 Capture total 3907488 1023991 27.79 Closed Pond 377968 1610875 43.72 water Seasonal cultured water body 133330 201280 5.46 (Culture) Baor (Oxbow lakes) 5488 7267 0.20 Shrimp/Prawn Farm 275583 223582 6.07 Pen Culture 8326 16084 0.44 Cage Culture 10 1969 0.05 Culture total 800705 2061057 55.93 Inland fisheries total 4708193 3085048 83.72 Marine Industrial (Trawler) 84846 2.30 fisheries Artisanal 515000 13.98 Marine fisheries total 599846 16.28 Country total 3684894 100.0 Source: Husssain, 2016, pp.4-5.

Over the years, amount fish capture has increased from all sources. However, the increase for aquaculture source is the highest; from only 0.39 lakh MT in 1963 to 19.56 MT in 2013-14. The increase in amount of fish capture from marine source is also manifold; from 0.42 lakh MT to 5.96 lakh MT in 2013-14. The increase in amount of fish capture from inland open water source is minimal; from 6.69 lakh MT to 9.95 lakh MT in 2013-14 indicating that inland open water area might have decreased. (Table 2.2).

Table2.2: Fish production in Bangladesh over the period by various sources Sources Fish production in (Lakh MT)

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2013-14 2007-08 1993 1983 1973 1963 Inland open water 9.95 10.60 5.73 4.71 6.64 6.69 Aquaculture (Fish & shrimp) 19.56 10.06 2.64 1.17 0.68 0.39 Marine waters 5.96 4.97 2.53 1.65 0.88 0.42 Total 35.47 25.63 10.90 7.53 8.20 7.50 Source : DoF (Bangladesh Economic Review 2015)

Human resources in fishing Sector

Manpower employed in fishingsector in Bangladesh The fisheries sector employs 9.0 percent of the labour force of the country (Bayes, 2015). Among the manpower engaged in fishing sector, 73 percent are involved in subsistence fisheries on the country's flood plains (Azim et al ., 2002).It is estimated that there are about 768,000 inland water fishermen who are often concurrently farmers, and 510,000 marine water fishermen, the majority of whom being traditional artisanal. They operate fishing in about 870 coastal villages and 45,000 rural communities in inland areas. Labour employment in fishing sector has been increasing approximately by 3.5% annually (http://www.marinefreshbd.com/pro.html ).In both aquaculture and fish capture activities in Bangladesh mainly males are involved. Very recently a few women have engaged in fishing sector, mainly in processing sector.

The fishers All people engaged in fishing are not of same category. They are involved in different capacities and perform different kinds of activities. They may be employer or self-employer or labourers, etc. Manpower engaged in fishing sector can be categorized as follows:

Table 2.3: Primary criteria for categorizing livelihoods dependent on inland fisheries Sl. Categories Characteristics 1. Fishers (Fishermen) Full time fishing and fishing related activities; fully dependent on income from fishing 2. Part-time fishers Fishing for income seasonably or part-time 3. Subsistence fishers Fishing for food 4. Fishing gear makers Family members may also engagefor supplementary income 5. Lease holders/ditchowner High financial capital; influential; high management skill 6. Fish processor Involved in fish processing seasonally; most of the family income (mostlywomen) comes from fish processing 7. Fish traders Fully dependent on fish trading; borrow money to invest intrading 8. Fishing labourers/workers Wage earners assisting in cultivating, catching, landing, packing, transferring, marketing, etc.; mostly poor and unskilled It is worth mention that the present study has included the people of the last category (8. Fishing

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labourers/workers) of the table 2.3. That is, those who engaged as wage / salary labourers for some employers are defined as fishing labourers. Fishers or fishermen may also be fishing labourers.

Type of Fisheries work Fish culture / Aquaculture : Despite fish catch in marine and inland open water has been the major source of fish in Bangladesh over centuries, aquaculture has become a major source of fish in recent decades. It started with shrimp during 1970s. Millions of shrimp farm (locally known as Gher ) throughout the coastal belt of Bangladesh are cultivating shrimp now. As presented earlier, nowadays, aquaculture has become the major sector of socio-economic development of the country and people are increasingly becoming engaged in this sector.

Fish capture :This is also presented earlier that a huge number of human resource is engaged in catching fish in the Sea, Sundarban, and inland open and close water.

Post-harvest processing : According to a BFFEA (2009) report, there are now 148 shrimp and fish processing industries & their total capacity of processing 11,300 MT per day (http://www.marinefreshbd.com/pro.html ). A significant number of people are engaged in such fish processing industries.

Fish marketing :Approximately 97 percent of the inland fish production is marketed internally for domestic consumption while the remaining 3 percent is exported (Hasan, 2001). Four categories of markets are involved in the distribution of fish. These are: primary markets, secondary markets (assembly markets), higher secondary markets (wholesale markets) and central markets. Locally these steps in the chain are known as: Fisherman Nikary (collector), Chalani (transporter), Aratdars (wholesaler), Paiker (retailer) and consumer.Fish farmers receive 56 percent of the price paid by the final consumer. That is, 44 percent of the retail price is taken by the various intermediaries (Alam, 2002) . Both individuals and company / trade houses are involved in fish marketing.

Fish inspection and quality control : As a major exporting item, safety and quality management is major issue of the Shrimp sector. It starts from post-harvest handling to product processing steps following control measures based on HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles. A good number of people are involved in this process and some of them are women.

Non fishing economic activities :The business of fishing is combined with non-fishing economic pursuits like cultivation, fish feed, maintenance, making fishing gears and supply of subsidiaries, etc. Thousands of people, both male and female, are engaged in such activities.

Child labour in fishing sector Child labour continues to be a major concern worldwide. The ILO considers fishing as a hazardous occupation. Children engage in a wide variety of tasks in the fisheries and aquaculture sector, including fishing, pre-trip preparations, post-harvest activities (processing and

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marketing), feeding and harvesting fish in ponds and cages, boatbuilding and net making and mending, etc. Generally,boys tend to be more involved in fishing and girls in post-harvest activities. ILO (2002) found widespread involvementof children in small-scale, family-based or private enterprises. It is obvious that children are more at risk than adults from safety and health hazards. Moreover, there is some evidence of child trafficking through work in fisheries (FAO and ILO, 2013).The Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) of ILO sets the minimum age for work on fishing vessels at 16 (Article 9(1) with a provision of lowering up to 15 years for those who are no longer subject to compulsory schooling but are engaged in vocational training in fishing. In Bangladesh, there are reported cases of indentured children below the age of 15 years being employed to load-unload fish from vessels operating fixed bag nets in Sundarbans, and in sorting, loading and drying them (Mahmud and Hasan, 2002).Recently the issue of child labour has been raised against the shrimp processing industry of Bangladesh. Verite (2012) observed that there existed forced labour in the form of long working hours in processing and child labour, generally accompanying working mothers under a labour contractor (Nuruzzaman, 2014).Vegard Iverson observed that 2.8 percent of all child labour in Bangladesh contributes to fisheries. Among them 86.1 percent are boys (Iverson, 2006). It was mentioned in FAO Workshop on Child Labour in Fisheries and Aquaculture that Workers working in fishing sectors are in bonded servitude or performing forced or compulsory labour on board fishing vessels, at fish landing centres, on fishingplatforms at sea, in fishing operations in lakes and reservoirs, in fish processing plants. It can be construed as unconditional worst forms of child labour, work that exposes children to physical abuse; work in confined spaces; work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools, or work which involves the manual handling or transport of heavy loads; work in an unhealthy environment which may expose children to temperatures, noise levels, or vibrations damaging to their health; and work under difficult conditions such as work for long hours or night work may be construed as hazardous work in fisheries and aquaculture which is inconsistent with the Worst Forms of Child Labour Recommendation, 1999 (No. 190) 4.

Women in fishing Traditionally women in fishing communities have been involved in making fishing gears, fish processing, small-scale retail trade of fish and fishery products. As shrimp sector flourished employment and income opportunities for women created. Women in shrimp sector collect fry from rivers, provide labour in shrimp processing and helping in manufacturing fishing gears. A significant number of female labourersare involved in shrimp processing plants where 85 percent of the work like sorting, peeling the shell of small shrimp, washing, grading, weighing and panning is done by women (Aghazadeh, 1994).It is estimated that there are over 50,000 workers

4FAO Workshop: Child Labour in Fisheries and Aquaculture ,14 to 16 April 2010, Rome, Children’s Work and Child Labour in Fisheries: A Note on Principles and criteria for employing children and policies and action for progressively eliminating the Worst Forms of Child Labour in fisheries and Aquaculture. 28

employed in processing factories alone, of which more than 70 percent are women. Permanent employees are mainly men, while about 80 percent of the casual contract workers are women, who are not supported directly either by the factory or by the contractors and are kept outside the purview of labour rules (Nuruzzaman et al, 2014).Women are increasingly participating in all sorts of fisheries activities including planning to implementation, pond excavation to fish sell, prawn collection to processing and even net making to fish drying.

Socio-economic status of fishermen / fishing labourers

Historically, fishermen of Bangladesh are socio-economically severely underprivileged. Culturally their status was at bottom of the tier. In fact, majority of them belonged to the untouchable castes and subjected to all sorts of discrimination. Despite number and proportion of manpower engaged in fishing sector has increased significantly, nowadays, participation of traditional fishermen in fishing sector has decreased due to various reasons and participation of fishermen (including fishing labourers) from other communities (including Muslims) have increased. As a result, the fishery sector in Bangladesh is characterized by a labour force which is excessive in relation to the limited fishery resources. Thus, fish production for fishermen has been decreasing and it often does not meet even minimum requirements (Aghazadeh, 1994). Sultana et al. (2003) shows that among fulltime fishers more than fifty percent are very poor, twenty percent are poor, twenty percent are average and less than ten percent are better off. Ali (2014) found that 87 percent of fishers were poor with monthly income of less than BDT 5,000/- and they need to depend on loan from money lender or NGOs (Ali, 2014). The education of the youngsters in the fishing communities does not continue to a desirable level. Ali(2014) found that 70 percent of the fishers are illiterate with no higher education. The illiteracy rate is higher than the national figure of 37.7 percent (Economic Review 2015). Aghazadeh (1994) showed that traditional fishing communities live in villages close to the bank of the river, generally at the very edge of the landmass where land is least productive and subject to erosion. About 70–80 percent has no reasonable home or adequate housing. The community is overcrowded. Some 25 percent are homeless and live on the boat (Aghazadeh, 1994). Recently Ali (2014) found that about 12 percent fisher landless, 72 percent have only homestead land and about 16 percent have agricultural land. Landless people live on embankment, roadsides or in houses constructed on others’ land. On average, about 44.3 percent fishers do not have fishing boat and 30 percent do not have any fishing gears. They catch fish using boat and net owned by Mohajans (Investors / money lenders) on catch share basis or as labour (Ali, 2014). There is higher incidence of using pond and river water as drinking water among fishers than that of the non-fishers. Less percentage of fishers household have been found to use sanitary latrine than the non-fishers (Ali, 2014).Supplies of potable water at close proximity are rare while basic sanitation facilities are inadequate, almost non-existent. As a result, cases of diarrhoea are frequent but the nearest diarrhoea clinic is 50 kilometers away. Doctors are not accessible and no family planning is available (Aghazadeh, 1994).

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The fishing communities are generally below the poverty line, especially during the lean period (December-June). Within a fishing community, incomes are uneven, and disparities are frequently very high, especially between poorly equipped fishermen and those with mechanised boats. Due to seasonality in fishing, incomes are not evenly spaced throughout the year. The lean (December-June) and the peak (July-November) periods each last 6 months. This uneven pattern of earnings leads to indebtedness (Aghazadeh, 1994). Study shows that about 77.6 percent fishers household take loan from different resources for maintaining their family during lean and ban fishing period as well as for purchasing fishing equipment. Major source of fisher’s loan is the NGOs. Besides, fishers take loan from Mahajan, Arotdar, relatives and neighbours (Ali, 2014).

OHS (Occupational and Health Safety) of the fishers

The OHS status of the fishing labourers varies by sector. Those who are engaged on marine and Sundarban fishing are in most vulnerable condition in terms of OHS followed by those work in load-unload. In fact, fishing labourers do not have any idea about OHS. On the other hand, the physical environment and work safety across the shrimp processing industries are better as the shrimp importing countries are concerned about the quality and labour right issues. The structural up-gradation and maintenance of the processing environment are prerequisites for handling of perishable raw materials like . This also gave the workers comfortable, clean, healthy working conditions (Nuruzzaman, 2014).

Laws and Policies in the Fishing Sector

It is already become evident that much of the initiatives in the fishing sectors are directed to increase the productivity of the sector. Nevertheless, since long number of policies and acts have been undertaken that directly or indirectly influences the sector. These are:

1) Permanent Settlement Regulation 1, 1793 2) The Private Fisheries Protection Act, 1889 3) State Acquisition and Tenancy Act, 1950 4) The Protection and Conservation of Fish Act, 1950 5) Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation Act, 1973 6) The Marine Fisheries Ordinance, 1983 7) The Fish and (Inspection and Quality Control) Ordinance, 1983 8) The Fisheries Research Institute Ordinance, 1984 9) The Protection and Conservation of Fish Rules, 1985 10) New Policy of 1986 11) National Environmental Policy of 1992 12) National Water Policy, 1997 13) National Fish Policy, 1998 14) National Fisheries Strategies, 2006

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Legal Provisions for the Fishing Labourers

The Constitution of Bangladesh provides the following provisions regarding labour rights: Article 14 provides a fundamental responsibility of the state to emancipate the toiling masses the peasants and workers and the backward section from all sorts of exploitation. Article 15 (b) states that fundamental duty of the State to create employment opportunity at a reasonable wage. Article 19 (1) imposes duty upon the State to ensure equality of opportunity to all its citizen. Article 20 (1) states that work is a right, a duty and a matter of honour. Everyone shall be paid according to his work. Article 34 (1) prohibits all forms of forced labour. Article 38 gives everyone the right of association or union. Trade union is allowed. Article 40 states the right of entering into a lawful profession or occupation and a lawful trade and business.

The Bangladesh Labour Act 2006 provides different rights to the working persons in different sectors. Especially mentionable rights under this Act can be summarized as follows: Section 5 of this Act prescribes that employer must issue an appointment letter and an ID card with photograph. Section 6 and 7 states that it shall be the duty of every employer to keep and maintain a service book having all particulars of the employee. Section 8 lays down a duty to employer to prepare and maintain a worker register during working hour. Section 16 provides that laid off workers will get compensation from the employer. Section 19 ensures death benefit to the family or nominee. Section 20 ensures that no person will be retrenched without one month prior notice. Compensation for no notice is equivalent to 30 days wages. Section 22 mentions that no employee shall be discharged without the certificate of registered physician. Section 22(2) makes provision for compensation equivalent to one month wage for every year service for discharge. Section31 provides that every worker will get certificate of service at the time of his retrenchment, discharge, dismissal, retirement or termination of service. Section46(1) provides maternity benefit to the pregnant worker who has completed six months under the owner on the date of confinement. She will get 8 weeks preceding and 8 weeks immediately following the confinement date. Section89-99 provides welfare measures like first-aid appliances, maintenance of safety record book, washing facility, canteen facility. According to the Section100-119, workers are allowed to get different types of leave,

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holiday, and overtime with regular wages. Section149 prohibits the employers to give wages at the rate below the minimum rate of wages. According to the Section 150 , every worker is entitled to compensation for injury and occupational diseases. According to the Section 176, every worker has the right to form and join in trade unions.

It has already made clear that though fishermen means and includes any person engaged in fishing for livelihood and for sport, but for this study fishing labourer includes and means those persons who are employed to catch, process, transportation and other related jobs on the basis of wages in any form. The ILO considers fishing as a hazardous occupation when compared to other occupations 5. Most of the workers working in this sector are not getting minimum rights that are prescribed in national and international documents. Worker are those employed directly or by a contractor to any establishment or industry to do any kinds of skilled, unskilled, manual, technical, trade promotional or clerical work for hire or reward by an expressed or implied terms excluding a person appointed in a managerial or administrative capacity 6. In fishing sectors most of the workers are appointed by contractors which are about 70-80 percent 7. These workers are not well-informed about their rights. Fishing boat and fish manufacturing industry is treated as industrial establishment and the Bangladesh Lobour Act 2006, along with other labourers, is applicable for the fishing workers/labourers 8. This Act consolidate laws relating to employment of workers, relationship between workers and employers, determination of minimum wages, compensation for injury, formation of trade union, resolving disputes, health, safety, welfare and environment of employment of workers and other related issues 9. Most of the labourers working in fishing sector are from low income, uneducated or low educated group which deprives them from getting labour rights. The rights and benefits are ensured by appointment letters and contracts made between worker and employer which is also depends on the socio-economic status of workers. This appointment letter and contract deed ensures their job security that describes the work, gives details of the wage, hours of work, weekly holiday, number of days as paid leave and also gives some disciplinary instructions. This appointment letter is instrumental for protecting the rights of workers. A report by Solidarity Center 2012 says that 86 percent of workers in the Khulna region did not have any letter of

5 ILO. 1998. Report VI (1): Child Labour: Targeting the Intolerable , ILO, Geneva and ILO, 2007. Work in Fishing Convention, 2007, ILO: Geneva. 6 The Bangladesh Lobour Act 2006, sec 2 (65). 7Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Shahed Uddin Md. Selim and MohammadHiru Miah, Rights, Benefits and Social Justice: Status of Women Workers Engaged in the Shrimp Processing Industries of Bangladesh, Asian Special Issue 27S (2014): 151-163. 8 Labour Act 2006, sec 2 (61) v, w. 9 Labour Act 2006, see preamble. 32

appointment as of 2010 10 . It is also stated in the Second International Safety and Health Conference Proceedings that commercial fishermen continue to risk their lives and livelihood as they labour to bring food to tables around the world. Few occupations are as dangerous as that of a commercial fisherman’s. Safety of these workers as a high priority. Safety equipment, including personal flotation devices, survival suits, and radio equipment, for all vessels are highly recommended 11 .

FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries 1995 imposes duty upon states to provide proper education, training, bank loan facility, insurance coverage, safe, healthy and fair working and living conditions to the fisher according to international agreements and national laws under their jurisdiction 12 .

PSONR which is a popular term which means Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources. PSNOR gives absolute right to the State to use its natural resources. The concept PSONR evolved from ‘Right to Self-determination’ which is guaranteed in every human rights documents. By examining these concepts this right is now extended to indigenous people. Indigenous people has the right to use localized property which is located to community. To some extend fishermen community can also be treated indigenous community. From this view point they are authorized to exercise any right over the localized common property of the State. But in Bangladesh general fishermen can rarely use the common property of the state like sea, river or other internal waters. These properties are used by the State and sometimes leased to the different clubs, organisations and so called community leaders. Actual indigenous fishermen have no or limited access to these common property. Sorkari Jalmohal babosthapona Niti 2009 in Bangladesh also ensures the rights of fishermen regarding this issue.

The institutional framework of the fishing sector in Bangladesh

The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MoFL), Department of Fisheries (DoF), Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) and the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) are the main organisations responsible for aquaculture and its development. Universities, organisations within other ministries and local and international NGOs are also involved in this area. The following institutional bodies are involved in aquaculture and fisheries in Bangladesh:

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock (MOFL) has the overall responsibilities to oversee the

10 Mohammad Nuruzzaman, Shahed Uddin Md. Selim and MohammadHiru Miah, Rights, Benefits and Social Justice: Status of Women Workers Engaged in the Shrimp Processing Industries of Bangladesh, Asian Fisheries Science Special Issue 27S (2014): 151-163 11 Nicolle A. Mode,Priscilla Wopat, George A. Conway, Second International Fishing Industry Safety and Health Conference Proceedings, September 22-24, 2003, Sitka, Alaska, USA. 12 FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries 1995 retrived from http://www.fisheries.gov.bd/sites/default/files/fao__code_of_conduct.pdf (accessed on 10 November 2015) 33

operations of the fisheries sector in Bangladesh. The specific role is assigned to the Department of Fisheries (DOF) as the executive branch of MOFL in implementing government policies in the fishing sector. DoF functions are both regulatory and development. The regulatory functions involve policy advice, quality control and enforcement of laws and regulations which affect the fisheries subsector. The development functions largely relate to fisheries resource management and conservation, extension services and training, and information collection. In addition there is revenue generating activities of DoF. According to the Assistant Director of DoF, there are 21 projects at DoF but none of those exclusively targeted to the fishing labourers. Some projects, however, indirectly contributes to the fishing labourers: ID card project : This project targets the fishermen and labourers engaged in marine and sundarban fishing. Under the project about 1.6 million fishermen have been registered so far and 1.2 million ID card have been issued. Despite some governance problems are there, this initiative has been hailed by all concerned as it will work as the basis for identity, security and welfare measures of the card holders. The project, however, excludes large section of the fishing labourers as they do not have net or boat. Allowance : During ban on fishing 40 kg rice is being provided to the fishermen loss their work and become helpless. This project is also targeted to the fishermen and excludes fishing labourers Alternative Income Project : This project provides grants/loans to the fishermen for alternative income especially during ban on Hilsha fishing.

Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) In 1984 the Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) was created and renamed as BFRI in 1997. The institute is an autonomous research organisation and linked up administratively with the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock. The institute engaged in developing technologies like new fish varieties, combat fish diseases, improved fish feed, etc. through research to increase productivity.

The Bangladesh Fisheries Development Corporation (BFDC) The BFDC was created as an autonomous organisation under the Act No.XXII of 1964 and ratified in 1973 which stipulates activities concerning development of infrastructure for preservation, processing, distribution and marketing of fish and fishery products; surveys of marine fish resources, training of manpower, credit, introduction of new , trawler operations, inputs supplies, net-making, marketing/export, quality control, ice-making, fish meal manufacturing, shrimp feed making, etc.

Bangladesh Rural Development Board Bangladesh Rural Development Board is responsible for the fisheries component of integrated rural development programme.

Land Administration and Land Reform Division

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It is responsible for the leasing of public water bodies.

External Resource Division External Resource Division under the Ministry of Finance is responsible for procuring external aid for aquaculture development.

Export Promotion Bureau Export Promotion Bureau is responsible for export of fisheries products, along with the Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association which is also involved in the export of frozen shrimp, fish and fish products.

Banking Institutions Institutional credit for fisheries sector in Bangladesh is provided by two specialized government owned banks (Bangladesh Krishi Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnanyan Bank) and by three commercial banks (Sonali Bank, Agrani Bank and Janata), and one cooperative bankBangladesh Samabaya Bank Ltd (BSBL), which is the national apex federation of 62 Central Cooperative Banks (CCBs). There are also 400 Thana or Union Central Cooperative Associations (UCCAs), which are financed by Sonali Bank and which disburse loans to village based cooperatives mainly for agricultural seasonal inputs including fishing.

Fishermen's Cooperatives Fishermen's cooperatives were formed by the initiative of the government to promote welfare of fishermen. However, in general, these cooperatives are ridden by unscrupulous non-fishermen (e.g. fish traders) and they find their own position and financial resources. In the absence of effective supportive structure within the cooperatives, fishermen members neither play a useful role nor get any benefits from the cooperatives.

There are three types of fishermen's organisations in Bangladesh: Bangladesh Jatio Matshyajibi Samabay Samity (BJMSS), established in 1960; Bangladesh Jatio Matshyajibi Samity (BJMS), established in 1986; Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Jele Dal (GJJD), established in 1993.

Non-government Organisations (NGO) and aid agencies NGOs are becoming increasingly active in the fisheries sector. They mainly work on promoting aquaculture, and to a lesser extent on community based management of wetlands. Only very recently, a few NGOs have become involved in cooperative based fish sanctuary management involving traditional fishermen and in the field of labour rights.

International organisations International organisations such as (DFID, Danida, NORAD, JICA, World Bank, IMF, and ADB

35 etc.) provide grants and credits for aquaculture development.

External Influences in the Fisheries Sector Donors like IDA (World Bank), ADB, UNDP, FAO, ODA, IFAD, DANIDA, CARE, EU, USAID, CIDA, IUCN, and Ford Foundation are involved in Bangladesh’s fisheries sector with the aim of increasing the fish production and improving the fisheries management. These donors fund studies, research, institutional development, pilot activities, etc. They also show concern for the rights of the fishermen and their role in management. Among the donors the World Bank takes the leading role. These donor agencies have contributed significantly to increasing the culture fisheries yield (Parveen and Faisal).

Other Institutions The key institutions among others involved in the fisheries sub-sector include: The Bangladesh Frozen Food Exporters Association composed of operators of food processing plants who have licenses to export frozen foods. The Fish Producers Association composed of small scale fishermen whose aim is to assist its members to improve their fishing operations. Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Fisheries Division), an autonomous body within the MoA, with responsibility for drawing up research priorities, coordinating research efforts of the various institutes, evaluating research programmes and facilities, and preparing man-power development programmes and national research plans. Other institutions directly involved are the Ministry of Industry, which licenses the industrial trawlers and fish processing plants; Ministry of Labour & Manpower, looks after the labour conditions; the Ministry of commerce, works as a licensing authority in export frozen seafood; and the Ministry of Shipping, which registers the fishing boats. The country's universities are responsible for higher level fisheries education. Youth Development Training Centers, under the Ministry of Youth, deals with extension and the training of unemployed young people and fish farmers.

Problems and Constraints of Bangladesh Fishing Sector

As an occupation and a source of livelihood, fishing is troubled with problems. This is mainly due to the special nature of work in the fishing sector. Fishing is an inherently hazardous vocation. While the labour process in fishing is unique, the sector itself varies vastly from country to country. As a result of the special nature of fishing, fish workers face several important labour issues. In Bangladesh property rights and access to aquatic resources are complicated. Inland open- waters are divided into over 12,000 jalmahals in which fishing is leased out by the government. Leases often go to locally powerful elites or moneylenders. In the last 15 years there have been experiments in licensing fishing rights by the Department of Fisheries (DoF), in open access in rivers, in floodplain stocking, and in community based fisheries management. The Third 36

Fisheries Project focused on stock enhancement in large floodplains. The Fourth Fisheries Project currently has an enhancement orientation, but also seeks to improve on equity and institutional arrangements. The situation is complex, but in reality elites still ‘own’ most fishing rights and profit by collecting tolls from or employing professional fishers. Sultana et al., (2003) mentioned following common problems in fishing sector: Fish and other aquatic resources are decreasing No/limited/restricted access to fishery for poor fishers. Lack of fishing ground Lack of capital in the sector Low price of fish Conflict over surface water use for irrigation and fishery Change in land use pattern-habitat loss Relaxed enforcement of fishery laws

Risk Factors Associated with Fishing in Bangladesh

Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome Since 1988, EUS has been considered the most serious epidemic disease affecting freshwater fish in Bangladesh. A study demonstrated that epizootic ulcerative syndrome (EUS) is still the most damaging disease among freshwater fishes in Bangladesh, and probably has significant effects on fish production, although no direct information on mortalities was obtained. Eighty-six percent of farmers and 89 percent of fishers considered EUS to be a major problem (Khan and Lilley, 2002).Out of the 64 districts, fish with lesions were recorded from fish farms in 32 districts (50%) and 30 (47%) were confirmed EUS positive. EUS commonly affects small wild fishes e.g., Channa spp., Puntius spp., Mastacembelus spp, Colisa spp., Mystus spp., Nandus sp., Anabas sp., Heteropneustes sp., Clarias sp. and Ambassis spp. Major carps are the most significantly affected farmed fish (Khan and Lilley, 2002). Rural poor people catch these species of fish as a main source of animal protein, as they usually cannot purchase fish or other animal products. People involved in this activities ranges from children to professional fisher folk. Thus they are vulnerable to EUS.

Vulnerability of fishery-based livelihoods to the impacts of climate change Vulnerability of fishery-based livelihoods to climate variability and change can be defined as the degree to which a fishery-based livelihood system is susceptible to, and unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes.Fishing is a high- risk livelihood activity ‘‘due to the fugitive nature of the resource, the hostile environment of the seas, and perishability of the product’’ (MRAG 2011, p. 3). One direct impact of climatic shocks, such as cyclones and floods, have killed several hundred thousand people in coastal Bangladesh; many of them are fishermen or their household members, friends, or relatives (IPCC 2007). Other impacts include physical injuries (Badjeck et al. 2010) and health effects (Kovats et

37

al.,2003). Cyclones and floods also damage boats, nets, fishing gear, and fish landing centres, as well as educational, health, housing, and other community infrastructure. Fish productivity, abundance, and distribution are also likely to be impacted by climate change (IPCC 2007), which may increase the cost of accessing fish catch (Badjeck et al. 2010). Fish processing costs may also increase; traditional fish drying is sensitive to variations in temperature and rainfall. Impacts on catch and processing will ultimately influence employment, income, and nutrition of fishery- dependent households and communities through changes in local institutions and resource management (Badjeck et al. 2010). Diseases in Carp Hatcheries and Nurseries Disease is one of the major constraints to intensification of aquaculture. In improved farming systems, nursery operators have a tendency to overstock fish, which ultimately causes disease. High stocking densities of fry and fingerlings during nursery operation generally increases stress, and subsequently, fish become more susceptible to infectious disease (Snieszko 1974). Frequent disease in fishes has a great impact on fish farming, fish trading and fish consuming.

Risk due to geographical setting of Sundarbans The livelihoods fishers of the Sundarbans are characterized by high levels of income poverty and human development poverty. Most of them have limited access to basic social services, such as safe drinking water and healthcare. They also lack knowledge of health and sanitation practices. Most of them suffer long term debt bondage and face exploitative relations with moneylenders. They generally lack organisational skills, do not have professional memberships, and have a muted voice in decision making. Infrastructure is poorly developed and access to markets is restricted. Women are particularly underprivileged and marginalized, with minimum access to income, livelihood opportunities, education, and healthcare. Moreover, there is no mobilization and organisation of the Sundarbans resource extractors in order for them to be recognized as stakeholders in the management of the Sundarbans (Mitra 2000). There are several Events that create shock exposure to the fishers of Sundarban (Islam and Chuenpagdee, 2013): 1) Cyclones and other extreme climatic events 2) Physical accidents during fishing 3) Tiger attacks 4) Attacks by criminal gangs 5) Illegal rent seeking (ransoms, bribes) 6) Food insecurity and drinking water crises 7) Illness and health problems 8) Social exclusion caused by tiger widowhood

Social problems of women fishers Nuruzzaman (2014) found that casual women workers under labour contractors in shrimp processing sector face violence. At least 70 women workers reported verbal abuse and harassment by their male counterpart, supervisor or by bosses. Thirty women respondents

38

reported physical harassment, while nine young women workers reported sexual abuse at their work place. In majority of the cases, the victims are young and unmarried. Rabbanee et al. (2011) found that women engaged in dry fish processing are facing social, economic, infrastructural, and marketing problems. Among the problems, lack of easy access to credit (100%), lack of social security (98.88%), poor bargaining capacity (92.86%), lack of education (88.66%) are the most acute problems. The next serious problems of the women workers are lack of capital (87.86%), Absence of adequate marketing information (84.68%) and high interest rate (82.62%) are worth mentioning. Risks of Human Trafficking in this Sector Human trafficking is a growing problem worldwide. Bangladesh is not an exception of that. Human traffickers often use fishing channels, sea fishing in particular, for trafficking purpose. US Department of State (2014) trafficking in Persons report noted evidence of human trafficking in the fishing and aquaculture sector in several countries in the world including Bangladesh.

Hazardous/Undesirable Work The ILO identifies fishing as a highly hazardous sector (ILO a). Fishers on vessels routinely face hazards and conditions of work that are exacerbated by poor weather conditions, a constantly moving work environment and the lack of medical care on the open water. While on vessels, fishers are exposed to sun and salt water without protective clothing, slippery/moving work surfaces, malfunctioning gear, regular use of knives/other sharp objects, entanglement in nets, large waves, inadequate sleeping quarters, inadequate sanitation, and a lack of fresh food and water. If someone become ill while on board a vessel, it can be difficult to seek medical care in a timely manner. When setting nets or hauling in a catch, workers may be required to work around the clock without breaks for days. Collisions or shipwrecks are also a risk (Bureau of Labour Statistics (2014).

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Chapter III Socio-economic Status of the Labourers in Fishing Sector

The present study collected primary data through survey from 450 fishing labourers of nine locations (, district and divisional HQ) of eight districts located in the coastal areas of the country. This section presents the socio-demographic characteristics of the fishing labourers using descriptive statistical technique. The findings have been presented by locations, gender and fishing sector wherever possible.

Fishing labourers Residence and workplace : Labourers in Bangladesh move from their residence to other places for work. Fishing labourers, however, found not moving to other districts for work to a large extent. Fishing labourers of all locations except Chittagong district are from their own district. In the Chittagong district, however, 26 percent of the labourers are from other districts. (Table 3.1). It is also evident that majority of the fishing labourers are from their own upazila too though some of them are from different upazilas within their district (Table Annex-1). This findings indicate that in the coastal fishing sector is a major source employment of the labourers.

Table 3.1: Home upazila and upazila of present work of the fishing labourers (%)

Home District working at present Total district Satkhira Khulna Bagerhat Borguna Barisal Bhola Cox's Bazar Chittagong Bagerhat 100.0 1.0 11.3 Barisal 100.0 11.1 Bhola 100.0 3.0 11.8 Borguna 100.0 11.1 Chandpur 2.0 .4 Chittagong 74.0 16.4 Comilla 1.0 .2

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Cox's 100.0 11.1 Bazaar Cox's Bazar 2.0 .4 Khulna 100.0 11.1 Kishoreganj 1.0 .2 Noakhali 16.0 3.6 Satkhira 100.0 11.1 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

Gender:Fishing is mostly a masculine job in Bangladesh. It is impossible for Bangladeshi women to be engaged in marine fishing. In the in-land water fishing too, women are rarely seen in Bangladesh. It is, however, not uncommon that women are engaged in fish processing after harvesting. As the fishing industry flourishes, scope for work of women in those industries have been created. In the present study women engaged as fishing sector are included wherever possible to get a picture of the women working as fishing labourers. Despite emphasis given we were able to include only 56 (12.4%) women fishing labourers in the sample of 450 fishing labourers of the present study. Highest number of women fishing labourers are included in Khulna where fish processing industries (especially shrimp) are prevalent. In Patharghata and Cox’s bazar too some women fishing labourers were included. Most of these women fishing labourers are engaged in drying fish.

Table 3.2: Gender of the fishing labourers (%) by location Gender of the fishing labourer Area Total Male Female Shyamnagar 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Khulna 50.0 50.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Patharghata 66.0 34.0 100.0 (50) Barisal 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 86.0 14.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 94.0 6.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 92.0 8.0 100.0 (50) Total 87.6 12.4 100.0 (394) (56) (450)

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Position of fishing labourer in the family : Almost all (92%) of the fishing labourers included in the study are head of the family, i.e., they are the principal breadwinner of the family. This is truer for the male fishing labourers compared to female fishing labourers as the position of 95.9 percent male is head in the family compared to 64.3 percent of the female. Among the female fishing labourers position of 25 percent is wife, 8.9 percent daughter and 1.8 percent sister. (Table 3.3).

Age : Despite female fishing labourers are a bit younger, both male and female fishing labourers are middle-aged, average 36.3 year and 35.2 year respectively (Table 3.4).

Table 3.3: Position of the fishing labourer (%) in the family by gender Position in Gender of fishing labourer Total family Male Female 95.9 64.3 92.0 Head (414) - 25.0 3.1 Wife (14) 3.6 - 3.1 Son (14) - 8.9 1.1 Daughter (5) .5 - .4 Brother (2) - 1.8 .2 Sister (1) Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 (394) (56) (450)

Table 3.4: Age of the fishing labourer (%) by gender Gender of fishing labourer Age (year) Total Male Female Up to 19 6.1 7.1 6.2

20-29 24.9 28.6 25.3

30-39 32.0 26.8 31.3

40-49 21.6 16.1 20.9

50-59 11.4 17.9 12.2

60 & above 4.1 3.6 4.0

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 (394) (56) (450)

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Average 36.2 35.2 36.0

Marital Status :Marital statuslargely varies between male and female fishing labourers. Majority (86%) of the male fishing labourers are currently married compared 53.6 percent of the female fishing labourers. Nearly one-third of the female fishing labourers are either widow or separated compared to only 0.3 percent of the male fishing labourers. (Chart 3.1). Findings indicates that in absence of male breadwinner in the family, a significant proportion of the female labourers had to take the job as fishing labourers.

Chart 3.1: Marital status of the fishing labourers (%) by gender 100 86 Male Female 80

60 53.6

Percentage 40 25.0 20 13.7 16.1 5.4 0.3 0 Unmarried Presently Separated Widow/ Married Widower Marital status

Literacy : The literacy rate among the fishing labourers is found high (83%). Highest level of education, however, is only up to secondary (only 18%). Among the locations, almost all of the fishing labourers of Khulna, Chittagong and Shyamnagar are literate; about three-fourth of Sarankhola, Patharghata, Barisal, and Cox’s bazar are literate and lowest proportion (60%) of Charfashion is literate. Overall, fishing labourers of two divisional cities (Chittagong & Khulna) are more educated compared to other locations. (Table 3.5).

Table 3.5: Education of the fishing labourer (%) in 9 locations Locations Illiterate Primary Secondary Total 4.0 66.0 30.0 100.0 Shyamnagar (50) 2.0 56.0 42.0 100.0 Khulna (50) 24.0 72.0 4.0 100.0 Sarankhola (50)

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28.0 70.0 2.0 100.0 Patharghata (50) 22.0 70.0 8.0 100.0 Barisal (50) 40.0 56.0 4.0 100.0 Charfashion (50) 22.0 62.0 16.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar (50) 2.0 58.0 40.0 100.0 Chittagong (50) 12.0 72.0 16.0 100.0 Shitakundu (50) 17.3 64.7 18.0 100.0 Total (78) (291) (81) (450) Sector of work : As presented earlier fishing labourers are engaged in different types of fishing work such as, fish culture/cultivation, fish capture/harvesting (inland or marine), fish processing, fish marketing, etc. Types of fishing work is important in regard to working condition and safety. Highest proportion (38.9%) of fishing labourers included in the present study work in marine fishing. This is followed by fish marketing 25.1 percent, fish processing 19.1 percent, in-land fishing (Sundarban) 9.8 percent and fish culture/cultivation 7.1 percent. (Chart 3.2).

Chart 3.2: Percent of fishing labourers work in different sector Fish marketing 25.1 Fish processing 19.1 Sundeban fishing 9.8 Marine fishing 38.9 Sector Fish culture/ cultivation 7.1 0 10 20 30 40 50 Percent

Majority (36.7%) of the marine fishing labourers are artisanal. That is, they work in fishing boats or engine boats (small trawler). Among the labourers work in Fish Marketing, majority (22.2%) work as fish loader-unloader at depots/factories. Labourers work in Fish Processing sector are mainly engaged in icing, work in processing factory, headlessing, fish drying, etc. Those who are engaged in Fish Culture work in hatchery and Gher related to shrimp culture. (Table 3.6)

Table 3.6: Fishing labourers(%) by work sector No. of Sector Sub-sector Percent labourer Fish culture/ Fish hatchery 14 3.1 cultivation Gher worker 18 4.0 Total 32 7.1 Marine fishing Artisanal marine 165 36.7

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fishing Industrial marine 10 2.2 fishing Total 175 38.9 Inland (Sundeban Fishing in 44 9.8 river) fishing Sundarban river Total 44 9.8 Fish processing Fish icing/packing 23 5.1 Fish grading 4 0.9 Head lessing 14 3.1 Fish drying 11 2.4 Fish factory worker 27 6.0 Fish sorting 7 1.6 Total 86 19.1 Fish marketing Fish load-unload 100 22.2 Fish packing 10 2.2 Depot worker 3 0.7 Total 113 25.1 All sector Total 450 100.0

Locations included in the present study are along the coastal belt of the country including 3 coastal divisional cities (Khula, Barisal & Chittagong). As such labourers engaged in marine fishing are found in 6 locations. In most locations labourers are found engaged in two or three subsectors. All labourers of Barisal and Charfashion are, however, engaged in fish marketing and marine fishing respectively. In Shyamnagar majority (64%) are engaged in fish culture (shrimp gher & hatchery); all labourers of Khulna, and majority of Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong, and a significant proportion of Shitakundu work in fish processing and fish marketing. More than half (52%) of Sarankhola, about one-third (30%) of Shyamnagar and and 6 percent of Patharghata are engaged in fishing in rivers in Sundarban. (Table 3.7).

Table 3.7: Nature of work of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Nature of work in fishing sector Location Fish culture/ Marine Inland (Sundarban) Fish Fish Total cultivation fishing fishing processing marketing Shyamnagar 64.0 - 30.0 6.0 - 100.0 (50) Khulna - - - 56.0 44.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola - 48.0 52.0 - - 100.0 (50) Patharghata - 60.0 6.0 34.0 - 100.0 (50) Barisal - - - - 100.0 100.0 (50)

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Charfashion - 100.0 - - - 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar - 42.0 - 24.0 34.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong - 46.0 - 28.0 26.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu - 54.0 - 24.0 22.0 100.0 (50) Total 7.1 38.9 9.8 19.1 25.1 100.0 (32) (175) (44) (86) (113) (450)

Type of work in fishing sector significantly varies between gender. Overwhelming proportion (94.6%) of the female labourers found engaged fish processing 13 and a minor proportion (5.4%) in fish marketing sector. While highest proportion (44.4%) of the male labourers found engaged in marine fishing, followed by 27.9 percent fish marketing (load-unload), 11.2 percent inland fishing, 8.4 percent in fish processing and 8.1 percent in Fish culture/cultivation. (Chart 3.3).

Chart 3.3: Sector of work of fishing labourers (%) by gender

5.4 Fish marketing 27.9

94.6 Fish processing 8.4

0 Sunderban fishing 11.2 Sector 0 Marine fishing 44.4

0 Fish culture/cultivation 8.1

0 20 40 60 80 100 Female Male Percent

Occupation of the fishing labourers : Major (1 st ) occupation of the fishing labourers is in fishing sectors presented above. Fishing labourers remain engaged in their 1 st occupation, on average, for 9.2 months in the year. Labourers in Khulna remain engaged for almost whole year (11.4 months). It is worth noting that labourers in Khulna mainly work in processing factories, an organized sector ensuring relative permanence. Labourers of Chittagong also remain employed for about 11 months in the year. In Shitakundu labourers remain engaged in 1st occupation for only 5.7 months. As such, labourers of this location remain engaged in 2 nd occupation for average 5 months in the year. (Table 3.8).

13 Earlier studies have also shown that women fishing labourers mainly work in fish processing sector 46

Overall, about 40 percent of the fishing labourers are engaged in 2 nd and only 5 percent labourers in 3 rd occupation. More than half (52.6%) of those engaged in 2 nd occupation and half (50%) of those engaged in 3 rd occupation work as day labour. Interestingly, significant proportions of those have 2 nd and 3 rd occupation are engaged in fishing related activities. (Tables 3.9& 3.10). Findings indicate that fishing sector is the major source of livelihood for the fishing labourers.

Table 3.8: Average months labourers engaged in 1 st , 2 nd and 3 rd occupation in 9 locations

Average months in the year Locations 1st occupation 2nd occupation 3rd occupation No. Mean S. D No. Mean S. D No. Mean S. D Shyamnagar 50 8.9 3.1 28 2.0 2.3 13 .6 1.1 Khulna 50 11.4 1.7 ------Sarankhola 50 10.2 1.8 20 1.3 2.1 - - - Patharghata 50 8.0 2.6 14 1.4 2.3 - - - Barisal 50 9.7 3.0 21 2.0 2.8 1 .1 .4 Charfashion 50 9.4 2.2 16 1.9 1.8 4 .1 .3 Cox's Bazar 50 9.2 1.8 16 .9 1.4 - - - Chittagong 50 10.7 2.1 43 .8 1.8 - - - Shitakundu 50 5.7 3.8 34 5.0 3.9 6 .5 1.5 Total 450 9.2 3.0 177 1.7 2.6 24 .1 .7 (100.0% (39.3%) (5.3%)

Table 3.9: 2nd Occupation of the fishing labourers

Occupation No. of labourer Percent

Day labour 93 52.6

Fishing 32 18.3

Rickshaw/Van 28 15.8

Shop/business 15 8.5

Others (porter, mason, Ag., salt farm, etc.) 9 5.2

Total 177 100.0

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Table 3.10: 3rd Occupation of the fishing labourers

Occupation No. of labourer Percent

Day Labour 12 50.0

Fishing related activities 9 37.5

Rickshaw/Van 3 12.5

Total 24 100.0

Income of the fishing labourers : The average monthly income of the fishing labourers from occupations is BDT 8474.5. The income of the female fishing labourers is less than half of the male fishing labourers, average monthly BDT 4141.0 & 9090.4 respectively. (Chart 3.4).

Chart 3.4: Average monthly income (BDT) of the fishing labourers by gender 10000 9000 9090.4 8000 8474.5 7000 6000 5000 4000 4141 Income (BDT) Income 3000 2000 1000 0 Male Female Total Gender

Highest average monthly income of the fishing labourers of BDT 12,010/- is seen in Shitakundu. This is followed by Cox’s Bazar (BDT 10,002/-), Charfashion (BDT 9,670/-), Shyamnagar (BDT 9,548/-), Barisal (BDT 8,550/-), Sarankhola (BDT 7,730/-), Chittagong (BDT 7,004/-), Khulna (BDT 6,178/-), and lowest BDT 5,578/- in Patharghata. (Table 3.11).

Table 3.11: Average monthly income of fishing labourers in 9 locations

Monthly income Locations Mean S. D Min. Max. Shyamnagar 9548.0 4009.0 4000 20000 Khulna 6178.1 2274.0 3800 11000 Sarankhola 7730.0 2952.4 4000 14000

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Patharghata 5578.0 3004.8 1000 12000 Barisal 8550.0 2976.5 3000 16000 Charfashion 9670.0 3325.2 4000 17000 Cox's Bazar 10002.0 4162.3 4000 20000 Chittagong 7004.0 3127.4 2700 22000 Shitakundu 12010.0 4985.2 3000 22000 Total 8474.5 3982.8 1000 22000

Family of the fishing labourers Family type : Nearly two-third (61.8%) of the labour ers live in nuclear family 14 . The rest 38.2 percent live in extended family. That is, they have one or more member in the family other than spouse and offspring. (Chart 3. 5). The average n umber of family member of the fishing labourers’ family is 4.60 with highest 8 and lowest 2. There is not much difference among the locations in this regard. ( Table 3.1 2).

Chart 3.5: Type of family of the fishing labourers

Extended family 38% Nuclear family 62%

Table 3.12: Average number of family member of the fishing labourers in 9 locations Location Mean Minimum Maximum Shyamnagar 4.94 3 8 Khulna 4.38 2 7 Sarankhola 4.96 2 8 Patharghata 4.44 2 8

14 Families composed of husband, wife and offspring(s), if any, are considered as nuclear. W hile famil ies composed of husband, wife, and offspring(s), if any, and one or more other member is considered as extended family. 49

Barisal 4.36 3 7 Charfashion 4.52 2 8 Cox's Bazar 4.42 2 7 Chittagong 4.60 3 7 Shitakundu 4.82 2 7 Total 4.60 2 8

Gender of the family member : The total number of family member of 450 fishing labourers’ is 2207, an average of 4.9 per family. Proportion of male member is slightly higher than female, 51.3 percent and 48.7 percent respectively. Among the locations proportion of female member in Khulna is significantly higher compared to male, 59.8 & 40.2 percent respectively. It is to be noted here that 50 percent of the fishing labourers of this location is female much higher than any other location and majority of them are female headed. This indicate that female headed families are having more female member in the family. It is supported by the fact that the female headed families have average 2.19 female and average 1.75 male members in the family. In Shyamnagar too proportion of female member is slightly higher than male member. In all other locations proportions of male member are higher compared to female member. (Table 3.13).

Table 3.13: Gender of the family member (%) of fishing labourers in 9 locations Gender of family member Upazila Total Male Female Shyamnagar 49.8 50.2 100.0 (247) Khulna 40.2 59.8 100.0 (219) Sarankhola 51.2 48.8 100.0 (248) Patharghata 52.7 47.3 100.0 (222) Barisal 54.1 45.9 100.0 (218) Charfashion 51.3 48.7 100.0 (226) Cox's Bazar 50.2 49.8 100.0 (221) Chittagong 58.3 41.7 100.0 (2300 Shitakundu 53.1 46.9 100.0 (241) Total 51.3 48.7 100.0 (1062) (1010) (2072)

Age of the family member : As seen in table 3.14 one-third of the family members of the fishing

50

labourers are below 15 years’ of age and another 3 percent aged 60 year or more. The proportion of member increases up to 10-14 year and then decreasescontinuously.

Table 3.14: Age structure of the family members of fishing labourer Age (Year) No. of labourer Percent Cum. Percent 0-4 184 8.9 8.9 5-9 250 12.1 20.9 10-14 259 12.5 33.4 15-19 214 10.3 43.8 20-24 204 9.8 53.6 25-29 185 8.9 62.5 30-34 144 6.9 69.5 35-39 127 6.1 75.6 40-44 114 5.5 81.1 45-49 111 5.4 86.5 50-54 97 4.7 91.2 55-59 68 3.3 94.4 60-64 50 2.4 96.9 65-69 33 1.6 98.5 70 & above 32 1.5 100.0 Total 2072 100.0 -

Marital status of the family members : Among the family members aged 15 year or more (1379) 21.4 percent is unmarried, 71.6 percent is currently married, and rest 7 percent single, i.e., divorced, separated and widow (Table 3.15).

Table 3.15: Marital Status of the family members (%) of fishing labourers in 9 locations Marital status of family members (aged >15) Locations Unmarried Currently Divorced Separated Widow/Widower Total Married Shyamnagar 15.2 75.8 - .6 8.5 100.0 (165) Khulna 18.8 68.5 - 2.7 10.1 100.0 (149) Sarankhola 18.8 76.4 - .6 4.2 100.0 (165) Patharghata 15.4 79.7 - 0.0 4.9 100.0 (143) Barisal 22.2 70.6 - 1.3 5.9 100.0 (153)

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Charfashion 16.8 80.3 - - 2.9 100.0 (137) Cox's Bazar 22.7 70.2 - .7 6.4 100.0 (141) Chittagong 35.0 57.5 3.1 - 4.4 100.0 160 Shitakundu 26.5 67.5 - 1.2 4.8 100.0 166 Total 295 988 5 11 80 1379 21.4 71.6 .4 .8 5.8 100.0

Education of the family members : Among the family members aged 6 year or more, 87 percent is literate. Literacy rate is found high among both male and female family members, 13.2 percent and 12.8 percent respectively (Table 3.16).

Table 3.16: Gender and education of the family members (>6 year) [%] Education of family members (>6 year) Gender Total Illiterate Primary (I-V) Secondary (VI-X) HSC Male 13.2 64.1 20.4 2.3 100.0 (938) Female 12.8 62.4 23.0 1.8 100.0 (897) Total 13.0 63.3 21.6 2.1 100.0 (239) (1161) (397) (38) (1835)

Earning status of the family members : Among 2072 family members 740 (35.7%) has at least one earning activity, 203 has two and 28 has three income earning activities. The average monthly income from 1 st occupation of the family members is BDT 5971.42, 2nd occupation is BDT 5068.47, and 3 rd occupation is BDT 3810.71. Wage income is much higher for male members compared to female, BDT 6371.28 and BDT 3498.46 respectively. (Table 3.17). The average monthly income for the female is almost half of the male members.

Table 3.17: Average monthly income of the family members of the fishing labourers Income (BDT) from Income (BDT) from Income (BDT) from Occupation 1 of Occupation 2 of Occupation 3 of Locations Gender Member 1 Member 1 Member 1 Mean # of labour Mean # of labour Mean # of labour Shyamnagar Male 6094.59 74 4741.18 34 3621.43 14 Female 1300.00 7 1800.00 1 500.00 1

Total 5680.25 81 4657.14 35 3413.33 15

Khulna Male 6538.05 58 - - - - Female 4135.46 35 - - - -

Total 5633.85 93 - - - -

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Sarankhola Male 5680.56 72 4760.87 23 - - Female 5000.00 1 - - - -

Total 5671.23 73 4760.87 23 - -

Patharghata Male 5514.29 70 4678.57 14 - - Female 1788.24 17 2875.00 4 - -

Total 4786.21 87 4277.78 18 - -

Barisal Male 6211.27 71 5500.00 22 2500.00 1 Female 3800.00 5 - - - -

Total 6052.63 76 5500.00 22 2500.00 1

Charfashion Male 5753.97 63 5132.35 34 4625.00 4 Female 5000.00 1 - - - -

Total 5742.19 64 5132.35 34 4625.00 4

Cox's Bazar Male 8083.33 66 5305.00 20 - - Female 4031.25 16 - - - -

Total 7292.68 82 5305.00 20 - -

Chittagong Male 6263.33 90 4164.29 14 - - Female 2966.67 12 - - - -

Total 5875.49 102 4164.29 14 - -

Shitakundu Male 7295.89 73 5958.33 36 4312.50 8 Female 5222.22 9 5000.00 1 - -

Total 7068.29 82 5932.43 37 4312.50 8

Total Male 6371.28 637 5129.95 197 3933.33 27 Female 3498.46 103 3050.00 6 500.00 1

Total 5971.42 740 5068.47 203 3810.71 28

Living condition of the fishing labourers More than half (57.6%) of the fishing labourers live in own house constructed on their own land followed by 21.6 percent in rented house, 13.3 percent in own house constructed on other’s land, and 7.6 percent in own house constructed on government land (Table 3.18).

Table 3.18: Ownership of homestead land of the fishing labourers in 9 locations Ownership of present house Upazila Own land Others land own Government land Rented Total construction own construction Shyamnagar 84.0 4.0 8.0 4.0 100.0 (50)

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Khulna 20.0 2.0 6.0 72.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 76.0 10.0 10.0 4.0 100.0 (50) Patharghata 78.0 18.0 4.0 0.0 100.0 (50) Barisal 28.0 30.0 2.0 40.0 100.0 (50) Charfashion 60.0 28.0 12.0 0.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 36.0 0.0 14.0 50.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 72.0 2.0 10.0 16.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 64.0 26.0 2.0 8.0 100.0 (50) Total 57.6 13.3 7.6 21.6 100.0 (259) (60) (34) (97) (50)

The average rent of the houses of those fishing labourers live in rented house is very low (average only BDT 1473.51, indicating the condition of the houses is not good. As likely the rent of the houses of Chittagong is the highest, BDT 2347.5, followed by Cox’s Bazar BDT 1592.0, Khulna 1431.0, Barisal BDT 1290.0. (Table 3.19).

Table 3.19: Average monthly house rent of the fishing labourers rented in 9 locations Upazila Mean No. of labourers Shyamnagar 600.00 2 Khulna 1431.94 36 Sarankhola 1000.00 2 Barisal 1290.00 20 Cox's Bazar 1592.00 25 Chittagong 2347.50 8 Shitakundu 950.00 4 Total 1473.51 97

Materials of the house is also indicate poor condition. The most common material of floor is mud (84.2%) while roof and wall is GI sheet, 90.0& 51.3 percent respectively. Floor of only 14.9 percent, wall of only 4.7 percent and roof of only 1.1 percent house is made of concrete/brick. (Table 3.20).

Table 3.20: Wall materials of the houses fishing labourers living

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Materials Floor Wall Roof GI Sheet - 51.3 90.0 Bamboo Branch - 13.8 - Wood .9 12.9 - Concrete/break 14.9 12.4 1.1 Mud 84.2 4.7 Golpata - 2.2 2.4 Polythin - 1.6 1.7 Thatch/Chon - 1.1 3.0 Tiles/Asbestos - 1.8 Total 100.0 100.0 100.0

Economic condition of the fishing labourers Amount of land own : The fishing labourers are land poor. They have average only 12.9 decimals of land per family. More than three-fourth (76.9%) of the fishing labourers have up to 10 decimals of land and only 2.2 percent families have more than one acre of land. (Table 3.21). Fishing labourers of Chittagong are having highest amount of land, average 33.9 decimals. This is followed by Shyamnagar 28.6 decimals, Khulna 14.0 decimals, Patharghata 9.9 decimals, Sarankhola 9.8 decimals, Cox’s Bazar 6.0 decimals, Barisal 5.2 decimals, Shitakundu 4.6 decimals and Charfashion lowest 3.8 decimals. (Table 3.22). In terms of amount of land owned, female fishing labourers are poorer than male fishing labourers, average 9.07 & 13.39 decimals respectively (Chart 3.6).

Table 3.21: Amount of land owned by the fishing labourers Amount of land Cumulative No. of labour Percent (decimal) Percent 0 152 33.8 33.8 1-5 117 26.0 59.8 6-10 77 17.1 76.9 11-20 42 9.3 86.2 21-50 37 8.2 94.4 51-100 15 3.3 97.8 101 & more 10 2.2 100.0 Total 450 100.0 -

Table 3.22: Average amount of land owned by the fishing labourers in 9 locations

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Upazila Mean Std. Deviation Shyamnagar 28.6 54.4 Khulna 14.0 26.7 Sarankhola 9.8 14.2 Patharghata 9.9 11.0 Barisal 5.2 16.7 Charfashion 3.8 7.8 Cox's Bazar 6.0 8.9 Chittagong 33.9 57.5 Shitakundu 4.6 6.8 Total 12.9 30.9

Chart 3.6:

16 14 12 10 8 6 4

Amount of land (decimal) land of Amount 2 0

Family income of the fishing labourers : The average annual family income of the fishing labour ers from all sources is BDT 154,224.2. The per capita annual income of the fishing labourers stands at BDT 34,582.8 . This is three times lower than that of the national per capita income of Bangladesh 15 .(Table 3.2 3).

Table 3.23:Average annual family income (BDT) from d ifferent sources of the fishing labourers in 9 locations

15 According to the BBS estimate per capita income in Bangladesh stands at US$1,466 (BDT117280/ FY 2015-16. (The Daily St ar, April 06, 2016). 56

Average annual income from different Average annual income from all sources sources Upazila Labour/ land Livestock Productive Total Per capita Occupation assets income income Shyamnagar 160632.0 9496.0 2205.0 6458.0 178791.0 36906.3 Khulna 125747.5 1750.0 754.0 2880.0 131131.5 32234.9 Sarankhola 125880.0 3260.0 2626.0 1380.0 133146.0 27705.3 Patharghata 117216.0 816.0 534.0 720.0 119286.0 27885.7 Barisal 140040.0 600.0 316.0 1160.0 142116.0 32812.3 Charfashion 134520.0 120.0 801.0 540.0 135981.0 32120.8 Cox's Bazar 167784.0 2256.0 2238.0 218.0 172496.0 41253.4 Chittagong 155904.0 3848.0 4768.0 3120.0 167640.0 36165.2 Shitakundu 201024.0 920.0 850.0 4636.0 207430.0 44161.1 Total 147638.6 2562.9 1676.9 2345.8 154224.2 34582.8

The highest annual per capita income is seen in Shitakundu BDT 44161.1. This is followed by Cox's BazarBDT 41253.4, Shyamnagar BDT 36906.3, ChittagongBDT 36165.2, Barisal BDT 32812.3, Khulna BDT 32234.9, Charfashion BDT 32120.8, Patharghata BDT 27885.7, and lowest in Sarankhola BDT 27705.3. (Chart 3.7). Despite the average total annual income is lower for the female fishing labourers compared to male (BDT 141204.7 & 156074.7 respectively), per capita annual income of the female fishing labourers is higher than male, BDT 36173.0 and 34356.7 respectively. (Table 3.24).

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Chart 3.7: Annual per capita income (BDT) of the family labourers

Shitakundu 44161.1

Chittagong 36165.2

Cox's Bazar 41253.4

Charfashion 32120.8

Barisal 32812.3

Locations Patharghata 27885.7

Sarankhola 27705.3

Khulna 32234.9

Shyamnagar 36906.3

0 10000 20000 30000 40000 50000

Amount (BDT) of annual per capita income

Table 3.24: Average annual family income (BDT) from different sources of the fishing labourers by gender Average annual income from different sources Average annual income from all sources Gender Labour/ land Livestock Productive Total income Per capita Occupation assets Male 149642.2 2732.7 1782.0 1917.8 156074.7 34356.7 Female 133542.2 1367.9 937.5 5357.1 141204.7 36173.0 Total 147638.6 2562.9 1676.9 2345.8 154224.2 34582.8

Economic solvency of the fishing labourers’ family : According to the self-assessment of the fishing labourers, slightly more than half (50.7%) of them face deficit to fulfil their needs with the total yearly income. Highest proportion of fishing labourers of Sarankhola (82%) reported they are in deficit, followed by Charfashion 68 percent, Shitakundu 66 percent. T he lowest proportion (30%) of fishing labourers reported deficit is in Barisal and Cox’s Bazar. (Table 3.25). Female fishing labour ers are more solvent than male fishing labour ers, 62.5 percent &

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47.5 percent respectively (Table 3.26).

Table 3.25: Overall solvency of the fishing labourer (%) families in 9 locations Solvency Status of the Family Locations Total Solvent Deficit Shyamnagar 54.0 46.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 56.0 44.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 18.0 82.0 100.0 (50) Patharghata 52.0 48.0 100.0 (50) Barisal 70.0 30.0 100.0 (50) Charfashion 32.0 68.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 70.0 30.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 58.0 42.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 34.0 66.0 100.0 (50) Total 49.3 50.7 100.0 (222) (228) (450)

Table 3.26: Overall solvency of the fishing labourer (%) families in 9 locations Solvency Status of the Family Locations Total Solvent Deficit Male 47.5 52.5 100.0 (394) Female 62.5 37.5 100.0 (56) Total 49.3 50.7 100.0 (222) (228) (450)

To manage deficit fishing labourers mostly depends on NGO loan, 46.9 percent of the deficit families reported this. This is followed by shop credit 35.9 percent, lowering food consumption19.6 percent, dadon 14.4 percent, relatives’ help 12.0 percent, loan from moneylenders 10.5 percent, and so on (Table 3.27).

Table 3.27: How the fishing labourer families manage their deficit

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(Multiple response up to 4) How deficiency managed No. of response Percent NGO loan 98 46.9 Shop credit 75 35.9 Lowering food consumption 41 19.6 Dadon 30 14.4 Relatives' help 25 12.0 Loan from moneylenders 22 10.5 Government Help 8 3.8 Neighbours loan 6 2.9 Samity 5 2.4 Neghbours help 5 2.4 Lend 3 1.4 NGO help 3 1.4 Labour union 2 1.0 Bank 2 1.0 Total response 325 - No. of respondents (N) 228 100.0

Savings of the fishing labourers’ family : Nearly three-fourth of the fishing labourers have some savings. Among the locations almost all families (96%) of Cox’s Bazar and Shitakundu have some savings, average BDT 12215.6 and BDT6691.2 respectively. Proportion of fishing labourers have savings in Chittagong, Shyamnagar, and Khulna are also considerably high, 88.0 percent, 84.0 percent and 80.0 percent respectively. Nearly half of the families of other locations have some savings. Overall the amount of savings is low, average only BDT 7655.0 with a minimum of BDT 10.0 and maximum of BDT 73000/-. (Table 3.28).

Table 3.28: Whether the fishing labourers have savings in 9 locations Locations Yes Mean savings S. D Minimum Maximum (BDT) Shyamnagar 84.0% 10073.8 13830.2 500 50000 Khulna 80.0% 9562.5 13418.3 500 73000 Sarankhola 58.0% 9665.5 15256.4 500 60000 Patharghata 48.0% 2883.3 4007.3 1000 20000 Barisal 50.0% 3089.0 3568.1 250 12000 Charfashion 60.0% 1546.7 787.0 150 3600

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Cox's Bazar 96.0% 12215.6 12999.1 100 50050 Chittagong 88.0% 7724.8 9321.1 10 50000 Shitakundu 96.0% 6691.2 6025.2 100 40000 Total 73.3% 7655.0 10915.1 10 73000 (330)

Loan situation of the fishing labourers’ family :Nearly two-third of the fishing labourers have loan at present. Majority (88%) of the fishing labourers of Sarankhola and Charfashion have loan at present. Proportions of labourers have loan at present in Patharghata and Shyamnagar is also considerably high, 78 percent and 74 percent respectively. About two-third of the labourers of Khulna (66%) and shitakundu (64%) have loan at present. On the other hand, nearly one-third of the labourers of Barisal (38%) and Chittagong (34%) have loan at present. (Table 3.29). Among 450 fishing labourers included in the present study 288 have an average of two loans. The amount of loan is considerably high, average BDT 29,619.0 with a maximum of BDT 300,000/- and minimum of BDT 300/-. The amount of loan is highest in Chittagong, BDT 45,012/-. This is followed by Sarankhola BDT 44,966/-, Shyamnagar BDT 42,865/-, Shitakundu 26,531/-, Khulna 24,818/-, and so on. (Table 3.30).

Table 3.29: Whether the fishing labourers (%) have any loan at present in 9 locations Whether any loan at Present Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 26.0 74.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 34.0 66.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 12.0 88.0 100.0 (50) Patharghata 22.0 78.0 100.0 (50) Barisal 62.0 38.0 100.0 (50) Charfashion 12.0 88.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 54.0 46.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 66.0 34.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 36.0 64.0 100.0 (50) Total 36.0 64.0 100.0 (162) (288) (450)

Table 3.30: Average number, amount and duration of loan in 9 locations

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Number of loan at present Amount of loan received Duration (month) of loan Locations Mean No. Min. Max. Mean No. Min. Max. Mean No. Min. Max. Shyamnagar 1.89 37 1 4 42864.86 37 2000 300000 8.70 37 1 32 Khulna 1.33 33 1 2 24818.18 33 4000 98000 9.56 33 0 108 Sarankhola 1.82 44 1 3 44965.91 44 4000 207000 12.81 44 2 48 Patharghata 1.69 39 1 3 19661.54 39 600 90000 8.79 39 2 19 Barisal 1.21 19 1 3 23184.21 19 500 75000 5.44 19 1 10 Charfashion 1.57 44 1 3 18731.82 44 500 45000 9.69 44 1 30 Cox's Bazar 1.22 23 1 3 21786.96 23 300 120000 12.07 23 1 65 Chittagong 1.65 17 1 4 45011.76 17 500 250000 15.65 17 1 144 Shitakundu 1.44 32 1 2 26530.63 32 2000 65000 6.02 32 1 12 Total 1.58 288 1 4 29619.03 288 300 300000 9.76 288 0 144

Major source of loan for the fishing labourers is NGO/association, 60.1 percent received loan from this source. This is followed by 32.6 percent shop, 23.3 percent Mohajan , 13.5 percent relatives, 11.5 percent Trade Union or Samity , and 3.8 percent Bank. (Table 3.31).

Table 3.31: Sources of loan of fishing labourers in 9 locations (%) Sources of loan Locations NGO/ Shop Relatives Trade union/ Mohazon Bank Total Association samity Shyamnagar 43.2 56.8 27.0 24.3 13.5 2.7 100.0 (37) Khulna 66.7 33.3 12.1 12.1 0.0 3.0 100.0 (33) Sarankhola 52.3 40.9 25.0 0.0 34.1 13.6 100.0 (44) Patharghata 64.1 28.2 0.0 0.0 71.8 2.6 100.0 (39) Barisal 84.2 10.5 10.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 (19) Charfashion 65.9 15.9 2.3 45.5 20.5 2.3 100.0 (44) Cox's Bazar 30.4 34.8 26.1 0.0 13.0 4.3 100.0 (23) Chittagong 35.3 35.3 23.5 0.0 41.2 0.0 100.0 (17) Shitakundu 90.6 31.3 3.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 (32) Total 60.1 32.6 13.5 11.5 23.3 3.8 100.0 (173) (94) (39) (33) (67) (11) (288)

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As seen in table 3.30, 288 families have a total of 454 loans. Among these loans 248 (54.6%) are with interest and rest 206 (45.4%) loans are without interest. Among the locations highest proportions of loan of Barisal and Shitakundu are with interest, 87.0 &76.1 percent respectively. Lowest 37.9 percent of the loans of Patharghata is with interest. (Table 3.32)

Table 3.32: Whether the loans of fishing labourers (%) have interest in 9 locations Whether the loan has interest Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 48.6 51.4 100.0 (70) Khulna 40.9 59.1 100.0 (44) Sarankhola 43.8 56.3 100.0 (80) Patharghata 62.1 37.9 100.0 (66) Barisal 13.0 87.0 100.0 (23) Charfashion 52.2 47.8 100.0 (69) Cox's Bazar 57.1 42.9 100.0 28 Chittagong 42.9 57.1 100.0 (28) Shitakundu 23.9 76.1 100.0 (46) Total no. of loans 45.4 54.6 100.0 (206) (248) (454)

Most of the loans are taken for non-productive purposes. Only 10.3 percent of the loans are taken to invest in productive purpose. More than half (54.0%) of the loans are taken to meet the family needs followed by 15.6 percent loan repay, 11.7 percent consumer durables, 7.9 percent medical expense and 4.6 percent social event like wedding ceremony. (Table 3.33).

Table 3.33: Purpose of loan taken by the fishing labourers

Purpose of loan Number Percent Family expense 245 54.0 Loan repay 71 15.6 Consumer durable goods 53 11.7 Investment on productive asset 49 10.8 Medical 36 7.9 Social event 22 4.8

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Total 476 - Total number of loan 454 100.0

Membership in social organisation Among the 450 families, 247 (54.9%) families have one or more member membership in social organisation(s). There are 302 family members from 247 families having membership in social organisation. The average number of family member have membership in social organisations is less than one (0.7) with a minimum of ‘0’ and maximum of 4. (Table 3.34).

Table 3.34: Membership of family members in social organisation in 9 locations

Membership (%) Descriptive statistics of no. of membership Locations No Yes Total Mean S.D Minimum Maximum No. of No. of family member Shyamnagar 34.0 66.0 100.0 0.9 0.9 0 3 33 47 Khulna 26.0 74.0 100.0 0.9 0.6 0 2 37 43 Sarankhola 52.0 48.0 100.0 0.7 0.8 0 3 24 33 Patharghata 54.0 46.0 100.0 0.5 0.5 0 2 23 24 Barisal 46.0 54.0 100.0 0.7 0.8 0 3 27 37 Charfashion 48.0 52.0 100.0 0.5 0.5 0 2 26 27 Cox's Bazar 44.0 56.0 100.0 0.6 0.6 0 2 28 30 Chittagong 72.0 28.0 100.0 0.4 0.8 0 4 14 19 Shitakundu 30.0 70.0 100.0 0.8 0.7 0 2 35 42 45.1 54.9 450 0.7 0.7 0 4 247 302 Total (203) (247)

Among the 302 family members having membership in social organisation overwhelming majority (84.1%) is member of NGOs. Only 13.9 percent are member of labour union and another 2 percent are member of association. (Table 3.35). Table 3.35: Orgnisation of membership of fishing labourers’ family members Organisation Number Percent NGO group 254 84.1 Labour union 42 13.9 Owners' union/association 6 2.0 Total 302 100.0

When checked the membership of fishing labourers it is found that 82 percent do not have any

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membership in any organisation, 17.3 percent in one organistion and only 0.7 percent have membership in two organisations. (Table 3.36).

Table3.36: Fishing labourers’ membership in social organisation No. of membership No. of fishing labourer Percent .00 369 82.0 1.00 78 17.3 2.00 3 .7 Total 450 100.0

Help received by the fishing labourers’ family :As far as help is concerned, in all locations together, majority (60.9%) of the fishing labourer families have not received any help from anywhere so far. Majority of the fishing labourers of Sarankhola (80%) and Shyamnagar (70%), however, received help. It is worth mention here that these two locations are Aila affected and, as such, under intensive national help programme. On the other hand, lowest proportion (only 8%) of the families of Barisal reported received help. Proportions of families received help are also very low in Cox’s Bazar (14%) and Chittagong (16%). (Table 3.37). Table 3.38 show that 176 families received 223 different kinds of help. Of these 65.9 percent are continuing now while the rest 34.1 percent received in the past.

Table 3.37: Whether the fishing labourers’ family received any help so far (%) Whether received help so far Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 30.0 70.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 68.0 32.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 20.0 80.0 100.0 (50) Patharghata 68.0 32.0 100.0 (50) Barisal 92.0 8.0 100.0 (50) Charfashion 46.0 54.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 86.0 14.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 84.0 16.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 54.0 46.0 100.0 50 Total 60.9 39.1 100.0 (274) (176) (450)

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Table 3.38: Time of help received by the fishing labourers’ family Time of help received Responses Percent At present 147 83.5 Past 76 43.2 Total 223 126.7

More than half (48.3%) of the fishing labourers families received VGF/VGD. This is followed by stipend 34.1 percent, fishermen allowance 22.7 percent, Old Age Allowance 5.1 percent, and so on. (Table 3.39).

Table 3.39: Type of help received by the fishing labourers’ family (Multiple response up to 3) Type of help received Responses Percent of Cases VGF/VGD 93 52.4 Stipend 60 34.1 Fishermen allowance 40 22.7 Old Age Allowance 9 5.1 Others 6 3.4 NGO Help 5 2.8 Net 3 1.7 UP Help 2 1.1 Widow Allowance 2 1.1 Foreign relief 1 .6 Govt. help 1 .6 Fitra 1 .6 Total 223 - No. of help 176 100.0 Chapter IV Working Condition of the Fishing Labourers

This chapter of the report describes the working conditions of the 450 fishing labourers in the present study. The working conditions have been examined with gender of the respondents, sector of work and type of employer wherever possible.

Duration of work as fishing labourer Fishing labourers included in the present study are working for long time as fishing labourer. Nearly two-third is working as fishing labour for more than 10 years, more than one-third for

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more than 15 years and one-fifth for more than 20 years (Table 4.1). The average month of work as fishing labour is 171.5 or 14.3 years with a minimum of 1 month and maximum of 55 years. It indicates that there are labours working from early childhood as fishing labour.

Table 4.1: Duration of work as fishing labourer Duration No. of labour Percent Cum. percent Up to 1 year 14 3.1 3.1 1-5 year 81 18.0 21.1 5-10 year 99 22.0 43.1 10-15 year 90 20.0 63.1 15-20 year 78 17.3 80.4 20-25 year 40 8.9 89.3 25 year+ 48 10.7 100.0 Total 450 100.0 -

Among the locations highest duration of work as fishing labourer is seen in Sarankhola (average 256.6 months) and Shitakundu (average 247.8 months) and lowest in Khulna (average 118.6 months). Most fishing labourers of Khulna work in fish processing industries. As these industries are established recently labourers of this location work as fishing labourer for shorter duration compared to other locations. Duration of work as fishing labourer in all other locations are around average 150 months. (Table 4.2).

Table 4.2: Average duration (month) of work as fishing labourer in 9 locations Duration (month) of work as fishing labourer Locations Mean Minimum Maximum Shyamnagar 160.1 12 365 Khulna 118.6 5 360 Sarankhola 255.6 48 540 Patharghata 148.0 24 480 Barisal 148.0 3 480 Charfashion 161.0 36 360 Cox's Bazar 141.7 1 324 Chittagong 162.3 3 480 Shitakundu 247.8 12 660 Total 171.5 1 660

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It is clear that female have entered as fishing labourer very recently compared to the male. The average months of work as fishing labour is 184 months for male and only 83.6 months for female (Chart 4.1).

Chart 4.1: Duration (average month) of work as fishing labour by gender 200.0 184.0 150.0

100.0 83.6

Average month Average 50.0

0.0 Male Female Gender

Type of employer of the fishing labourers In the present s tudy fishing labour er s employed by others have been included. Data presented in table 4.4 show that fishing sector is still individual entrepreneur based as overwhelming majority (77.8%) of the fishing labourers work for individual entrepreneur and only 22.2 percent for company (Chart 4.2) . All fishing labourers of Sarankhola, Patharghata, Charfashion, and Shitakundu work for individual entrepreneur while highest 74 percent of Chittagong and 56 percent of Khulna are working for company indicating that the latter two locations a re having organized enterprises. (Table 4.3).

Table 4.3: Type of employment of fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Type of employer Locations Total Individual Company Shyamnagar 72.0 28.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 44.0 56.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Barisal 78.0 22.0 100.0 (50) Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 (50)

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Cox's Bazar 80.0 20.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 26.0 74.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Total 77.8 22.2 100.0 (350) (100) (450)

Chart 4.2: Type of employer of the fishing labourers

Company 22%

Individual entrepreneur 78%

Type of work perform by the fishing labourers Fishing labourers perform varieties of activities, from fish cultivation to marketing. One labour is engaged in more than one activities. In this study highest seven activities of fishing labour er have been recorded. By this way a total of 978 responses are received from450 fishing labourers. As seen in table 4.4 more than half (55.1%) of the fishing labourers included in the present study are engaged in fish capture. This is followed by 25.8 percent fish packing, 23.3 percent fish load - unload, 13.8 percent icing fish, 11.8 percent fish processing, 11.3 percent cooking/cleaning, 11.1 percent / gher preparation and so on.

Table 4.4: Type of work perform by the fishing labourers in fishing sector (Multiple response up to 7) Types of work perform Number of labour Percent Fishing/fish capture 248 55.1 Fish packing 116 25.8 Fish load-unload 105 23.3 Icing fish 62 13.8 Fish culture/cultivation 59 13.1 Fish processing 53 11.8 Cooking,cleaning, etc. 51 11.3

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Fish pond/gher preparation 50 11.1 Fish sorting 43 9.6 Trawler/boatman 42 9.3 Net making/repair 40 8.9 Fish grading 36 8.0 Fish cleaning 36 8.0 Fish marketing 24 5.3 Supervising/official 13 2.9 Total 978 - No. of respondent 450 100.0

Unit/basis of contract/wage of work It is evident from the data presented in table 4.5 that less than one-third (31.1%) of the fishing labourers work on monthly basis. All others work on some kind of slot basis such as season (32.7%), work volume (18%), daily (12.7%), contract (4%), and others (1.6%). Among locations fishing labourers of Khulna work on monthly basis in highest proportion (78%), followed by Shitakundu 60 percent, and Shyamnagar 56 percent. All labourers of Barisal work on the basis of volume of work while almost all of Charfashion (98%) and Sarankhola (94%) work season basis.

Table 4.5: Unit/basis of work of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Salary/wage unit Locations Season Monthly Work Daily Contract Others Total volume Shyamnagar 22.0 56.0 - 12.0 6.0 4.0 100.0 (50) Khulna - 78.0 - 6.0 16.0 - 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 94.0 - - - 6.0 - 100.0 (50) Patharghata 66.0 - 34.0 - - - 100.0 (50) Barisal - - 100.0 - - - 100.0 (50) Charfashion 98.0 2.0 - - 0.0 - 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 4.0 38.0 2.0 46.0 4.0 6.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 10.0 46.0 26.0 10.0 4.0 4.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu - 60.0 - 40.0 - - 100.0 (50)

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Total 32.7 31.1 18.0 12.7 4.0 1.6 100.0 (147) (140) (81) (57) (18) (7) (450)

All of those fishing labourers work on season basis are engaged in fish capture. While majority (81.3%) of those work in fish culture work on monthly basis. It is to be noted here that these labourers mostly work in shrimp related enterprises ( Gher & Hatchery). Besides nearly half (43%) of the labourers work in fish processing enterprises and around one-fourth of the labourers work in marine fishing (28%) and fish marketing (23.9%) are also work on monthly basis. More than half (51.3%) of those work in fish marketing sector work on the basis of work volume (daily/fixed term). Majority of these labourers are likely to be from Barisal. Significant proportions of fishing labourers work in fish marketing sector (23%), fish processing sector (18.6%) and Fish culture (15.6%) work on daily basis. (Table 4.6).

Table 4.6: Sector of work of the fishing labourers %) and basis (time duration) of work Unit/basis of contract/wage of work Sector of work Total Season Monthly Work volume Daily Contract Others - 81.3 - 15.6 3.1 - 100.0 Fish culture (32) 61.7 28.0 .6 5.1 2.3 2.3 100.0 Marine fishing (175) 88.6 2.3 - 2.3 6.8 - 100.0 Sundarban fishing (44) - 43.0 25.6 18.6 9.3 3.5 100.0 Fish processing (86) - 23.9 51.3 23.0 1.8 - 100.0 Fish marketting (113) 32.7 31.1 18.0 12.7 4.0 1.6 100.0 Total (147) (140) (810 (57) (18) (7) (450)

Food & drinking water arrangement at workplace Fishing labourers need to arrange their food at work place by their own. Among the locations all fishing labourers of Khulna and Shitakundu and almost all of Sarankhola (98%) and Barisal (94%) need to arrange their food at workplace by their own. Only 12.9 percent labourers reported employer provided food. These labourers are mostly from Shyamnagar (42%), Cox’s Bazar (36%) and Chittagong (30%). A mere proportion (3.9%) of the fishing labourers reported food arranged jointly (employer and own). (Table 4.7) . Table 4.7: Food arrangement at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Food arrangement at workplace Locations Own Employer Owner & own Canteen own Total arrangement provided arrangement expense 58.0 42.0 - - 100.0 Shyamnagar (50)

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100.0 - - - 100.0 Khulna (50) 98.0 2.0 - - 100.0 Sarankhola (50) 76.0 - 24.0 - 100.0 Patharghata (50) 94.0 - - 6.0 100.0 Barisal (50) 52.0 6.0 38.0 4.0 100.0 Charfashion (50) 64.0 36.0 - - 100.0 Cox's Bazar (50) 70.0 30.0 - - 100.0 Chittagong (50) 100.0 - - - 100.0 Shitakundu (50) 79.1 12.9 6.9 1.1 100.0 Total (356) (58) (31) (5) (450)

If sector of work is considered almost all fishing labourers of fish processing sector (98.8%), fish marketing sector (95.6%) and Sundarban fishing sector (93.2%) need to arrange food at workplace by their own. On the other hand, majority (59.4%) of the fishing labourers work in fish cultivation/culture sector and considerable proportion (18.9%) work in marine fishing sector receive food from employer at workplace. (Table 4.8).

Table 4.8: Food arrangement at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) by work sector Food arrangement at work place Sector Own Employer Owner & own Canteen own Total arrangement provided arrangement expense Fish culture 40.6 59.4 0.0 0.0 100.0 (32) Marine fishing 62.3 18.9 17.7 1.1 100.0 (175) Sundarban fishing 93.2 6.8 0.0 0.0 100.0 (44) Fish processing 98.8 1.2 0.0 0.0 100.0 (86) Fish marketting 95.6 1.8 0.0 2.7 100.0 (113) Total 79.1 12.9 6.9 1.1 100.0 (356) (58) (31) (5) (450)

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Despite majority of the fishing labourers drink safe water, it appears that more than one fourth (Pond 17.3% & River 9.1%) of the fishing labourers drink unsafe water at workplace. Use of unsafe drinking water is more prevalent in Patharghata (92%), Sarankhola (82%) and Shyamnagar (60%). (Table 4.9).

Table 4.9: Source of drinking water at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Water arrangement at work place Locations Tubewell Pond Supply River Refine deep PSF Filter Total water water water Shyamnagar 4.0 60.0 - - 18.0 4.0 14.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 76.0 - 24.0 - - - - 100.0 (50) Sarankhola - 4.0 - 82.0 - 14.0 - 100.0 (50) Patharghata 8.0 92.0 - - - - - 100.0 (50) Barisal 100.0 ------100.0 (50) Charfashion 100.0 ------100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 86.0 - 14.0 - - - - 100.0 (50) Chittagong 50.0 - 50.0 - - - - 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 100.0 ------100.0 (50) Total 58.2 17.3 9.8 9.1 2.0 2.0 1.6 100.0 (262) (78) (44) (41) (9) (9) (7) (450)

Toilet facility at workplace There is no latrine facility at workplace for more than half (54%) of the fishing labourers (Chart 4.3). Three divisional cities, i.e., Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong have latrine facilities at workplace while remote locations like Sarakkhola, Charfasion, Patharghata, Shitkundu, Shyamnagar do not have latrine facility at workplace. (Table 4.10).

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Chart 4.3 : Toilet facility at workplace of the fishing labourers

Yes 46% No 54%

Table 4.10: Latrine facility at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Latrine facility at work place Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 64.0 36.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 6.0 94.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Patharghata 94.0 6.0 100.0 (50) Barisal 2.0 98.0 100.0 (50) Charfashion 96.0 4.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 26.0 74.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 14.0 86.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 84.0 16.0 100.0 (50) Total 54.0 46.0 100.0 (243) (207) (450)

Gender difference is evident in terms of latrine facility at workplace (Table 4.1 1). More female fishing labourers (62.5%) have latrine facility at workplace compared male (43.7%). It is likely as most female fishing labourers work in organized enterprises and in cities.

Table 4.11: Latrine facility at workplace of the fishing labourers (%) by gender Latrine facility at work place Gender Total No Yes Male 56.3 43.7 100.0 (394) Female 37.5 62.5 100.0

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(56) Total 54.0 46.0 100.0 (243) 207 (450)

Again, among the 207labourers reported have latrine at workplace only 43 or 20.8 percent reported that their latrine unhygienic. None of the latrines of Shitakundu, and two-third latrines of Cox’s Bazar (67.6%) and Patharghata (66.7%) reported as unhygienic. (Table 4.12).

Table 4.12: Hygienic condition of latrine at workplace of the fishing labourers in 9 locations Latrine facility at work place Locations Total Unhygienic Hygienic Shyamnagar - 100.0 100.0 (18) Khulna - 100.0 100.0 (47) Sarankhola - - 0.0 0 Patharghata 66.7 33.3 100.0 (3) Barisal 10.2 89.8 100.0 (49) Charfashion - 100.0 100.0 (2) Cox's Bazar 67.6 32.4 100.0 (37) Chittagong 7.0 93.0 100.0 (43) Shitakundu 100.0 - 100.0 (8) Total 20.8 79.2 100.0 (43) (164) (207)

Overall condition of the workplace Despite problems are there majority (63.1) of the fishing labourers reported that the overall condition of their workplace is ‘good’. As usual almost all fishing labourers of three divisional cities (Khulna, Barisal & Chittagong) reported the condition of their workplace as good. Among other locations 56 percent of Shyamnagar, 50 percent of Patharghata, 46 percent of Cox’s Bazar, and 36 percent of Charfashion reported their workplace as good. On the contrary almost all (98%) of the fishing labourers of Sarankhola reported the condition of their workplace is not good. (Table 4.13).

Table 4.13: Overall condition of the workplace of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Locations Overall condition of workplace Total Good Not good

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Shyamnagar 56.0 44.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 96.0 4.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 2.0 98.0 100.0 (50) Patharghata 50.0 50.0 100.0 (50) Barisal 96.0 4.0 100.0 (50) Charfashion 36.0 64.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 46.0 54.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 90.0 10.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 96.0 4.0 100.0 (50) Total 63.1 36.9 100.0 (284) (166) (450)

It is already evident that female fishing labourers work in organized enterprises. As such overwhelming majority of the female fishing labourers reported the condition of their workplace is ‘good’ compared to only 59.9 percent of male. (Table 4.14).

Table 4.14: Overall condition of the workplace of the fishing labourers (%) by gender Overall condition of workplace Gender Total Good Not good Male 59.9 40.1 100.0 (394) Female 85.7 14.3 100.0 (56) Total 63.1 36.9 100.0 (284) (166) (450)

When checked the reasons behind describing the workplace as ‘not good’, highest proportion (45.2%) mentioned ‘fear of robber’. The second highest proportion (27.1%) mentioned ‘fear of ferocious animals (Tiger, Shark, Crocodile, etc.)’ behind terming condition of workplace as not good. Other reasons are ‘housing problem’, ‘cyclone/storm’, ‘bad smell’, ‘no toilet’, ‘saline water, ‘dirty environment’, etc. (Table 4.15). In consistent with these findings, as evident from table 4.16, almost all (93.2%) of the labourers engaged in fishing in Sundarban and nearly half (48.6%) of the labourers engaged in marine fishing reported the overall condition of their workplace as ‘not good’ (Chart 4.4).

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Table 4.15 : Reason behind identifying work condition not good (Multiple response up to 6)

Reasons Responses Percent Fear of Decoit 75 45.2 Fear of animals (Tiger/shark/crocodile, snake, 50 30.1 etc.) Housing problem 45 27.1 Saline water 33 19.9 Cyclone/storm 22 13.3 Bad smell 21 12.7 Toileting problem 21 12.7 Saline water 20 12.0 Dirty condition 18 10.8 Others 6 Treatment 5 Food problem 5 Total response 321 No. of respondent (N) 166 100.0

Chart 4.4: 100.0 90.0 31.3 80.0 70.0 60.0 50.0

Percent 40.0 30.0 68.8 20.0 10.0 0.0 Fish culture

Good Not good

Condition of wage of the fishing labourers Fishing labourers receive wage on daily, monthly, trip and contract basis. Highest (44.7%) of the fishing labourers receive wage monthly basis, followed by 19 percent daily, 18.7 percent trip and 17.6 percent contract(Table 4.1 6). Majority of th e fishing labourers of 77

Shyamnagar (76%), Khulna (76%), Sarankhola (90%) and Shitakundu (62%) and nearly half of Cox’s Bazar (44%) and Chittagong (40%) receive wage on monthly basis. On the other hand, majority of the fishing labourers of Patharghata (67.3%) and Charfashion (68%) receive wage on trip basis. More than half of the fishing labourers of Barisal and 40 percent of Chittagong, 32.7 percent of Patharghata and 24 percent of Charfashion receive salary on contract basis. Nearly half of the fishing labourers of Cox’s Bazar (46%) and Barisal (45.5%) receive wage on daily basis.

Table 4.16: Unit of wage of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Unit of contract/wage Locations Total Daily Monthly Trip Contract Shyamnagar 10.0 76.0 12.0 2.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 24.0 76.0 - - 100.0 (50) Sarankhola 0.0 90.0 2.0 8.0 100.0 (50) Patharghata 0.0 - 67.3 32.7 100.0 (49) Barisal 45.5 - 0.0 54.5 100.0 (44) Charfashion 0.0 8.0 68.0 24.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 46.0 44.0 8.0 2.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 10.0 40.0 10.0 40.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 38.0 62.0 - - 100.0 (50) Total 19.0 44.7 18.7 17.6 100.0 (84) (198) (83) (78) (443)* *7 No response

Data presented in table 4.17 show that 87.1 percent of the fishing labourers receive wage regularly and only 12.9 percent not regularly. In terms of irregular payment of wage Patharghata stands highest with 32 percent followed by Shyamnagar 28 percent and Chittagong 20 percent. Proportion of female fishing labour receive irregular wage is much higher than male labour, 33.9 percent and 9.9 percent respectively (Chart 4.5).

Table 4.17: Whether fishing labourers (%) receive wage regularly in 9 locations Whether receive wage regularly Locations Total Yes No Shyamnagar 72.0 28.0 100.0 (50) Khulna 88.0 12.0 100.0

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(50) Sarankhola 90.0 10.0 100.0 (50) Patharghata 68.0 32.0 100.0 (50) Barisal 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Charfashion 98.0 2.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 88.0 12.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 80.0 20.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu 100.0 - 100.0 (50) Total 87.1 12.9 100.0 (450)

Chart 4.5:

100 90 80 70 60 50 Percent 40 30 20 10 0

Yes No

Among the sectors fish culture and fish processing sector pay wage irregularly proportions (31.3%) compared to other sectors. In terms of regularity in paying wage marketing sector stands at top with 96.5 percent followed by 93.2 percent Sunderland, and 89.7 per cent marine fishing. (Chart 4.6 ). Interestingly more proportion of fishing labourers work i n organized sector or company reported irregular wage compared to the labourers work in individual enterprise. (Chart 4.7).

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Chart 4.6: Regularity in salary/wage receive (%) by sector of work

Fish marketing 96.5 3.5

Fish processing 73.3 26.7

Sunderban fishing 93.2 6.8 Sector of work of Sector Marine fishing 89.7 10.3

Fish culture 68.8 31.3

0 20 40 60 80 100

Yes No Percent

Chart 4.7: Regularity in salary/wage receive (%) by employer type

Company 83.0 17.0

Individual 88.3 11.7 Employer type Employer

0 20 40 60 80 100 Yes No Percent

Benefits received by the fishing labourers About 40 percent of the fishing labourers reported that they receive other benefits with wage. Proportion of fishing labourers receive other benefits i s highest 82 percent in Sarankhola. This is followed by 74 percent of Khulna, 60 percent of Chittagong, 54 percent of Shyamnagar, 42 percent each of Cox’s Bazar and Shitakind u. None of the fishing labourers of Patharghata, Barisal and Charfashion receive other benefit. ( Chart 4.8).

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Chart 4.8: Fishing labourers by whether receive benefit other than wage/salary in 9 locations

All location Shitakundu Chittagong Cox's Bazar Charfashion

Location Barisal Patharghata Sarankhola Khulna Shyamnagar 0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0

No Yes Percent

Male fishing labourers receive other benefits more than female, 40.6 percent and 30.4 percent respectively (Chart 4.9).

Chart 4.9: Fishing labourers by whether receive benefit other than wage/salary and gender No Yes

Female 69.6 30.4 Gender Male 59.4 40.6

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Among other benefits fishing labourers receive leftover fish in highest proportions , 18.4 percent (monthly average BDT 579/- worth ). This is followed by 13.8 percent bonus (yearly average BDT 4520/- worth ), 11.8 percent food (daily average BDT 112/ - worth), 6.7 percent cloth (monthly average BDT 680/- worth ), and 3.8 percent provident fund (monthly average BDT 674/- worth). (Table 4.18)

Table 4.18: Other benefits received by the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Receive benefit (%) Average Range Type of benefit Total Yes No (BDT worth ) (BDT worth) Bonus (Yearly) 13.8 86.2 100.0 4520.13 62-500 (450)

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Food (Daily) 11.8 88.2 100.0 112.1 20-250 (450) Cloth (Yearly) 6.7 93.3 100.0 680 400-2000 (450) Provident fund 3.8 96.2 100.0 674.1 380-1500 (Monthly)employer’s (450) contribution) Left over fish (Monthly) 18.4 81.6 100.0 578.7 30-2000 (450)

The proportion of fishing labourers receive at least one benefit other than wage/salary varies by sector of work. Highest proportion (77%) of fishing labourers of fish marketing sector receive other benefit followed by marine fishing sector 58.3 percent, fish processing 58.1 percent, Sundarban fishing 54.5 percent and fish culture lowest 31.2 percent. (Table 4.19).

Table 4.19: Whether fishing labourers (%) receive other benefit by work sector Receive other benefit Sector of work Total Yes No Fish culture 31.2 68.8 100.0 Marine fishing 58.3 41.7 100.0 Sundarban fishing 54.5 45.5 100.0 Fish processing 58.1 41.9 100.0 Fish marketing 77.0 23.0 100.0 Total 60.7 39.3 100.0 (450) (273) (177)

Interestingly more proportion of the fishing labourers work in company (65%) compared to those work in individual enterprise (32%) do not receive other benefit (Table 4.20).

Table 4.20: Whether fishing labourers (%)receive other benefit by employer type Whether receive other benefit Employer type Total Yes No Individual 68.0 32.0 100.0 Company 35.0 65.0 100.0 Total 60.7 39.3 100.0 (273) (177) (450)

Two-third of the fishing labourers are not satisfied with their present wage/salary and benefits (Chart 4.10). More proportion of female labourers (82.1%) than male labourers (64%) are not satisfied with their wage/salary and benefits (Chart 4.10). It is to be noted here that female labourers are less paid than male labourers.

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Chart 4.10: Fishing labourers by whether satisfied with present wage/salary and benefits

Yes 34%

No 66%

Table 4.21: Whether satisfied with present salary and benefits by gender (%) Whether satisfied with present wage & benefits Gender Total Yes No Male 36.0 64.0 100.0 Female 17.9 82.1 100.0 Total 33.8 66.2 100.0 (152) (298) (450)

Among the fishing labourers satisfied with their wage/salary and benefits ,labourers engaged in marine fishing are satisfied in highest proportions (42.3%), followed by 36.3 percent fish marketing, 29.1 percent fish processing, 18.8 percent fish cultivation/culture and 13.6 percent inland fishing (Table 4.22). Despite more proportion of f ishing labourers work in companies compared to those work in individual enterprises are satisfied with present facilities the difference is minimum. (Table 4. 23).

Table 4.22: Whether satisfied with present salary and benefits by work sector (%) Whether satisfied with present salary & benefits Sector of work Total Yes No Fish culture 18.8 81.3 100.0 Marine fishing 42.3 57.7 100.0 Sundarban fishing 13.6 86.4 100.0 Fish processing 29.1 70.9 100.0 Fish marketting 36.3 63.7 100.0 33.8 66.2 100.0 Total (152) (298) (450)

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Table 4.23: Whether satisfied with present salary and employer type (%) Type of Whether satisfied with present salary & benefits Total employer Yes No Individual 32.6 67.4 100.0 Company 38.0 62.0 100.0 Total 33.8 66.2 100.0 (152) (298) (450)

We placed a question before the fishing labourers who are not satisfied with their wage/salary and benefit(s) about what they expect at present. We received multiple response up to 4. A total of 533 responses were made by 298 fishing labourers not satisfied with present wage & benefit(s). Among the desires of the fishing labourers salary/wage increase has been mentioned by highest proportion (52.7%). This is followed by 28.5 percent financial support in need, 24.2 percent security measures, 12.4 percent food and water at workplace, 11.7 percent each of bonus and loan for investment, 10.4 percent treatment facility, 9.1 percent leave, 7.4 percent job permanency, and so on. (Table 4.24).

Table 4.24: Desire of the fishing labourers at present (Multiple response up to 4) Desire Responses Percent Salary/wage increase 157 52.7 Financial help in need 85 28.5 Security measures 72 24.2 Food & water at workplace 37 12.4 Bonus 35 11.7 Loan for investment 35 11.7 Treatment facility 31 10.4 Leave 27 9.1 Job permanency 22 7.4 Net/Boat 16 5.4 Others 16 5.4 Total response 533 - Number of labourer (N) 298 100.0

Work in fishing sector is not available for the whole year for more than half of the fishing labourers (54%). Proportion of labourers reported work not available whole year is very high in Charfashion (90%), Patharghata (88%) and Cox’s Bazar (80%). On the other hand, work is

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available for whole year for highest proportion (94%) of fishing labourers of Khulna, followed by 68 percent of Chittagong, 66 percent of Shyamnagar, 62 percent sarankhola and 50 percent of Shitakundu. (Table 4.25). There is no significant difference between male and female fishing labourers in terms of availability of work for whole year (Table 4.26).

Table 4.25: Whether work of fishing labourers (%) available whole year in 9 locations Whether work available whole year Locations Total Yes No Shyamnagar 66.0 34.0 100.0 Khulna 94.0 6.0 100.0 Sarankhola 62.0 38.0 100.0 Patharghata 12.0 88.0 100.0 Barisal 32.0 68.0 100.0 Charfashion 10.0 90.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 20.0 80.0 100.0 Chittagong 68.0 32.0 100.0 Shitakundu 50.0 50.0 100.0 Total 46.0 54.0 100.0 (207) (243) (450)

Table 4.26: Whether work of fishing labourers (%) available whole year by gender Whether work available whole year Gender Total Yes No Male 45.9 54.1 100.0 (394) Female 46.4 53.6 100.0 (56) Total 46.0 54.0 100.0 (207) (243) (450)

Availability of work throughout year, however, varies among the sectors of work. Work is available for highest proportion (75%) of the fishing labourers work in fish culture sector. This is followed by 70.5 percent of Sundarban fishing, 57 percent of fish processing sector, 52.2 percent of fish marketing sector and lowest 25.1 percent of marine fishing sector. (Table 4.27). Work is available throughout the year for majority of the fishing labourers work in companies (83%). On the other hand, work is not available for majority of the fishing labourers work in individual enterprises. (Table 4.28).

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Table 4.27: Whether work of fishing labourers (%) available whole year by sector of work Whether work available whole year Sector of work Total Yes No Fish culture 75.0 25.0 100.0 Marine fishing 25.1 74.9 100.0 Sundarban fishing 70.5 29.5 100.0 Fish processing 57.0 43.0 100.0 Fish marketting 52.2 47.8 100.0 Total 46.0 54.0 100.0 (207) (243) (450)

Table 4.28: Whether work of fishing labourers (%) available whole year by employer type

Whether work available whole year Type of employer Yes No Total Individual 35.4 64.6 100.0 Company 83.0 17.0 100.0 46.0 54.0 100.0 Total (207) (243) (450)

Those who reported work not available throughout the year adopts varieties of strategies for survival during no work. One respondent mentioned more than one strategies (up to 4). By this way 243 fishing labourers made 297 responses which has been presented in table 4.29. Highest proportion (39.1%) of the fishing labourers receive loan. This is followed by work in other sector (23.2%), Taking advance (14.9%), pulling rickshaw/van (10.4%), depend on other family members’ income (10.4%), use savings (5.4%), and so on.

Table 4.29: Survival strategy during no work of fishing labourers (Multiple response up to 3) Survival strategy Responses Percent Taking loan 116 48.1 Work in other sector 56 23.2 Taking advance 36 14.9 Pulling rickshaw/van 25 10.4 Other family members' income 25 10.4 Use savings 13 5.4 Lowering consumption 10 4.1

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Engage in business 8 3.3 Allowance/help 6 2.5 Other 2 .8 Total 297 - Number of labourer (N) 243 100.0

Work in fishing sector requires specific skills. Despite a large number of labourers are engaged in fishing no provision is seen to train up labourers. Data presented in table 4.30 show that all but two of the 450 fishing labourers included in the present study acquired required skill through on- job training. This is obviously negatively affecting the productivity of the sector.

Table 4.30: How the fishing labourers acquired fishing skills How No. of labourer Percent On-job training 447 99.3 Training by employer 2 .4 By father 1 .2 Total 450 100.0

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Chapter V State and Awareness of Labour Rights of the Fishing Labourers

Labour right is a long neglected issue in countries like Bangladesh. This is truer for the unorganized sectors like fishing the subject of the present study. It is already evident that fishing sector in Bangladesh is still small-scale and individual entrepreneurial dominated. There is dearth of policy and laws specifically for the labourers of fishing sector in our country. The national labour laws are applicable for the labourers working in industrial fishing establishment (Trawler, fish processing plant etc.). However, the share of the industrial trawler is minor, only 2.30 percent of the total catch. So, it appears that majority of the labourers in the fishing sector remains out of legal coverage. This chapter of the report has examined the extent of knowledge of the labourers about labour rights and actual state of those rights. To do so, mainly, rights of the labourers mentioned in the Labour Law, 2006 of Bangldesh has been considered. Data have been presented through descriptive way and, wherever possible, the state of rights and awareness have been examined with location, gender of fishing labour, employer type and sector of work through cross tabulated to see the differences between different categories of the variables under consideration.

Appointment letter Present state of appointment letter : Appointment letter is a basic right of every labour. As seen in table 5.1 that only 7.6 percent of the fishing labourers have appointment letter. Among the fishing labourers of 9 locations 42 percent of Khulna 22 percent of Chittagong and only four percent of Cox’s Bazar have appoint letter. None of the fishing labourers of other 6 locations has appointment letter. Fishing sector of Bangladesh is still largely unorganized. It is seen that majority of the fishing labourers work in individually owned small (artisanal) fishing enterprises. As these owners do not have any organisational set up it is not possible for them to issue appointment letter for the working fishing labourers. This has reflected through the data presented in chart 5.1. None of the fishing labourers work for individual owned enterprises has appointment letter. However, it is also evident from the data that more than two-third (67%) of the fishing labourers working in companies do not have appointment letter either. It is clear that fishing labourers are deprived of this basic right of have appointment letter. The situation is a bit better for the female fishing labourers, 33 percent of them have appointment letter compared to only 4.3 percent of male. (Chart 5.2).

Table 5.1: Fishing labourers (%) by whether have appointment letter in 9 locations Whether have appointment letter Locations Total Yes No Shyamnagar - 100.0 100.0 (50)

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Khulna 42.0 58.0 100.0 (50) Sarankhola - 100.0 100.0 (50) Patharghata - 100.0 100.0 (50) Barisal - 100.0 100.0 (50) Charfashion - 100.0 100.0 (50) Cox's Bazar 4.0 96.0 100.0 (50) Chittagong 22.0 78.0 100.0 (50) Shitakundu - 100.0 100.0 (50) Total 7.6 92.4 100.0 (34) (416) (450)

Chart 5.1: Possession of appointment card by employer type 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% Percent 30% 20% 10% 0% Individual Company No Yes Gender

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Chart 5.2: Possession of appointment card by gender of fishing labourers

No 69.6% Yes 95.7%

30.4% 4.3% Male Female State of awareness about appointment letter as right : Interestingly 76.4 percent of the fishing labourers do not know appointment letter as their right. Majority of the fishing labourers of Khulna (65.5%) and Chittagong (66.7%), however, know appointment letter as right of labour. It is fact the fishing labourers of these two locations work in fishing industries. Among other locations, around one-third of the fishing labourers of Cox’s Bazar (37.5%) and Shitakundu (34.0%) know appointment letter as right of labour. (Table 5. 2). The re is no difference between male and female labourers in terms of knowledge about appointment letter as labour right (Table 5.3). More proportion of fishing labourers work in organized enterprises know appointment letter as right compared to fishing labour ers work in individual owned enterprises , 58.2 percent and 16.9 percent respectively (Table 5. 4).

Table 5.2: Whether fishing labourers (%) know appointment letter as a right in 9 locations Whether know appointment letter as a right Locations Total Yes No Shyamnagar 24.0 76.0 100.0 Khulna 65.5 34.5 100.0 Sarankhola 8.0 92.0 100.0 Patharghata - 100.0 100.0 Barisal 4.0 96.0 100.0 Charfashion - 100.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 37.5 62.5 100.0 Chittagong 66.7 33.3 100.0 Shitakundu 34.0 66.0 100.0 Total 23.6 76.4 100.0

Table 5.3: Gender and awareness of the fishing labourers (%) about appointment letter

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Whether know appointment letter as a right Locations Total Yes No Male 23.3 76.7 100.0 Female 25.6 74.4 100.0 Total 23.6 76.4 100.0

Table 5.4: Employer type and awareness about appointment letter of fishing labourers (%) Whether know appointment letter as right Type of employer Total Yes No Individual 16.9 83.1 100.0 Company 58.2 41.8 100.0 Total 23.6 76.4 100.0

ID card Possession of ID card by the fishing labourers : Identity (ID) card is also a basic right of the labourers. A GoB project of registering and providing ID card is underway since January, 2012. So far, 1.685 million fishermen have been registered and 1.2 million of them have received ID card. The situation of the fishing labourers included in this study, however, is very disappointing, 78 percent of the fishing labourers do not have ID card provided by either GoB or by their employer. Fishing labourers working in Khulna have ID card in highest proportion (66.0%) compared to other locations. Among the fishing labours of other locations, nearly half (48%) of Cox’s Bazar, 38 percent of Shitakundu, 30 percent of Chittagong, 12 percent of Charfashion, and only 2 percent each of Patharghata and Barisal have ID card. None of the fishing labourers of Shyamnagar and Patharghata has ID card. (Table 5.5).

Table 5.5: Fishing labourers by whether have ID card in 9 locations Whether have ID card Locations Total Yes No Shyamnagar - 100.0 100.0 Khulna 66.0 34.0 100.0 Sarankhola 2.0 98.0 100.0 Patharghata - 100.0 100.0 Barisal 2.0 98.0 100.0 Charfashion 12.0 88.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 48.0 52.0 100.0 Chittagong 30.0 70.0 100.0 Shitakundu 38.0 62.0 100.0

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Total 22.0 78.0 100.0

Female fishing labourers have ID card in higher proportion (30.4%) compared to male (20.8%), understandably as more females are working in organized enterprises ( Chart 5. 3 does not mean that fishing labourers working in companies have ID card. Cha 64 percent of the fishing labourers work in companies or organized enterprises do not have ID card.

Chart 5.3: Possession of ID card by gender of fishing labourers

Male Female

20.8%

Yes

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Chart 5.4:

Individual

18.0%

State of awareness about ID card : Slightly more than one-fourth (26.2%) of the fishing labourers know ID card as right. Fishing labourers of Khulna and Chittagong know ID card as right in more proportions compared to other locations. Fishing labourers of Sarankhola and Barisal know ID card as right in lowest proportions, 4.1 percent each. (Table 5. 6). Gender difference in t regard is insignificant (Table 5. 7). Difference between the fishing labourers work in individually owned enterprise and company in regard to knowledge about ID card as labour right, however, significant (Tale 5.8).

Table 5.6: Whether the fishing l abourers (%) know ID card as a right in 9 locations Whether know ID card as right Locations Total Yes No Shyamnagar 24.0 76.0 100.0 Khulna 82.4 17.6 100.0 Sarankhola 4.1 95.9 100.0 Patharghata 14.0 86.0 100.0 Barisal 4.1 95.9 100.0 Charfashion 29.5 70.5 100.0 Cox's Bazar 26.9 73.1 100.0 Chittagong 60.0 40.0 100.0 Shitakundu 45.2 54.8 100.0 Total 26.2 73.8 100.0

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Table 5.7: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know ID card as a right by gender Whether know ID card as right Locations Total Yes No Male 26.6 73.4 100.0 Female 23.1 76.9 100.0 Total 26.2 73.8 100.0

Table 5.8: Whether the fishing labourers (%) have ID card by employer type Whether know ID card as a right Type of employer Total Yes No Individual 18.8 81.2 100.0 Company 59.4 40.6 100.0 Total 26.2 73.8 100.0

Possession of attendance register at workplace : Attendance register at workplace is available for only 22.7 percent fishing labourers (Chart 5.5) . Khulna stands highest in this regard with 78 percent and Chittagong stands second with 44 percent fishing labourers have attendance register. All other locations have attendance regis ter in insignificant proportions with none of the fishing labouers of Sarankhola, Charfashion and almost all (98%) of Shitakundu have no attendance register at workplace. (Table 5.9). Gender difference in terms of having attendance register at workplace is significant, much higher for female (51.8%) compared to male (18.5%). (Table 5.10 ). The difference in the proportion of fishing labourer s having attendance register at workplace between individual (13.1%) and company (51.8%) employer is highly significant (Table 5.10).

Chart 5.5: Attendance register at workplace of the fishing labourers

Yes 22.7%

No 77.3%

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Table 5.9: Whether have attendance register at workplace in 9 locations (%) Whether have attendance register Locations Total Yes No Shyamnagar 18.0 82.0 100.0 Khulna 78.0 22.0 100.0 Sarankhola - 100.0 100.0 Patharghata 22.0 78.0 100.0 Barisal 10.0 90.0 100.0 Charfashion - 100.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 30.0 70.0 100.0 Chittagong 44.0 56.0 100.0 Shitakundu 2.0 98.0 100.0 Total 22.7 77.3 100.0

Table 5.10: Whether have attendance register at workplace by gender (%) Whether have attendance register Locations Total Yes No Male 18.5 81.5 100.0 Female 51.8 48.2 100.0 Total 22.7 77.3 100.0

Table 5.11: Whether the fishing labourers have attendance register at workplace by employer type Attendance register at workplace Employer type Total Yes No Individual 13.1 86.9 100.0 Company 56.0 44.0 100.0 Total 22.7 77.3 100.0

Among the fishing labourers only 15.5 percent know attendance register at workplace as labour right. Again, Khulna stands at the top with 72.7 percent and Chittagong second with 42.9 percent of the labourers know attendance register as right. Among other locations considerable proportions of fishing labourers of Shitakundu and Cox’s Bazar know attendance register at workplace as labour right, 30.6 percent and 20.0 percent respectively. (Table 5.12). The proportion of female fishing labourers (29.6%) know attendance register as right is more than double compared to the proportion of male fishing labourers (14.3%). (Table 5.13). Fishing

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labourers work for companyare more (43.2%) aware than those work for individual entrepreneurs (11.5%) about attendance register at workplace as a labour right (Table 5.14).

Table 5.12: Whether know attendance register at workplace as right in 9 locations (%) Whether know attendance register as right Locations Total Yes No Shyamnagar 9.8 90.2 100.0 Khulna 72.7 27.3 100.0 Sarankhola 4.0 96.0 100.0 Patharghata - 100.0 100.0 Barisal 8.9 91.1 100.0 Charfashion 4.0 96.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 20.0 80.0 100.0 Chittagong 42.9 57.1 100.0 Shitakundu 30.6 69.4 100.0 Total 15.5 84.5 100.0

Table 5.13: Whether know attendance register at workplace as right by gender (%) Whether know attendance register as right Gender Total Yes No Male 14.3 85.7 100.0 Female 29.6 70.4 100.0 Total 15.5 84.5 100.0

Table 5.14: Whether the fishing labourers (%) have attendance register at workplace by employer type

Type of Whether know ID card as a right Total employer Yes No Individual 11.5 88.5 100.0 Company 43.2 56.8 100.0 Total 15.5 84.5 100.0

Security and risks at workplace State of security at workplace : More than half (57.8%) of the fishing labourers mentioned that security of their workplace is ‘good’. Almost all fishing labourers of three divisional cities, i.e., Khulna, Barisal and Shitakundu mentioned the security of their workplace is good, 96 percent, 94 percent and 92 percent respectively have mentioned this. Besides fishing labourers of 96

Shitakundu and Cox’s Bazar termed security situation of the workplace as good in considerable proportions, 82 percent and 68 percent respectively. Security situation of workplace of Sarankhola and Charfashion has been mentioned as ‘not good’ by almost all fishing labourers. (Table 5.15).

Table 5.15: State of security at workplace in 9 locations (%) State of security Locations Total Good Not good Shyamnagar 44.0 56.0 100.0 Khulna 96.0 4.0 100.0 Sarankhola 2.0 98.0 100.0 Patharghata 34.0 66.0 100.0 Barisal 94.0 6.0 100.0 Charfashion 8.0 92.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 68.0 32.0 100.0 Chittagong 92.0 8.0 100.0 Shitakundu 82.0 18.0 100.0 Total 57.8 42.2 100.0

An encouraging finding is that almost all female (94.6%) fishing labourers have mentioned the state of security of their workplace is good compared to 52.5 percent of the male fishing labourers. (Table 5.16). This is likely as it is evident that male fishing labourers engaged in marine fishing and fishing in Sudarban relatively risky place while female labourers mostly work in cities and in companies. It is also evident that 96 percent of the fishing labourers work in company (mostly located in cities) compared to less than half (46.9%) of labourers work in individual enterprises termed state of security of their workplace is good (Table 5.17).

Table 5.16: State of security of workplace of the fishing labourers by gender (%) State of security of workplace Gender Total Good Not good Male 52.5 47.5 100.0 Female 94.6 5.4 100.0 Total 57.8 42.2 100.0

Table 5.17: State of security of workplace of the fishing labourers (%) by employer type Whether know ID card as a right Type of employer Total Yes No

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Individual 46.9 53.1 100.0 Company 96.0 4.0 100.0 Total 57.8 42.2 100.0

Fishing in Sundarban has been identified as most insecure among the fishing sectors. All fishing labourers engaged in Sundarban fishing have mentioned this. Marine fishing is also mentioned as unsecured by overwhelming majority (70.3%) of the labourers engaged in this sector. Fish culture is mentioned unsecured by a considerable proportion (37.5%) of labourers engaged in this sector. Two other sectors, i.e., fish processing and fish marketing have been mentioned as secured by almost all fishing labourers. (Chart 5.6).

Chart 5.6: State of security of workplace of the fishing labourers

Good Not good

100.0% 95.3% 93.8%

70.3% 62.5%

37.5% 29.7% 0.0% 4.7% 6.2%

Fish culture Marine fishing Sunderban fishing Fish processing Fish marketting

Sector of work Risk at workplace of the fishing labourers : Fishing labourers, in general, have mentioned their work as risky, 84 percent of the fishing labourers have mentioned that they face risk at workplace (Chart 5.7). All fishing labourers of Sarankhola, Patharghata and Charfashion and almost all (96%) of Barisal reported face risk at workplace. More than 80 percent of the fishing labourers of Khulna and Cox’s Bazar also reported face risk at workplace. Lowest 58 percent of the fishing labourers of Shitakundu mentioned face risk at workplace (Table 5.18). There is no significant difference between gender in this regard (Table 5.19).

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Chart 5.7: Fishing labourers by whether any risk at workplace

No 16%

Yes 84%

Table 5.18 : Whether face any risk at work place in 9 locations (%) Whether any risk at workplace Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 30.0 70.0 100.0 Khulna 16.0 84.0 100.0 Sarankhola - 100.0 100.0 Patharghata - 100.0 100.0 Barisal 4.0 96.0 100.0 Charfashion - 100.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 18.0 82.0 100.0 Chittagong 38.0 62.0 100.0 Shitakundu 42.0 58.0 100.0 16.4 83.6 100.0 Total (74) (376) (450)

Table 5.19 : Whether face any risk at work place by gender (%) Whether any risk at workplace Gender Total No Yes Male 16.8 83.2 100.0 Female 14.3 85.7 100.0 Total 16.4 83.6 100.0

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Majority of the fishing labourers of all sector mentioned that they face risk at workplace. It is, however, highest for those work in marine fishing and Sundarban fishing. fishing in Sundarban and 93.1 percent of those engaged in marin workplace. Around three-fourth of the fishing labourers work in fish processing and fish marketing sector also mentioned risk faced at workplace.

The 376 fishing labourers reported labour mentioned up to 10 risks face at workplace. A total of 1 risk face at workplace have been received and presented in table 5. be broadly grouped as ‘fear’. Among fear, ‘fear of robber’ has been mentioned by highest proportion of fishing labourers (45.2%). This (12.5%), Crocodile (8.2%) and Snake (7.2%). The next broad category of risk faced is diarrhoea 35.9 percent, cold/c ough 33.2 percent ‘injury/fracture’ is also mentioned by considerable proportion of fishing labourers category hurt hands/legs durin g work has been most frequently mentioned by the fishing labourers (20.2%). This is followed by 11.4 percent hand/leg fracture, waist hurt 5.3 percent so on. Pain due to carry overweight (mainly 10.9 pe rcent fishing labourers. Finally 8 percent of the fishing labourers have mentioned other risks like ransom, gas cylinder explosion, lack of pure drinking water, etc. (Table 5.2

Table 5.20: Risks faced by the fishing labourers at work place

Broad Risks faced

category Fear Robber 170 45.2 Cyclone/Storm 85 22.6 Tiger 47 12.5 Crocodile 31 8.2 Snake 27 7.2 Illness Fever 138 36.7 Diarrhoea 135 35.9 Cold/Cough 125 33.2 Jaundice 38 10.1 Dysentery 28 7.5 Skin disease 23 6.1 Vomiting 13 3.5 Other (bad-headache, tonsil, itching, 41 10.9 infection, etc.) Injury / Hurt hands/legs 76 20.2 fracture Hand/leg fracture 43 11.4 Waist hurt 20 5.3 Spine problem 7 1.9

Others 7 1.9 Pain 24 6.4 Pain due to Neck pain 10 2.7 carrying Head pain 5 1.3 overweight Other 2 0.5 (Gas cylinder explosion, Ransom, Lack of Others 30 8.0 pure drinking water, etc.) Total responses 1,125 - Number of labourer (N) 376 100.0

State of awareness about security right : Security at workplace arranged by the employer is a fundamental right of labourers. It is also evident that fishing labourers face varieties of security threats at workplace. Yet only 26.7 percent of the fishing labourers know security at workplace as right. The situation is relatively better in Khulna and Chittagong in this regard with 80 percent and 60 percent respectively know security at workplace as right. Besides around one-third of the fishing labourers of Shyamnagar (38%) and Cox’s Bazar (32%) know security at workplace as right. Situation of other locations in this regard is extremely disappointing. (Table 5.21). Gender difference in this regard is evident. More proportions (41.1%) of female fishing labourers compared to 24.6 percent of male know security at workplace as the right of labour (Table5.22).

Table 5.21: Whether know security at workplace arrangement by employer as right of labour in 9 locations (%) Locations Whether know security as right of labour Total

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No Yes Shyamnagar 62.0 38.0 100.0 Khulna 20.0 80.0 100.0 Sarankhola 92.0 8.0 100.0 Patharghata 98.0 2.0 100.0 Barisal 98.0 2.0 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 68.0 32.0 100.0 Chittagong 40.0 60.0 100.0 Shitakundu 82.0 18.0 100.0 Total 73.3 26.7 100.0 (330) (120) (450)

Table 5.22: Whether know security arrangement by employer as right of labour by gender

Whether know security as right of labour Gender Total No Yes Male 75.4 24.6 100.0 Female 58.9 41.1 100.0 Total 73.3 26.7 100.0

Despite fishing labourers engaged in fishing in Sundarban face highest insecurity at workplace lowest proportion (9.1%) of them know security at workplace is employers’ responsibility. Marine fishing has also found with substantial security threat. Yet only 16.6 percent of the labourers work in this sector know security at workplace is employers’ responsibility. (Table 5.23).

Table 5.23: Whether know security arrangement at workplace by employer as right by sector of work Whether know security arrangement by Total Sector employer as right of labour

No Yes Fish culture 56.3 43.8 100.0

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Marine fishing 83.4 16.6 100.0 Sundarban fishing 90.9 9.1 100.0 Fish processing 55.8 44.2 100.0 Fish marketing 69.0 31.0 100.0 Total 73.3 26.7 100.0

Incidence of illness at workplace of the fishing labourers As revealed from risks of workplace, three-fourth of the fishing labourers experienced illness at workplace. Majority of the fishing labourers of all locations except Shitakundu (38%) experienced illness.(Table 5.24). Both male and female fishing labourers equally experienced illness (Table 5.25).

Table 5.24: Whether fishing labourers (%) experienced illness at workplace in 9 locations Whether experienced illness Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 16.0 84.0 100.0 Khulna 20.0 80.0 100.0 Sarankhola 10.0 90.0 100.0 Patharghata 8.0 92.0 100.0 Barisal 28.0 72.0 100.0 Charfashion 2.0 98.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 38.0 62.0 100.0 Chittagong 48.0 52.0 100.0 Shitakundu 62.0 38.0 100.0 Total 25.8 74.2 100.0 (116) (334) (450)

Table 5.25: Whether fishing labourers experienced illness at workplace by gender Whether experienced illness Gender Total No Yes Male 26.6 73.4 100.0 Female 19.6 80.4 100.0 Total 25.8 74.2 100.0

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Employers should inform the labourers about the risks involved at workplace. Employers of nearly two-third of the fishing labourers have not informed the labourers about the risks of workplace. All or majority of the fishing labourers of Shyamnagar, Khulna, Sarankhola, Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong and Shitakundu was not informed by the employers while all or majority of the fishing labourers of Pathaghata, Barisal and Charfashion found informed about risks by the employer in more proportions. (Table 5.26).

Table 5.26: Whether the employer of fishing labourers (%) informed about risks at workplace in 9 locations Whether employer informed about risks Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 86.0 14.0 100.0 Khulna 96.0 4.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 Patharghata - 100.0 100.0 Barisal 12.0 88.0 100.0 Charfashion 10.0 90.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 86.0 14.0 100.0 Chittagong 76.0 24.0 100.0 Shitakundu 96.0 4.0 100.0 Total 62.4 37.6 100.0 (281) (169) (450)

Accident at workplace of the fishing labourers More than two-third of the fishing labourers saw at least one accident at workplace. Almost all (98%) of the fishing labourers of Sarankhola, Charfashion and Barisal saw accident at workplace. On the other hand less than half of the fishing labourers of Shitakundu, Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have experienced accident. (Table 5.27). The proportion of male fishing labourers (72.1%) saw accident at workplace is twice higher than that of the female (35.7). (Table 5.28).

Table 5.27: Whether the fishing labourers (%) saw any accident at workplace in 9 locations Whether seen any accident at workplace Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 48.0 52.0 100.0 Khulna 38.0 62.0 100.0

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Sarankhola 2.0 98.0 100.0 Patharghata 20.0 80.0 100.0 Barisal 6.0 94.0 100.0 Charfashion 2.0 98.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 54.0 46.0 100.0 Chittagong 52.0 48.0 100.0 Shitakundu 70.0 30.0 100.0 Total 32.4 67.6 100.0 (146) (304) (450)

Table 5.28: Whether the fishing labourers (%) saw any accident at workplace by gender Whether saw any accident at workplace Gender Total No Yes Male 27.9 72.1 100.0 Female 64.3 35.7 100.0 Total 32.4 67.6 100.0

Almost all (95.5%) labourers engaged in fishing in Sundarban, 81.1 percent engaged in marine fishing and 71.7 percent engaged in fish marketing have seen accident at workplace. Fishing labourers engaged in fish cultivation and fish marketing sectors, however, reported saw accident in lower proportions, 37.5 percent and 31.4 percent.(Table 5.29).

Table 5.29: Whetherthe fishing labourers (%)saw any accident at workplace by sector of work Whether any accident at workplace Sector Total No Yes Fish culture 62.5 37.5 100.0 Marine fishing 18.9 81.1 100.0 Sundarban fishing 4.5 95.5 100.0 Fish processing 68.6 31.4 100.0 Fish marketting 28.3 71.7 100.0 Total 32.4 67.6 100.0 Among the accidents ‘robber attacks’ has been mentioned most frequently (45.7%) by the fishing labourers. This is followed by wound/hurt/injury 32.6 percent, pain 19.7 percent, boat/trawler capsize 14.8 percent, abducted/ransom 12.2 percent, tiger/snake/crocodile attack 9.2 percent, and so on (Table 5.30).

Table 5.30: Type of accident seen at the workplace in 9 locations

105

(Multiple response up to 4) Type of accident at workplace Responses Percent Robber attack 139 45.7 (Wound/hurt/injury 99 32.6 Pain as fall down/overweight 60 19.7 Boat/trawler capsize 45 14.8 Abducted/ransom 37 12.2 Tiger/snake/crocodile attack 28 9.2 Cyclone/storm 11 3.6 Got sick 8 2.6 Gas cylinder explosion 8 2.6 Hand/leg fracture 5 1.6 Others 5 1.6 Total 445 - Total 304 100.0

Among the 304 fishing labourers reported saw accident at workplace, only 69 (22.7%) received some kind of compensation. Among the locations highest proportion (61.3%) of fishing labourers of Khulna reported received compensation, followed by 32.7 percent of Sarankhola, 25.5 percent of Barisal, 23.1 percent of Shyamnagar, 21.7 percent of Cox’s Bazar, 16.7 percent of Chittagong, 13.3 percent of Shitakundu and lowest 12.5 percent of Patharghata (Table 5.31). Female fishing labourers received compensation in more proportions (55.0%) compared to 20.4 percent of male fishing labourers (Table 5.32).

Table 5.31: Whether fishing labourers (%) received compensation for accident in 9 locations Whether received compensation Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 76.9 23.1 100.0 Khulna 38.7 61.3 100.0 Sarankhola 67.3 32.7 100.0 Patharghata 87.5 12.5 100.0 Barisal 74.5 25.5 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 78.3 21.7 100.0 Chittagong 83.3 16.7 100.0

106

Shitakundu 86.7 13.3 100.0 Total 77.3 22.7 100.0 (235) (69) (304)

Table 5.32: Fishing labourers (%) received compensation for accident by gender

Whether received compensation Gender Total No Yes Male 79.6 20.4 100.0 Female 45.0 55.0 100.0 Total 77.3 22.7 100.0

Again, of those who received compensation, only 24.6 percent reported that the compensation was adequate (Table 5.33). In case of female fishing labourers compensation against accident was adequate for more proportions (54.5%) compared to male (19.0%). (Table 5.34).

Table 5.33: Whether compensation received adequate in 9 locations (%) Whether compensation adequate Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 50.0 50.0 100.0 Khulna 57.9 42.1 100.0 Sarankhola 93.8 6.3 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 Barisal 83.3 16.7 100.0 Cox's Bazar 80.0 20.0 100.0 Chittagong 75.0 25.0 100.0 Shitakundu 50.0 50.0 100.0 Total 75.4 24.6 100.0 (52) (17) (69)

Table 5.34: Whether compensation received adequate by gender (%) Whether compensation enough Gender Total No Yes Male 81.0 19.0 100.0 (58) Female 45.5 54.5 100.0

107

(11) Total 75.4 24.6 100.0 (52) (17) (69)

Treatment facility at workplace It is already seen that fishing labourers face varieties of illness at workplace. When checked only 30.7 percent of the fishing labourers reported that there is treatment facilities at workplace. Majority of the laboures have treatment facilities at workplace are from Chittagong (82%) and Khulna (64%) two divisional cities. Around one-third of the fishing labourers of Charfashion (34%), Shyamnagar (32%) and Cox’s Bazar (32%) reported that they have treatment facility at workplace. Only few of the labourers of rest locations reported treatment facility at workplace (Table 5.35). The difference between male and female fishing labourers in this regard is insignificant; 30.2 percent and 33.9 percent respectively have reported treatment facility at workplace (Table 5.36).

Table 5.35: Treatment facility for fishing labourers (%) at workplace in 9 locations

Whether treatment facility at workplace Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 68.0 32.0 100.0 Khulna 36.0 64.0 100.0 Sarankhola 92.0 8.0 100.0 Patharghata 90.0 10.0 100.0 Barisal 92.0 8.0 100.0 Charfashion 66.0 34.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 68.0 32.0 100.0 Chittagong 18.0 82.0 100.0 Shitakundu 94.0 6.0 100.0 Total 69.3 30.7 100.0 (312) (138) (450)

Table 5.36: Whether treatment facility for fishing labourers at workplace by gender

Whether treatment facility at workplace Gender Total No Yes Male 69.8 30.2 100.0 Female 66.1 33.9 100.0

108

Total 69.3 30.7 100.0

No treatment facility has been reported by the fishing labourers work in fishing in Sundarban despite the face illness more than any other sector. Labourers work in fish marketing sector also face frequent hurt/injury at workplace, particularly those engaged in loaf-unload, However, less than one-fourth (23.9%) of them reported treatment facility at workplace. (Table 5.37).

Table 5.37: Whether treatment facility at workplace by work sector Whether treatment at workplace Work sector Total No Yes Fish culture 53.1 46.9 100.0 Marine fishing 66.3 33.7 100.0 Sundarban fishing 100.0 - 100.0 Fish processing 57.0 43.0 100.0 Fish marketing 76.1 23.9 100.0 Total 69.3 30.7 100.0 Only 34.1 percent of those who (138) reported treatment facility at workplace mentioned their treatment facility is adequate. None of the fishing labourers of Sarankhola, Patharghata, and Charfashion mentioned treatment facility as adequate. On the other hand, 81.3 percent of the fishing labourers of Shyamnagar, 65.6 percent of Khulna, 33.3 percent of Shitakundu, 25 percent of Barisal and 17.1 percent of Chittagong mentioned treatment facility at workplace as adequate. (Table 5.38). Like other, treatment facility at workplace is also found adequate for the female fishing labourers in more proportion compared to male (Table 5.39).

Table 5.38: Adequacy of treatment facility for fishing labourers (%) at workplace in 9 locations

Adequacy of treatment at workplace Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 18.8 81.3 100.0 Khulna 34.4 65.6 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 0.0 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 0.0 100.0 Barisal 75.0 25.0 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 0.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 75.0 25.0 100.0 Chittagong 82.9 17.1 100.0 Shitakundu 66.7 33.3 100.0

109

Total 65.9 34.1 100.0 (91) (47) (138)

Table 5.39: Adequacy of treatment facility for fishing labourers (%) at workplace by gender Adequacy of treatment at workplace Gender Total No Yes Male 73.1 26.9 100.0 Female 21.1 78.9 100.0 Total 65.9 34.1 100.0

Awareness about treatment facility at workplace as right : Despite majority of the fishing labourers got sick at workplace, only 25.6 percent of them know treatment facility as a right of the labourers. None of the fishing labourers of Patharghata, Barisal and Charfashion and only 4 percent of Sarankhola know treatment facility as right. Majority of the fishing labourers of Chittagong (74%) and Khulna (70%) know treatment facility as right. (Table 5.40). More proportions of female fishing labourers (39.3%) know treatment as right compared to male, 23.6 percent. (Table 5.41).

Table 5.40: Whether the fishing labourers know treatment facility by employer as right in 9 locations Whether know treatment as right Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 66.0 34.0 100.0 Khulna 30.0 70.0 100.0 Sarankhola 96.0 4.0 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 Barisal 100.0 - 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 68.0 32.0 100.0 Chittagong 26.0 74.0 100.0 Shitakundu 84.0 16.0 100.0 74.4 25.6 100.0 Total (335) (115) (450)

Table 5.41: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know treatment facility by employer as right by gender

110

Whether know treatment as right Gender Total No Yes Male 76.4 23.6 100.0 Female 60.7 39.3 100.0 Total 74.4 25.6 100.0

Despite majority of the fishing labourers engaged in fishing in Sundarban and marine fishing only 4 percent and 16.6 percent respectively know treatment facility as right. The proportions of fishing labourers work in other sectors are also low; 28.3 percent, 40.6 percent, and 45.3 percent respectively for fish marketing, fish cultivation and fish processing sectors. (Table 5.42).

Table 5.42: Whether know treatment facility as right of labour by sector of work (%)

Whether know treatment as right of labour Work Sector Total No Yes Fish culture 59.4 40.6 100.0 Marine fishing 83.4 16.6 100.0 Sundarban fishing 95.5 4.5 100.0 Fish processing 54.7 45.3 100.0 Fish marketting 71.7 28.3 100.0 Total 74.4 25.6 100.0

Less than one-third (30.2%) of the fishing labourers receive salary during sick. More than half of the fishing labourers of Sarankhola, Shyamnagar and Khulna while less than half of other locations reported receive salary during sickness. None of the labourers of Patharghata, Charfashion and Shitakundu receive salary during sick. (Table 5.43). There is not much difference between male and female fishing labourers in this regard (Table 5.44).

Table 5.43: Whether fishing labourers (%) receive salary during sickness in 9 locations

Whether receive salary during sickness Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 44.0 56.0 100.0 Khulna 44.0 56.0 100.0 Sarankhola 10.0 90.0 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 Barisal 96.0 4.0 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 80.0 20.0 100.0

111

Chittagong 54.0 46.0 100.0 Shitakundu 100.0 - 100.0 69.8 30.2 100.0 Total (314) (136) (450)

Table 5.44: Whether the fishing labourers (%) receive salary during sickness by gender Whether receive salary during sickness Gender Total No Yes Male 70.1 29.9 100.0 Female 67.9 32.1 100.0 Total 69.8 30.2 100.0

Lockup/no work situation

Lockup is a situation mainly applicable in industrial settings. Benefits during lockup of any industry is a fundamental right of the labourers. The fishing sector of Bangladesh is largely unorganized. This is truer for the present study as we see more than three-fourth of the labourers included in the present study are employed by individual entrepreneurs. Nevertheless, the question of employment or benefit during no work is applicable for all labourers. As seen in table 5.45 only 55 (12.2%) of 450 labourers studied in the present study receive salary during no work. Among 55 labourers receive salary during no work 91 percent (50) work in some company or organized sector. Among the labourers work in company 50 percent do not receive salary during no work. As the female fishing labourers work in companies or organized sector more proportion of them receive salary during no work is also higher among them compared to male fishing labourers, 28.6 percent and 9.9 percent respectively (Table 5.46).

Table 5.45: Whether the fishing labourers (%) receive salary during lockup by employer type Whether receive salary during lock up Employer type Total No Yes Individual 98.6 1.4 100.0 Company 50.0 50.0 100.0 87.8 12.2 100.0 Total (395) (55) (450)

Table 5.46: Whether the fishing labourers (%) receive salary during lockup in gender

Whether receive salary during lockup Gender Total No Yes

112

Male 90.1 9.9 100.0 Female 71.4 28.6 100.0 Total 87.8 12.2 100.0

Awareness about salary during lockup : It is also evident that only one-fifth of the fishing labourers know salary during no work is a labour right. Except Chittagong (64%) and Khulna (54%), proportion of fishing labourers know salary during no work as right is extremely low. None of the labourers of Sarankhola,Patharghata,Barisal and Charfashion know salary during no work as labour right. (Table 5.47). More proportion of female fishing labourers compared male, 28.6 percent and 19.0 percent respectively (Table 5.48).

Table 5.47: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know salary during lockup as right in 9 locations Whether know salary during lockup as right Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 80.0 20.0 100.0 Khulna 46.0 54.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 Barisal 100.0 - 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 68.0 32.0 100.0 Chittagong 36.0 64.0 100.0 Shitakundu 88.0 12.0 100.0 Total 79.8 20.2 100.0 (359) (91) (450)

Table 5.48: Whether the fishing labourers (%) know salary during lockup as right by gender Whether know salary during lockup as right Gender Total No Yes Male 81.0 19.0 100.0 Female 71.4 28.6 100.0 Total 79.8 20.2 100.0

When checked with type of enterprise of work, as expected, those who work in companies know salary during no work as right in much more proportion (63%) compared to only 8 percent of those work in individual enterprise (Table 5.49).

113

Table 5.49: Type of employer and whether know salary during no work as labour right Whether know salary during lock up as right Total Type of employer No Yes Individual 92.0 8.0 100.0 Company 37.0 63.0 100.0 Total 79.8 20.2 100.0

Retirement Termination notice period : Notice period prior to termination from any job is a fundamental right of the labourers. This should be applicable for all employers, either a company or an individual. The picture is completely frustrating in this regard as 94 percent of the labourers reported that they can be terminated anytime without notice. Only 6 percent labourers mentioned they have some notice period and, as in other cases, most of these labourers are from Khulna and Chittagong. All labourers of other locations mentioned that they do not have any notice period. (Table 5.50).

Table 5.50: Notice period in case of dismiss by the employer in 9 locations Notice period Location Total Anytime One month Three month Shyamnagar 100.0 - - 100.0 Khulna 64.0 26.0 10.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 - - 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - - 100.0 Barisal 100.0 - - 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 98.0 2.0 - 100.0 Chittagong 84.0 16.0 - 100.0 Shitakundu 100.0 - - 100.0 94.0 4.9 1.1 100.0 Total (423) (22) (5) (450)

Fishing labourers work in all sectors can be terminated anytime except fish processing sector where about one-fourth of the labourers mentioned that they get a notice period before termination (Table 5.51).

Table 5.51: Fishing labourers (%) by work sector and notice period before termination Work Sector Notice before termination Total

114

No Yes Fish culture 100.0 0.0 100.0 Marine fishing 98.3 1.7 100.0 Sundarban fishing 100.0 0.0 100.0 Fish processing 75.6 24.4 100.0 Fish marketting 97.3 2.7 100.0 94.0 6.0 100.0 Total (423) (27) (450)

As organized enterprise companies are likely to have comply with the basic right of a notice period before termination of labourers. Data presented in table 5.52, however, does not support this assumption. Only 22 percent of the fishing labourers work in companies reported that they have notice period before termination (Table 5.52).

Table 5.52: Notice period before termination by employer type (%)

Notice before termination Employer type Total No Yes Individual 98.6 1.4 100.0 Company 78.0 22.0 100.0 Total 94.0 6.0 100.0

Proportion of fishing labourer know about a notice period before termination as right is also very low, only 14 percent. More than half (56%) of fishing labourers of Chittagong, 36 percent of Khulna and 22 percent of Cox’s Bazar know this. Almost all fishing labourers of all other locations do not know about this labour right. (Table 5.53).

Table 5.53: Whether know one-month notice to dismiss as right of labour (%) in 9 locations Whether know notice period as right Location Total No Yes Shyamnagar 96.0 4.0 100.0 Khulna 64.0 36.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 Barisal 98.0 2.0 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 77.6 22.4 100.0 Chittagong 44.0 56.0 100.0 Shitakundu 94.0 6.0 100.0

115

Total 86.0 14.0 100.0 (387) (63) (450)

Proportion of fishing labourers know notice period before termination as right varies between types of employer. More proportion of fishing labourers work in company (48%) know about notice period compared to only 4.3 percent of those work in individual enterprise (Table 5.54).

Table 5.54: Whether know one-month notice to dismiss as right of labour by gender (%) Whether know notice period as right Employer Total No Yes Individual 95.7 4.3 100.0 Company 52.0 48.0 100.0 Total 86.0 14.0 100.0

Retirement benefit : Irrespective of location and type of employer there is no retirement benefit for almost all fishing labourers. Only 18 percent of the fishing labourers of Khulna mentioned some benefit during retirement. (Table 5.55). The situation is also disappointing for those work in company, only 13.1 percent mentioned receive some benefit during retirement (Table 5.56).

Table 5.55: Whether the fishing labourers (%) receive any benefit during retirement in 9 locations Whether receive any benefit Location Total No Yes Shyamnagar 98.0 2.0 100.0 Khulna 82.0 18.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 Barisal 100.0 - 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 96.0 4.0 100.0 Chittagong 96.0 4.0 100.0 Shitakundu 100.0 - 100.0 Total 96.9 3.1 100.0 (436) (14) (450)

Table 5.56: Whether the fishing labourers receive any benefit during retirement by employer type (%) Employer Whether receive any benefit Total

116

No Yes Individual 99.7 0.3 100.0 Company 87.0 13.0 100.0 Total 96.9 3.1 100.0

Fishing labourers do not know the retirement benefit as labour right either. In all locations together, only 5.3 percent know about this right. Except 26 percent of Khulna either all or almost all of the fishing labourers of all other location do not know this labour right (Table 5.57).

Table 5.57: Whether fishing labourers (%) know benefit during retirement as right of labour in 9 locations Whether know benefit during retirement as right Location Total No Yes Shyamnagar 90.0 10.0 100.0 Khulna 74.0 26.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 Barisal 100.0 - 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 92.0 8.0 100.0 Chittagong 96.0 4.0 100.0 Shitakundu 100.0 - 100.0 94.7 5.3 Total 100.0 (426) (14)

When checked with employer type about one-fifth of the fishing labourers work in company mentioned that they know retirement benefit as labour right (Table 5.58).

Table 5.58: Whether fishing labourers (%) know benefit during retirement as right of labour by employer type Whether know benefit during retirement as right Employer Total No Yes Individual 99.4 0.6 100.0 Company 78.0 22.0 100.0 Total 94.7 5.3 100.0

117

Leave provisions of the fishing labourers Predetermined leave is another fundamental right of the labourers. Fishing labourers, in general, do not enjoy predetermined leave. Only 16.7 percent labourers mentioned that they have predetermined leave. Nearly half of the fishing labourers of Khulna and Shyamnagar, one-fifth of Chittagong, and mere proportions of other locations enjoy predetermined leave. (Table 5.59).

Table 5.59: Whether fishing labourers (%) have pre-determined leave at work in 9 locations Whether have pre-determined leave Location Total No Yes Shyamnagar 50.0 50.0 100.0 Khulna 58.0 42.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 0.0 100.0 Patharghata 84.0 16.0 100.0 Barisal 98.0 2.0 100.0 Charfashion 92.0 8.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 90.0 10.0 100.0 Chittagong 78.0 22.0 100.0 Shitakundu 100.0 0.0 100.0 Total 83.3 16.7 100.0 (375) (75) (450)

Proportion of fishing labourers have predetermined leave largely varies between type of employer. Nearly half of the fishing labourers work in companies have predetermined leave compared to only 8.6 percent of those work in individual enterprise (Table 5.60)

Table 5.60: Whether fishing labourers (%) have pre-determined leave at work by employer type Whether have pre-determined leave Employer Total No Yes Individual 91.4 8.6 100.0 Company 55.0 45.0 100.0 Total 83.3 16.7 100.0

118

Predetermined leave is a fundamental labour right. This is known by less than one-fourth of the fishing labourers. About two-third of the fishing labourers of Chittagong and Khulna know predetermined leave as labour right. Among other locations 40 percent of Cox’s Bazar, 28 percent of Shyamnagar, 20 percent of Shitakundu and none of Sarankhola, Patharghata, Barisal, and Charfashion know predetermined leave as labour right. (Table 5.61).

Table 5.61: Whether fishing labourers (%) know leave as right of labour in 9 locations. Whether know leave as labour right Location Total No Yes Shyamnagar 72.0 28.0 100.0 Khulna 38.0 62.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 0.0 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 0.0 100.0 Barisal 98.0 2.0 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 0.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 60.0 40.0 100.0 Chittagong 34.0 66.0 100.0 Shitakundu 80.0 20.0 100.0 75.8 24.2 100.0 Total (341) (109) (450)

Majority (67%) of the fishing labourers work in companies know predetermined leave as labour right compared to only 12 percent of those work in individual enterprises (Table 5.62).

Table 5.62: Whether fishing labourers (%) know leave as right of labour by employer type Whether know leave as labour right Employer type Total No Yes Individual 88.0 12.0 100.0 Company 33.0 67.0 100.0 Total 75.8 24.2 100.0

119

Working hour Only 23.3 percent of the fishing labourers work standard 8 hour per day. Even 42.2 percent of the fishing labourers reported need to work 24 hours in a day. These labourers, however, engaged in fishing in Sundarban or Sea and are mostly from Sarankhola, Patharghata, and Charfashion, Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong (Table 5.63). They usually out for a trip for few days and stay on trawler/boat full time. Finally, on average, fishing labourers work daily 15.7 hours per day, almost double compared to the standard 8 hours per day.

Table 5.63: Daily work hour of the fishing labourers (%) in 9 locations Daily work hour Locations Total < 8 hours 9-11 hours 12-23 hours 24 hours Shyamnagar 10.0 30.0 36.0 24.0 100.0 Khulna 54.0 40.0 6.0 - 100.0 Sarankhola 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 100.0 Patharghata 34.0 0.0 0.0 66.0 100.0 Barisal 98.0 2.0 0.0 - 100.0 Charfashion 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 100.0 Cox’s Bazar 6.0 32.0 28.0 34.0 100.0 Chittagong 0.0 0.0 52.0 48.0 100.0 Shitakundu 8.0 54.0 30.0 8.0 100.0 23.3 17.6 16.9 42.2 100.0 Total (405) (79) (76) (190) (450)

Table 5.64 presents the daily average work hour by gender, work sector and employer type. On average female fishing labourers work less than half hours (8.2 hours) daily compared to the male (16.8 hours). As far as sector is concerned fishing labourers engaged in fishing in Sundarban and Sea works as high as daily average 22.6 and 21.9 hours respectively. Fishing labourers engaged in fish culture is also work long hour daily, average 12.5 hours. If employer type is considered fishing labourers work in individual enterprise work, daily on average, about 4.5 hours more compared to those work in company. Table 5.64: Average daily work hour by Gender, Work sector and employer type Variable Category Work hour per day Mean Std. Deviation Gender Male 16.8 7.3 Female 8.2 2.3 Work sector Fish culture 12.5 5.2 Marine fishing 21.9 4.9

120

Sundarban fishing 22.6 3.9 Fish processing 9.5 2.9 Fish marketing 9.0 2.7 Employer type Individual 16.7 7.6 Company 12.2 5.5 Total 15.7 7.4

Awareness of the fishing labourers about work hour : With the reality of long working hour of the fishing labourers only one-fourth of them know about daily fixed working hour as right. More than half of the fishing labourers of Khulna (60%), Chittagong (56%) and Barisal (54%) are aware about this right. Among the fishing labourers of other locations around one-fifth of the Shitakundu and Cox’s Bazar and very negligible proportions of other locations know daily fixed work hour as labour right (Table 5.65). If gender is considered female fishing labourers know daily fixed working hour in more proportion (35.7%) compared to male, 24.1 percent (Table 5.66).

Table 5.65: Whether fishing labourers (%) know Weekly/daily working hour as right of labour in 9 locations Whether know daily fixed working hour as right Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 92.0 8.0 100.0 Khulna 40.0 60.0 100.0 Sarankhola 98.0 2.0 100.0 Patharghata 90.0 10.0 100.0 Barisal 46.0 54.0 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 0.0 100.0 Cox's Bazar 82.0 18.0 100.0 Chittagong 44.0 56.0 100.0 Shitakundu 78.0 22.0 100.0 74.4 25.6 100.0 Total (335) (115) (450)

Table 5.66: Whether fishing labourers (%) know Weekly/daily working hour as right of labour by gender Whether know daily fixed working hour as right Gender Total No Yes Male 75.9 24.1 100.0 Female 64.3 35.7 100.0

121

Total 74.4 25.6 100.0

Trade union Awareness about trade union : Trade union is a recognized means of protecting the rights of the workers. To become member of trade union is a fundamental right of every worker. It is, however, evident that only 26 percent of the fishing labourers know trade union as labour right. None of the fishing labourers of Charfashion, only 2 percent of Patharghata, 4 percent of Sarankhola and 8 percent of Shitakundu know trade union as a labour right. The situation is a bit better in the three divisional cities as 54 percent of Khulna, 50 percent of Chittagong and 40 percent of Barisal know trade union a labour right. Besides 38 percent of each of Shyamnagar and Cox’s Bazar know trade union as labour right. (Table 5.67).

Table 5.67: Whether fishing labourers (%) know trade union as right of labour in 9 locations Locations Whether know trade union as right of labour Total No Yes Shyamnagar 62.0 38.0 100.0 Khulna 46.0 54.0 100.0 Sarankhola 96.0 4.0 100.0 Patharghata 98.0 2.0 100.0 Barisal 60.0 40.0 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 62.0 38.0 100.0 Chittagong 50.0 50.0 100.0 Shitakundu 92.0 8.0 100.0 Total 74.0 26.0 100.0 (333) (117) (450)

Unlike all other rights male fishing labourers know trade union as labour right in higher proportion (27.4%) compared to 16.1 percent of female (Table 5.68). These findings indicate that female fishing labourers are less interested about any organisation. Table 5.68: Whether fishing labourers (%) know trade union as right of labour by gender Whether know trade union as right of labour Gender Total No Yes Male 72.6 27.4 100.0 Female 83.9 16.1 100.0 Total 74.0 26.0 100.0

122

Knowledge about trade union as labour right varies among the sectors of work of the fishing labourers. Those who are engaged in fishing in Sundarban or Sea know this in low proportions compared to other sectors (9.1% & 12.0% respectively). On the other hand nearly half of the fishing labourers of fish marketing and fish cultivation/culture sector know this right (48.7% & 46.9% respectively). The proportion of fishing labourers work in fish processing sector aware about this right is also considerably low, 25.6 percent. (Table 5.69).

Table 5.69: Whether fishing labourers (%) know trade union as right of by sector of work

Whether know trade union as right Sector of work Total No Yes Fish culture 53.1 46.9 100.0 Marine fishing 88.0 12.0 100.0 Sundarban fishing 90.9 9.1 100.0 Fish processing 74.4 25.6 100.0 Fish marketting 51.3 48.7 100.0 Total 74.0 26.0 100.0

Fishing labourers work with company are more aware about the trade union right compared to the fishing labourers work in individual enterprise. Half of the fishing labourers work with company compared to 19.1 percent of those work with individual enterprise know trade union as labour right (Table 5.70).

Table 5.70: Whether fishing labourers (%) know trade union as right of labour by employer type

Whether know trade union as right of labour Employer type Total No Yes Individual 80.9 19.1 100.0 Company 50.0 50.0 100.0 Total 74.0 26.0 100.0

Very few (8.2%) of the fishing labourers mentioned that they face obstacle like suspension threat.in joining trade union (Table 5.71).

Table 5.71: Whether fishing labourersface any obstacle in joining in trade union Obstacle No. of labour Percent Don't know 23 5.1

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No 390 86.7 Yes 37 8.2 Total 450 100.0

Membership in trade union : Despite there is no obstacle only 18.4 percent of the fishing labourers are member of any trade union. Highest proportion (76%) of fishing labourers of Barisal are member of trade union. This is followed by 40 percent of Cox’s Bazar, 30 percent of Khulna, 18 percent of Chittagong, 2 percent of Shitakundu are member of trade union. None of the fishing labourers of Shyamnagar, Sarankhola and Charfashion is member of any trade union. (Table 5.72).

Table 5.72: Whether the fishing labourer (%) member of any trade union in 9 locations Whether member of any trade union Locations Total No Yes Shyamnagar 100.0 - 100.0 Khulna 70.0 30.0 100.0 Sarankhola 100.0 - 100.0 Patharghata 100.0 - 100.0 Barisal 24.0 76.0 100.0 Charfashion 100.0 - 100.0 Cox's Bazar 60.0 40.0 100.0 Chittagong 82.0 18.0 100.0 Shitakundu 98.0 2.0 100.0 Total 81.6 18.4 100.0 367 83 (450)

Trade union is completely a matter for the male fishing labourers as almost none of the female fishing labourers, despite work in companies and in cities, found member of any trade union compared to 20.8 percent of male (Table 5.73). Membership in trade union is also prevalent among the fishing labourers work in fish marketing sector (56.6%). It is worth mention that most fish marketing labourers have come from Barisal and majority of the fishing labourers of this location is member of trade union. It appears that there is trade union activity in Barisal. Despite proportion of fishing labourers work in companies are member of trade union is higher than those work in individual enterprise the difference is not very high.

Table 5.73: Fishing labourers’ membership in trade union by gender, work sector and employer type (%) Variable Category Membership in trade union Total

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No Yes Male 79.2 20.8 100.0 Gender Female 98.2 1.8 100.0 Work Fish culture 100.0 0.0 100.0 sector Marine fishing 90.3 9.7 100.0 Sundarban fishing 100.0 0.0 100.0 Fish processing 97.7 2.3 100.0 Fish marketing 43.4 56.6 100.0 Employer Individual 82.6 17.4 100.0 type Company 78.0 22.0 100.0 Total 81.6 18.4 100.0

Among the 83 fishing labourers member of trade union, highest 29 (34.9%) mentioned that the function of their trade union is to ‘look after the problems of labour’. This is followed by 26.5 percent ‘protecting workers right’ 26.5 percent, ‘mitigating conflict between labours’ 13.3 percent, ‘stop termination of workers’ 12 percent, ‘helping sick workers’ 6 percent, ‘fixing wage’ and ‘unite workers’ 4.8 percent each, and so on. (Table 5.74).

Table 5.74: Activities of the trade union fishing labourers member (Multiple response up to 2) Activities of the trade union Responses Percent Don't know 3 3.6 Look after labour problem 29 34.9 Protecting workers right 22 26.5 Mitigating conflict between labours 11 13.3 Stop workers termination 10 12.0 Helping sick workers 5 6.0 Fixing wage 4 4.8 To unite workers 4 4.8 Metting 2 2.4 Receive wages timely 2 2.4 Procession 1 1.2 Savings 1 1.2 Total 94 - Number of labourer (N) 83 100.0

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Chapter VI Discussion and Issues for Advocacy for Fishing Labourers

To have a compiled view about state labour right of the fishing labourers, 15 items related to actual rights situation and 11 items related to awareness of labour rights have been selected and assigned ‘1 (one)’ if the answer is positive or complies with the right and ‘0 (zero)’ if the answer

126 is negative or not complies with the right. By this way, a labourer can have a maximum score of ‘15’ (if all 15 items positive) and a minimum score of ‘0’ (if all 15 items negative) in case of situation of labour rights. In the same way, in case of awareness about labour rights, a labourer can have a maximum score of ‘11’ (if know about all 11 items) and a minimum score of ‘0’ (if do not know any one of the 11 items). The results have been presented and discussed in the following sections.

Situation of labour rights of the fishing labourers

Chart 6.1 presents 15 labour rights’ situation among the fishing labourers. In general, the situation is extremely disappointing for all rights except ‘regular wage’ (87.8%), break during work (60.0%) and security at workplace (57.8%). Training, retirement benefit, termination notice and appointment letter are enjoying by only less than 10 percent of the fishing labourers; trade union membership, predetermined leave, wage during no work are enjoying by 10-20 percent of the fishing labourers; and treatment facility, wage during sick, 8hours’ work/day, attendance register and ID card are enjoying by 20-30 percent of the labourers.

Chart 6.1: Fishing labourers by state of having different rights TU membership 18.4 81.6 Received training 0.4 99.6 Termination notice 7.3 92.7 Predetermined leave 16.7 83.3 Retirement benefit 3.1 96.9 Treatment facility 30.7 69.3 Security at workplace 57.8 42.2

Rights Wage during no work 12.2 87.8 Wage during sick 30.2 69.8 Regular wage 87.1 12.9 Break during work 60.0 40.0 Working hr. (8/day) 23.3 76.7 Attendance register 22.7 77.3 ID card 22.0 78.0 Appointment letter 7.6 92.4

0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 Yes No Percent The disappointing situation of labour rights among the fishing labourer becomes more evident through the aggregate data presented in table 6.1. None of the labourers reported have all 15 items. More than one fourth (26.7%) have only three out of 15. This is followed by 18.7 percent only four, 16.4 percent only two, 11.6 percent only one, and so on. (Table 6.1). Nearly three- fourth (73.3%) of the labourers enjoy only four out of 15 rights and 90 percent seven out of 15.

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Table 6.1: Rights situation of the fishing labourer Cumulative Score No. labourer Percent % 1.00 52 11.6 11.6 2.00 74 16.4 28.0 3.00 120 26.7 54.7 4.00 84 18.7 73.3 5.00 28 6.2 79.6 6.00 25 5.6 85.1 7.00 22 4.9 90.0 8.00 11 2.4 92.4 9.00 9 2.0 94.4 10.00 6 1.3 95.8 11.00 6 1.3 97.1 12.00 8 1.8 98.9 13.00 3 .7 99.6 14.00 2 .4 100.0 Total 450 100.0 -

Overall, in all 15 rights in all 9 locations together, the average score stands at only 4.00 out of 15. The average score varies widely among the locations in terms of rights situation of the fishing labourer. Fishing labourers of Charfashion and Patharghata are enjoying average less than two (1.80 and 1.94 respectively) out of 15. As divisional cities and having industrial fishing establishments the situation of Khulna is best with an average score of 8.24 followed by Chittagong 5.60 and Barisal 3.96. It is to be noted here that Barisal has been declared as a division very recently and the labourers of this location are also engaged in unorganized sector, mostly load-unload fish at landing station. Beyond divisional cities, the average score for Cox’s Bazar is 4.8. Cox’s Bazar is a district head quarter and having relatively permanent fishing enterprises. Despite a upazila, Shyamnagar is having a relatively higher average score of 4.10 compared to other locations. Labourers of this location mainly engaged in gher which is relatively permanent just after industrial settings. The average scores of only 2.92 of Sarankhola and 3.22 of Shitakundu indicate the poor situation of rights of the fishing labourers of these locations. Findings reveal that rights situation of all locations is extremely poor yet remoteness of the location and/or permanence of the enterprises work as the determinants of the degree of having rights.

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Table 6.2: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourer in 9 locations

Locations Rights All Shyamnagar Khulna Sarankhola Patharghata Barisal Charfashion Cox's Bazar Chittagong Shitakundu Have appointment 0.0 0.42 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.04 0.22 0.0 0.08 letter Have ID card 0.0 0.66 0.02 0.0 0.02 0.12 0.48 0.30 0.38 0.22

Have attendance 0.18 0.78 0.0 0.22 0.1 0.0 0.3 0.44 0.02 0.23 register Treatment facility 0.32 0.64 0.08 0.1 0.08 0.34 0.32 0.82 0.06 0.31

Wage during sick 0.56 0.56 0.9. 0.0 0.04 0.0 0.2 0.46 0.0 0.30

Wage during no 0.30 0.46 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.14 0.20 0.0 0.12 work Retirement 0.02 0.18 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.04 0.04 0.0 0.03 benefit Predetermined 0.50 0.42 0.0 0.16 0.02 0.08 0.1 0.22 0.0 0.17 leave TU membership 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.76 0.0 0.4 0.18 0.02 0.18

Termination 0.0 0.46 0.0 0.0 0.02 0.0 0.02 0.16 0.0 0.07 notice Working hour 0.10 0.54 0.0 0.34 0.98 0.0 0.06 0.0 0.08 0.23 (8/day) Received training 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.04 0.0 0.0 0.0

Break during 0.96 0.98 1.00 0.10 0.0 0.20 0.48 0.84 0.84 0.6. work Regular wage 0.72 0.88 0.90 0.68 1.00 0.98 0.88 0.8 1.00 0.87

Security at 0.44 0.96 0.02 0.34 0.94 0.08 0.68 0.92 0.82 0.58 workplace All rights 4.10 8.24 2.92 1.94 3.96 1.80 4.18 5.60 3.22 4.00

The rights situation also varies by gender of the fishing labourers. Despite average rights score is low for both male and female, situation of the later is relatively better with an average rights score of 5.59 compared to 3.77 of former (Table 6.3). It has already revealed that female fishing labourers are mostly from Khulna and they work in organized sectors. If individual right is considered it is the ‘trade union membership’ which is significantly higher for male (average score 0.21) compared to female (average score only 0.02) fishing labourers. In case of the right ‘regular wage’ male fishing labourers score higher (average 0.90) compared to female (0.66). Two other rights where scores of male fishing labourers are higher compared to female fishing labourers with minimum difference are ‘training received’ (average 0.01 & 0.00 respectively) and ‘break during work’ (average 0.60 & 0.59 respectively). In case of all other rights average score of female fishing labourers are higher compared to male fishing labourers.

Table 6.3: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourer by gender

Gender Rights All Male Female

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Have appointment letter .04 .30 .08 Have ID card .21 .30 .22 Have attendance register .19 .52 .23 Treatment facility .30 .34 .31 Wage during sick .30 .32 .30 Wage during no work .10 .29 .12 Retirement benefit .02 .11 .03 Predetermined leave .14 .32 .17 TU membership .21 .02 .18 Termination notice .06 .20 .07 Working hour (8/day) .17 .68 .23 Received training .01 .00 .00 Break during work .60 .59 .60 Regular wage .90 .66 .87 Security at workplace .53 .95 .58 All rights 3.77 5.59 4.00

As found earlier, fishing labourers enjoys more rights in organized sectors, data in table 6.4 show same findings. In terms of organized and permanence ‘fish processing’ (mostly industry) and ‘fish culture’ (mostly gher ) sectors are in better position compared to other sectors. Again, with the fact that right situation in all sectors are sternly inadequate, among the sectors, fish processing and fish culture and fish marketing sectors are relatively better in terms of rights situation compared marine fishing and Sundarban fishing. Out of 15 these later two sectors having average score of only 2.86 and 2.59 respectively.

Table 6.4: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourer by sector of work

Sector of work Rights Fish Marine Sundarban Fish Fish All culture fishing fishing processing marketing Have appointment letter 0.00 0.01 0.00 0.34 0.03 .08 Have ID card 0.00 0.25 0.00 0.33 0.25 .22 Have attendance register 0.28 0.01 0.00 0.55 0.40 .23 Treatment facility 0.47 0.34 0.00 0.43 0.24 .31 Wage during sick 0.69 0.26 0.59 0.35 0.11 .30 Wage during no work 0.44 0.05 0.00 0.30 0.05 .12 Retirement benefit 0.03 0.01 0.00 0.12 0.01 .03

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Predetermined leave 0.69 0.10 0.11 0.31 0.03 .17 TU membership 0.00 0.10 0.00 0.02 0.57 .18 Termination notice 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.26 0.07 .07 Working hour (8/day) 0.16 0.01 0.00 0.50 0.49 .23 Received training 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.02 .00 Break during work 0.94 0.51 0.95 0.66 0.46 .60 Regular wage 0.69 0.90 0.93 0.73 0.96 .87 Security at workplace 0.63 0.30 0.00 0.95 0.94 .58 All rights 5.00 2.86 2.59 5.85 4.61 4.00

Rights situation in the companies is much better than individual sector. The average rights score for the fishing labourers work in company (7.06) is more than double than those work in individual enterprises (3.12). Average score of all individual rights, except ‘regular wage’, are significantly higher for the fishing labourers work in company than those work in individual enterprises. In case of ‘regular wage’ the average score is higher (0.88) for the fishing labourers work in individual enterprises than company (0.83). (Table 6.5). Again, these findings indicate that higher the permanency of the establishment better the rights situation.

Table 6.5: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourer by employer type

Rights Individual Company All Have appointment letter 0.00 0.33 0.08 Have ID card 0.18 0.36 0.22 Have attendance register 0.13 0.56 0.23 Treatment facility 0.18 0.74 0.31 Wage during sick 0.22 0.59 0.30 Wage during no work 0.01 0.50 0.12 Retirement benefit 0.00 0.13 0.03 Predetermined leave 0.09 0.45 0.17 TU membership 0.17 0.22 0.18 Termination notice 0.03 0.23 0.07 Working hour (8/day) 0.20 0.35 0.23 Received training 0.00 0.02 0.0 Break during work 0.55 0.79 0.6. Regular wage 0.88 0.83 0.87 Security at workplace 0.47 0.96 0.58 All rights 3.12 7.06 4.00

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Awareness of the fishing labourers about labour rights

Chart 6.2 presents the awareness of the fishing labourers in terms of whether they know about the rights about 11 selected labour rights. In general, like situation of rights, situation awareness about labour rights is also disappointing. Proportion of fishing labourers know about labour rights is low for all 11 rights considered. Highest 42.4 percent of the fishing labourers know about ‘identity card’. Slightly more than one-third (34.7%) fishing labourers know about attendance register. Proportions of fishing labourers know about trade union, treatment facility, specified work hour, pre-determined leave, wage during no work, security arrangement, appointment letter are in between 20-30 percent. Almost all (94.7%) of the fishing labourers are not aware about retirement benefit and 86.0 percent 86.0 percent are not aware about termination notice.

Chart 6.2: Awareness of the fishing labourers about labour rights

Trade union 26.0 74.0 Treatment facility 25.6 74.4 Specified work hour 25.6 74.4 Predetermined leave 24.2 75.8 Retirement benefit 5.3 94.7 Termination notice 14.0 86.0 Wage during no work 20.2 79.8 Labour rights Labour Security arrangement 26.7 73.3 Attendance register 34.7 65.3 Identity card 42.4 57.6

Appointment letter 29.3 70.7

0.0 20.0 40.0 60.0 80.0 100.0 Yes No Percent

To have an aggregated idea about the awareness of the fishing labourers, 11 items related to the labour rights (as in chart 6.2) have been selected and assigned ‘1 (one)’ if the answer is positive or they know about the right and ‘0 (zero)’ if the answer is negative or they do not know about the right. By this way, a labourer can have a maximum score of ‘11’ (if know about all 11 rights) and a minimum score of ‘0’ (if not know about all 11 rights).

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The awareness of fishing labourers about the lablour rights found extremely low. Data presented in table 6.6 show that more than one-third (37.1%) of the fishing labourers do not aware about none of the 11 rights considered. Another one-fifth (209%) of the fishing labourers are aware about only one right and 9.3 percent aware about only 2 rights of the 11 rights. A mere 2.2 percent of the fishing labourers are aware about all 11 rights considered.

Table 6.6: Awareness of the fishing labourers about labour rights

Score No. labourer Percent Cumulative % .00 167 37.1 37.1 1.00 94 20.9 58.0 2.00 42 9.3 67.3 3.00 20 4.4 71.8 4.00 12 2.7 74.4 5.00 7 1.6 76.0 6.00 18 4.0 80.0 7.00 19 4.2 84.2 8.00 15 3.3 87.6 9.00 19 4.2 91.8 10.00 27 6.0 97.8 11.00 10 2.2 100.0 Total 450 100.0

Overall, in all 11 rights considered, in all 9 locations together, the average score stands at only 2.74 out of 11. The average score of awareness about all labour rights together varies widely among the locations. Fishing labourers of Sarankhola, Charfashion and Patharghata are least aware about the labour rights with average score of only 0.36, 0.42 and 0.50 out of 11 respectively. As divisional cities fishing labourers of Khulna and Chittagong have been found highest level of awareness with average score of 7.10 and 6.44. Despite Barisal is a divisional city the awareness of the fishing labourers found disappointing, average 1.28. Beyond divisional cities, the average score for Cox’s Bazar is found 3.68. Cox’s Bazar is a district head quarter and having relatively permanent fishing enterprises. Among other locations the average awareness score for Shyamnagar is 2.54 and Shitakindud is 2.34. (Table 6.7).

Table 6.7: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourer in 9 locations

Rights Locations All

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Shyamnagar Khulna Sarankhola Patharghata Barisal Charfashion Cox's Bazar Chittagong Shitakundu Appointment 0.24 0.80 0.08 0.00 0.04 0.00 0.40 0.74 0.34 0.29 letter Identity card 0.24 0.94 0.06 0.14 0.06 0.38 0.62 0.72 0.66 0.42 Attendance 0.26 0.94 0.04 0.22 0.18 0.04 0.44 0.68 0.32 0.35 register Security 0.38 0.80 0.08 0.02 0.02 0.00 0.32 0.60 0.18 0.27 arrangement Wage during 0.20 0.54 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.32 0.64 0.12 0.20 no work Termination 0.04 0.36 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.22 0.56 0.06 0.14 notice Retirement 0.10 0.26 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.08 0.04 0.00 0.05 benefit Predetermined 0.28 0.62 0.00 0.00 0.02 0.00 0.40 0.66 0.20 0.24 leave Specified work 0.08 0.60 0.02 0.10 0.54 0.00 0.18 0.56 0.22 0.26 hour Treatment facility 0.34 0.70 0.04 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.32 0.74 0.16 0.26

Trade union 0.38 0.54 0.04 0.02 0.40 0.00 0.38 0.50 0.08 0.26

All rights 2.54 7.10 0.36 0.50 1.28 0.42 3.68 6.44 2.34 2.74

The level of awareness also varies by gender of the fishing labourers. Despite average score of all 11 rights considered is low for both male and female, situation of the later is relatively better with an average score of 3.98 compared to 2.56 of male fishing labourers (Table 6.8). It has already revealed that female fishing labourers are mostly from Khulna and they work in organized sectors. If individual right is considered it is the ‘trade union membership’ which is significantly higher for male (average score 0.27) compared to female (average score only 0.16) fishing labourers. This indicates that trade union, despite very low, is still prevalen among the males and females are less aware about this. In case of all other rights average score of female fishing labourers are higher compared to male fishing labourers. However, the differencesare minimal for ‘identity card’ (average score 0.46 for female and 0.46 for male) and highest for ‘retirement benefit’, (average 0.04 for male and 0.16 for female).

Table 6.8: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourer by gender Rights Gender Total Male Female Appointment letter 0.27 0.48 0.29 Identity card 0.42 0.46 0.42 Attendance register 0.30 0.66 0.35 Security arrangement 0.25 0.41 0.27 Wage during no work 0.19 0.29 0.2 Termination notice 0.13 0.23 0.14 Retirement benefit 0.04 0.16 0.05

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Predetermined leave 0.22 0.38 0.24 Specified work hour 0.24 0.36 0.26 Treatment facility 0.24 0.39 0.26 Trade union 0.27 0.16 0.26 All rights 2.56 3.98 2.74

Awareness of the fishing labourers about the labour rights varies with sector of work. This is again depends on how organized the sector is. As already seen fish processing sector is organized compared to other sectors. The level of awareness of the fishing labourers about the labour rights is also highest (average score 4.59) among the sectors. Fish marketing and fish culture sectors are also have permanency. Awareness of the fishing labourers of these sectors are also relatively high, average 3.50 and 33.1. The level of awareness of fishing labourers engaged in Sundarban fishing is extraordinarily low, only average 0.39 out of 11. Level of awareness about the labour rights of the fishing labour engaged in marine fishing also low, average 1.81 out of 11. (Table 6.9).

Table 6.9: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourer by sector of work

Sector of work Rights Fish Marine Sundarban Fish Fish All culture fishing fishing processing marketing Appointment letter 0.31 0.21 0.07 0.51 0.34 0.29 Identity card 0.31 0.45 0.02 0.56 0.47 0.42 Attendance register 0.38 0.17 0.05 0.63 0.52 0.35 Security arrangement 0.44 0.17 0.09 0.44 0.31 0.27 Wage during no work 0.28 0.13 0.00 0.40 0.23 0.2 Termination notice 0.06 0.10 0.00 0.31 0.15 0.14 Retirement benefit 0.16 0.02 0.00 0.15 0.02 0.05 Predetermined leave 0.38 0.16 0.00 0.49 0.24 0.24 Specified work hour 0.13 0.14 0.02 0.40 0.45 0.26 Treatment facility 0.41 0.17 0.05 0.45 0.28 0.26 Trade union 0.47 0.12 0.09 0.26 0.49 0.26 All rights 3.31 1.83 0.39 4.59 3.50 2.74

Awareness of the fishing labourers work in companies is more than four times higher than the fishing labourers work in individual enterprises, average 6.58 and 1.64 respectively. In case of all 11 rights considered awareness of the labourers work for company is much higher than that of the labourers work in individual enterprises. (Table 6.10).

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Table 6.10: Average score of different rights of the fishing labourer by employer type

Rights Individual Company All Appointment letter 0.17 0.72 0.29 Identity card 0.33 0.74 0.42 Attendance register at workplace 0.23 0.75 0.35 Security arrangement 0.16 0.64 0.27 Salary during lockup 0.08 0.63 0.2 Fire without notice 0.04 0.48 0.14 Retirement benefit 0.01 0.22 0.05 Predetermined leave 0.12 0.67 0.24 Specified work hour 0.17 0.56 0.26 Treatment facility 0.14 0.67 0.26 Trade union 0.19 0.50 0.26 Total 1.64 6.58 2.74

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R.P. Subasinghe, M.B. Reantaso and I.H. MacRae. (eds.) Primary Aquatic Animal Health Care in Rural, Small-scale, Aquaculture Development. FAO Fish. Tech. Pap. No. 406. Kovats RS, Bouma MJ, Hajat S, Worrall E, Haines A. (2003). El Nin˜o and health . Lancet 362:1481–1489. Doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(03) 14695-8 Mahmud, K.H.and Hasan F.F. (2002). Dubla Dulabhanga: Forced Labour in Fishing Industry. Bangladesh: Action Aid. Mitra, M. 2000. The Sundarbans: A Riparian Commons in Search of Management. Eighth Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Propert y. IN, USA: Bloomingdale. MRAG. (2011). Fisheries and livelihood . Fisheries Management Science Programme (FMSP), Marine Resources Assessment Group (MRAG), and Department for International Development (DFID), London. www.mrag.co.uk/Documents/PolicyBrief4_ Livelihoods.pdf. NEMAP, (1995). National environmental management action plan . Ministry of Environment & Forests, Dhaka. Nuruzzaman, Mohammad et al.. (2014). Rights, Benefits and Social Justice: Status of Women Workers Engaged in the Shrimp Processing Industries ofBangladesh. Bangladesh: Better Work and Standard Programme (BEST) Better Fisheries Quality (BFQ), UNIDO. Parveen, Salia and Faisal, Islam M. Open-water Fisheries in Bangladesh: A Critical Review. Rabbanee, Fazlul Kabir and Yasmin, Sanoara. (2011). Role of Women in Processing and Marketing of Dry Fish from Coastal Bangladesh – An Exploratory Study. Retrieved from http://dspace.ewubd.edu/handle/123456789/375 Shah, M.S. (2003). Human resource development activities in fisheries sector . In: Fish Fortnight Compendium 2003. Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Bangladesh. Dhaka, Bangladesh. 57–59 pp. Sultana, Parvin, Thompson, Paul, Ahmed, Mahfuzuddin,. (2003). Understanding Livelihoods Dependent on Inland Fisheries in Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. World Fish Center. Snieszko, S.F. 1974. The effect of environmental stress on outbreaks of infectious diseases in fishes . J. Fish Biol. 6: 197-208. The Daily Star . Fish Output Rises 5times in 30 years . The daily star. November 8, 2014.Retrieved fromhttp://www.thedailystar.net/fish-output-rises-5-times-in-30-yrs-49279 US Department of State. (2014). Trafficking in Persons Report . http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2014/?utm_source=NEW+RESOU RCE%3A+Trafficking+in+Persons+Report+2014&utm_campaign=2014.07.16+NEW+RESOU RCE%3A+Trafficking+in+Persons+Report+2014+&utm_medium=email.

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Annex-T: Tables Table Annex-1: Home upazila and upazila of present work of the fishing labourers (%) Upazila of work at present Home upazila Total Shyamnagar Khulna Sarankhola Patharghata Barisal Charfashion Cox's Bazar Chittagong Shitakundu Charfashion - 2.0 .2

Alekjander 2.0 .2

Ashashuni 4.0 .4

Astagram 2.0 .2

Bakergonj 4.0 .4

Bashkhali 4.0 .4

Borguna 16.0 2.0

Borhanuddin 2.0 .2

Bramhanpara .2

Chakoria 2.0 .2

Chandina 2.0 .2

Charfashion 60.0 6.7

Chokoria 2.0 .2

Debhata 6.0 .7

Doulatkhan 2.0 4.0 .7

Faridganj 4.0 .4

Kamalnagar 2.0 .2

Kaunia 32.0 3.6

Lalmohon 16.0 1.8

Laxmipur 2.0 .2

Maheskhali 6.0 2.0 .9

Maijdi 22.0 2.4

Noakhali Sadar 2.0 .2

Nolcity 4.0 .4

Panchlaish 2.0 .2

Patenga 6.0 .7

Patharghata 82.0 9.1

Potia 2.0 .2

Ramu 2.0 .2

Rupsha 88.0 9.8

Sadar 12.0 58.0 90.0 36.0 21.8

Sarankhola 100.0 11.1

Shitakundu 100.0 11.1

Shyamnagar 90.0 10.0

Sitakunda 4.0 .4

Taltoli 2.0 .2

Tojumuddin 18.0 2.0

Uzirpur 2.0 .2

Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0

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Annex-II: Questionnaire Used for Survey of Fishing Labourers

Labour in Fishing Sector of Bangladesh Mapping, Status and Awareness about Rights

Instrument#1: Schedule for Fishing Labourer

(grm †ÿ‡Î wb‡qvwRZ kªwgK †_‡K mvÿvrKv‡ii gva¨‡g c~iY Ki‡Z n‡e| GKwU cwievi †_‡K ïaygvÎ GKRb‡K †bqv hv‡e|)

(K) grm kÖwgK‡`i Ae¯’v m¤úwK©Z DcvËt kÖwg‡Ki bvg:...... wVKvbvt MÖvg...... BDwbqb...... Dc‡Rjv......

1. AbyMÖn K‡i Avcbvi cwiev‡ii m`m¨‡`i m¤ú‡K© ejybt [hv‡`i Avq GKwÎZ nq I hviv ‡mB Av‡q P‡j] m`‡m¨i ‡R cwievi eq ‰eevwn wk¶v wK wK KvR K‡ib eQ‡i Kqgvm K‡ib Ges Zvi †_‡K gvwmK Avq/gRyix WvK Ûvi cÖav‡bi m KZv e¨emv/PvKix n‡j wK e¨emvv/PvKzix Zv mywbw`©ófv‡e wjLyb

bvg mv‡_ (kªYx †Kvb m`m¨ †Kvb KvR bv Ki‡j †Kb K‡i bv Zv wjLyb m¤úK© cvm) m`m¨ bs Avq/g

gvm KvR1 Avq/gRyix gvm KvR2 Avq/gRyix gvm KvR3

Ryix cyiæl gwnjv eQi weev c„„_K ZvjvK weaev Awe 1 DËi`vZv 2 3 4 5 6 7 ‡bvUt cwiev‡ii m`m¨msL¨v 7 Gi ‡ewk n‡j Avi GKwU cÖ_g cvZv e¨envi Ki“b

2. AbyMÖn K‡i Avcbvi wbR Rwg I Avcbvi e¨env‡i A‡b¨i Rwg, I Zv †_‡K MZ GK eQ‡i Avq m¤ú‡K© ejybt [Rwgi cwigvb (kZvs‡k) I Avq (UvKvq) wjLyb| MvQ/euvk/gvQ BZ¨vw` I AšÍf©~³]

wbR gvwjKvbvi Rwg A‡b¨i gvwjKvbvi Rwg

Rwg wbR e¨env‡i eM©v †`qv jxR/eÜKx †`qv eM©v †bqv jxR/eÜKx †bqv

wfUv Pvlx wfUv Pvlx wfUv Pvlx wfUv Pvlx Ab¨...... wfUv Pvlx Ab¨...... Rwg Rwg Rwg Rwg Rwg Rwg Rwg Rwg ...... Rwg Rwg ......

cwigvb

141

Avq

3. AbyMÖn K‡i Avcbvi evoxi cïcvwL, Ab¨vb¨ Drcv`b DcKiY †_‡K MZ GK eQ‡i Avq m¤ú‡K© ejybt msL¨v I Miæ/ QvMj nuvm/ Ab¨ cïcvwL, wK? wiKkv/ f¨vb Rvj ‡bŠKv BwÄb Uªjvi Ab¨, wK? Ab¨, wK? Avq Mvwf gyiMx †bŠKv

msL¨v Avq

(UvKvq)

4. Avcbvi eZ©gvb evmvwUt Avcbvi wb‡Ri Rwg‡Z A‡b¨i hvqMvq Avcwb evwb‡q‡Qb miKvix hvqMvq fvov/A‡b¨i gvwmK fvov KZ? ...... UvKv

5. Avcwb ‡h N‡i _v‡Kb Zv wK w`‡q ˆZwi? ‡g‡S : gvwU BU evu‡ki gvPvb Kv‡Vi Z³v Ab¨, wK? ...... ‡`qvj: gvwU euv‡ki ‡eov Z³vi ‡eov cwjw_b ‡MvjcvZv wUb BU Ab¨, wK? ...... Qv`: wUb Lo cwjw_b ‡MvjcvZv ZvjcvZv Lo BU Ab¨, wK? ...... 6. Avcbvi c„_K ivbœvNi Av‡Q? ‡bB Av‡Q 7. Avcbvi j¨vwUªb e¨e‾’v wK? ‡Lvjv gvV KuvPv Rjve× m¨vwbUvix Ab¨, Kx? ...... 8. Avcbvi Lvevi cvwbi Drm wK? wUDeI‡qj cyKzi U¨vc Kzqv e„wó Ab¨, wK? ...... 9. Avcbvi evox‡Z we`¨yr ms‡hvM Av‡Q? bv nu¨v GjvKvq we`¨yr †bB †mvjvi Av‡Q? bv nu¨v 10. me wgwj‡q eQ‡i Avcbvi hv Avq nq Zv‡Z mviv eQi †L‡qc‡i †Kgb P‡j? ‡L‡q c‡i P‡j hvq NvUwZ c‡o K) NvUwZ wKfv‡e c~iY K‡ib [GKvwaK DËi m¤¢e ] ? bv ‡L‡q miKvix mvnvh¨ NGO mvnvh¨ AvZ¥x‡qi mvnvh¨ NGO FY ‡`vKvb ‡_‡K evKx Ab¨, wK?......

11. Avcbvi cwiev‡ii eZ©gvb mÂq KZ [GKvwaK DËi m¤¢e ] ? mÂq ‡bB Av‡Q ‡Kv_vq, KZ UvKv? bM` Kv‡Q ...... UvKv e¨vs‡K ...... UvKv mwgwZ‡Z ...... UvKv NGO [bvg:...... ]‡Z...... UvKv Ab¨, ‡Kv_vq? ...... KZ? ...... UvKv

142

12. eZ©gv‡b Avcbvi cwiev‡i ‡Kv_vI ‡_‡K ‡Kvb FY Av‡Q wK?bv nu¨v Av‡Q AbyMÖn K‡i we‾—vwiZ ejyb FY ‡Kvb msMVb/ KZ UvKv K‡ei FY? my` my` Av‡Q? wK Rb¨ eZ©gv‡b KZ evKx ? Drm wb‡qwQ‡jb? ‡bB ‡K ? eQi gvm KZw`‡b? KZ? wb‡qwQ‡jb? Avmj m~`

1 2 3 4 5 7 F‡Yi Drm: e¨vsK, GbwRI, mwgwZ, AvZ¥xq, cªwZ‡ekx, gnvRb, ‡`vKvb, BZ¨vw` 13. Avcwb ev Avcbvi cwiev‡ii ‡Kvb m`m¨ ‡Kvb NGO ///msMVb/mwgwZ/`‡ji m`m¨ wQ‡jb ev Av‡Qb? bv nu¨v AbyMÖn K‡i we‾—wiZ ejyb [GKB m`m¨ GKvwaK msMV‡bi m`m¨ n‡j c„_K jvB‡b wjLyb AZx‡Z m`m¨ wQ‡jb ZvI wjLyb]

‡K m`m¨? ‡Kvb msMV‡bi KLb m`m¨? KZw`b m`m¨? †mLv‡b mvaviYZt Kx Kx Kv‡R Ask wb‡Z

(WvK bvg) m`m¨? eZ© AZxZ, ‡Kb eZ©gv‡b eQi gvm nq/n‡Zv? bs gvb m`m¨ bq?

1 2 3 4

14. Avcbvi cwiev‡ii ‡KD †Kv_vI ‡_‡K ‡Kvb fvZv/mvnvh¨ cvb/†c‡q‡Qb? bv nu¨v AbyMÖn K‡i we‾—wiZ ejyb fvZv wfw wfwR eq‾‹ weaev cÖwZ gvZZ gyw³‡ ‡R‡j Rvj ‡bŠKv Dce„w Ab¨, Ab¨, RGd wW eÜx ¡ hv×v fvZv Ë Kx? Kx?

eZ©gv‡ b cvb

AZx‡Z †c‡Zb

KZw`‡b ?*

KZ?*

*AZxZ n‡j †gvU mgq I †gvU cwigvb wjLyb

143

(L) grm kÖwgK‡`i KvR I Kg©¯’j m¤úwK©Z DcvËt

15. Avcwb KZw`b hveZ grm kÖwgK wn‡m‡e KvR

K‡ib? ...... eQi...... gvm 16. Avcbvi eZ©gvb PvKzwi`vZv †K? 1e¨w³ gnvRb †Kv¤úvwb, bvg Kx?

......

17. Avcwb GLv‡b KZw`b hveZ KvR K‡ib? ...... eQi...... gvm 18. Avcwb GLv‡b Kx Kx ai‡Yi gv‡Qi KvR K‡ib? ......

......

...... 19. Avcwb eZ©gv‡b Kx wfwˇZ KvR K‡ib? ‰`wbK mvßvwnK gvwmK

‡gŠmyg evrmwiK wUªc Pzw³ (dzivb) Ab¨, Kx?......

20. Avcbvi Kg©‾’‡j Lvevi e¨e‾’v Kx? wb‡qvMKZ©v mieivn K‡i †Kw›U‡b wbR Li‡P wbR‾^ e¨e‾’v Ab¨, Kx? ...... 21. Avcbvi Kg©‾’‡j Lvevi cvwbi Drm Kx? wUDeI‡qj cyKzi U¨vc Kzqv e„wó Ab¨, wK? ...... 22. Avcbvi Rb¨ Kg©‾’‡j m¨vwbUvwi e¨e‾’v Av‡Q? bv nu¨v n‡j Zv wK ‾^v‾’¨m¤§Z? bv nu¨v 23. Avcbvi Kg©‾’‡ji mvwe©K ci‡ek †Kgb? fvj fvj bv †Kb? ......

(M) grm kÖwgK‡`i kÖg AwaKvi I SuywK m¤úwK©Z DcvËt

24. Avcbvi Kx wb‡qvMcÎ/Pzw³cÎ Av‡Q? 1nu¨v bv n‡j wb‡qvMcÎ/Pzw³cÎ cvIqv kÖwg‡Ki AwaKvi, Zv Kx Avcwb Rv‡bb? 1nu¨v bv 25. Avcbvi Kx kÖwgK AvBwW KvW© Av‡Q? 1nu¨v bv n‡j AvBwW KvW© cvIqv kÖwg‡Ki AwaKvi, Zv Kx Avcwb Rv‡bb? 1nu¨v bv

144

26. Avcbvi Kg©‾’‡j nvwRiv LvZv Av‡Q? 1nu¨v bv n‡j wbqwgZ nvwRiv msi ÿY kÖwg‡Ki AwaKvi, Zv Kx Avcwb Rv‡bb? 1nu¨v bv 27. Kg©‾’‡j cÖ‡qvRbxq wbivcËv Av‡Q Kx? nu¨v bv n‡j Kx `iKvi? ...... 28. Avcwb †h KvR K‡ib †mLv‡b Kx †Kvb SuywK Av‡Q (‾^v‾’¨MZ SuywKi K_vI wRÁvmv Kiyb)? bv nu¨v n‡j, Kx ai‡Yi? ...... 29. GLv‡b KvR Ki‡Z †h‡q Kx Avcwb †Kvb Amy‡Li wkKvi nb? bv nu¨v n‡j, Kx ai‡Yi? ...... 30. gvwjK wK KL‡bv Gme SuywKi K_v Avcbv‡`i‡K e‡jwQ‡jv? bv nu¨v 31. KvR Ki‡Z †h‡q Avcwb / mnKg©x KL‡bv †Kvb wec‡`/`~N©Ubvq

c‡o‡Qb? bv nu¨v n‡j, (K)KZRb? ...... (L) Kx ai‡Yi `~N©Ubv? ......

32. Avcwb / mnKg©x Kv‡R _vKv Ae‾’vq `~N©Ubvi wkKvi n‡j ÿwZc~iY cvb Kx? bv nu¨vn‡j Zv wK h‡_ó? bv nu¨v †KD `~N©Ubvq c‡owb 33. Kg©‾’‡j kÖwgK‡`i Rb¨ cÖ‡qvRbxq wbivcËv e¨e‾’v MªnY Kiv wb‡qvMKZ©vi `vwqZ¡ I kÖwg‡Ki AwaKvi, Zv Kx Avcwb Rv‡bb? bv nu¨v 34. Avcbvi Kg©‾’‡j †Kvb Kg©x Amy‾’ n‡j wPwKrmvi e¨e‾’v Av‡Q Kx? bv nu¨v n‡j Zv wK h‡_ó? bv nu¨v 35. Kg©‾’‡j Amy‾’ n‡j wPwKrmvi e¨e‾’v wb‡qvMKZ©vi, Zv wK Avcwb Rv‡bb? bv nu¨v

145

36. Avcwb / mnKg©x Amy‾’ n‡j †m w`b¸‡jvi Rb¨ †eZb cvb? bv nu¨vn‡j hZw`b Amy‾’ _v‡Kb ZZw`b m‡e©v”P...... w`b

37. †Kvb Kvi‡Y hLb KviLvbv/Ni eÜ _v‡K ZLb wK gRyix cvb? bv nu¨v 38. †Kvb Kvi‡Y KviLvbv/Ni eÜ _vK‡j gRywi cvIqv kÖwg‡Ki AwaKvi, Zv Kx Avcwb Rv‡bb? bv nu¨v 39. Avcbv‡K Kx hLb ZLb KvR †_‡K QvUvB Ki‡Z cv‡i? nuu¨v bvn‡j ...... w`b Av‡M †bvwUk †`q 40. KvR †_‡K QvUvB Ki‡Z Kgc‡ ÿ GKgvm Av‡M †bvwUk w`‡Z nq, Zv wK Avcwb Rv‡bb? bv nu¨v 41. Aemi/QvUvBGi mgq †Kvb fvZv cvb? bv nu¨v Aemi / QvUvB Gi mgq fvZv cvIqv kÖwg‡Ki AwaKvi, Zv wK Avcwb Rv‡bb? bv nu¨v 42. Avcbvi Kx wba©vwiZ QzwU Av‡Q? bv nu¨v n‡j, eQ‡i/gv‡m †eZbmn ...... w`b...... †eZb Qvov ...... w`b cÖwZ wUªc †k‡l...... w`b 43. Kv‡R †eZbmn wbw`©ó msL¨K w`b QzwU cvIqv kÖwg‡Ki AwaKvi, Zv wK Avcwb Rv‡bb? bv nu¨v 44. Avcwb mvavibZt w`‡bi †Kvb mgq KvR K‡ib? mKv‡j iv‡Z wkdwUs 24 N›Uv (evB‡i †M‡j) 45. mvaviYZt w`‡b Avcwb KqN›Uv KvR K‡ib? ...... N›Uv 24 N›Uv (wUª‡c/evB‡i †M‡j) 46. mvaviYZt Avcwb mßv‡ni Kqw`b KvR K‡ib? w`b...... wUª‡c GK bvMv‡o ...... w`b 47. Avcbvi Kv‡R wK IfviUvBg Av‡Q? bv nu¨v Kx e¨e‾’vq? ...... 48. kªwg‡Ki Rb¨ ‰`wbK / mvßvwnK wbw`©ó Kg© N›Uv Av‡Q, Zv wK Avcwb Rv‡bb? bv nu¨v ˆ`wbK KZ N›Uv? ...... mvßvwnK KZ N›Uv? ......

49. Kg©‡ ÿ‡Î Avcbvi †Kvb weiwZ Av‡Q? bv nu¨v n‡j w`‡b Kqevi? ...... evi ‡gvU KZ wgwbU? ...... 50. [gwnjv n‡j] Avcwb/mnKg©x gvZZ¡ QzwU cvb Kx? G wel‡q Rvwbbv bv

146

nu¨v n‡j ‡eZbmn ...... w`‡bi †eZb Qvov ...... w`‡bi 51. Avcbvi †eZb / gRywi KZ? ˆ`wbK ...... UvKv gvwmK ...... UvKv cÖwZ wUªc (w`b ...... )...... UvKv Pzw³ eY©bv Kiyb: ...... UvKv...... 52. mgqgZ †eZb cvb? nu¨v bv n‡j KZUv wej¤^ nq? m‡e©v”P ...... w`b me©wb¤œ...... w`b 53. ‡eZb Qvov Avcwb Avi Kx Kx myweav cvb? wKQzB bv (K) †evbvm eQ‡i ...... wU, †gvU...... UvKv (L) Lvevi , ˆ`wbK AvbygvwbK...... UvKv (M) †cvkvK , eQ‡i...... evi...... UvKv (N) cÖwf‡WÛ dvÛ , gv‡m...... UvKv (O) Ab¨, Kx? ...... w`‡b/mßv‡n/gv‡m/eQ‡i/GKKvjxb...... UvKv (P) Ab¨, Kx? ...... w`‡b/mßv‡n/gv‡m/eQ‡i/GKKvjxb...... UvKv 54. Avcbvi †eZb I my‡hvMmyweavq Kx Avcwb mš‘ó? nu¨v bv Avi Kx Kx n‡j fvj nq? ...... 55. Avcwb Kx eQ‡ii memgq KvR cvb? nu¨v bv (K) †Kvb †Kvb mgq KvR _v‡K bv? ...... (K) hLb KvR _v‡K bv ZLb Kxfv‡e P‡j? ......

147

(L) gvQ aivq wb‡lavÁvi mgq Kxfv‡e P‡j? ...... 56. Avcbvi B”Qvi weiy‡× †Kvb KvR Ki‡Z nq Kx? bv nu¨v Kx ai‡Yi? ...... 57. Avcwb †h KvR K‡ib Zv †Kv_v †_‡K wk‡L‡Qb? KvR Ki‡Z Ki‡Z wk‡LwQ wbR Li‡P cÖwk ÿY wb‡qwQ wb‡qvMKZ©v cÖwk ÿY w`‡q‡Q 58. †UªW BDwbqb Kiv kÖwg‡Ki AwaKvi, Zv wK Avcwb Rv‡bb (mwgwZ bq) ? bv nu¨v 59. Avcbvi Kg©‾’‡j †UªW BDwbq‡b †hvM †`qvq †Kvb euvav Av‡Q wK? bv nu¨v Kx ai‡Yi? ...... 60. Avcwb Kx †Kvb †UªW BDwbq‡bi m`m¨? bv nu¨v (K) bvg Kx? ...... (L) Zv‡`i Kvh©g Kx? ...... mv¶vrKviMÖnYKvixi c~Y© ‾^v¶i: ...... Zvw iL:......

Annex-III Photos of field visit and multi-stakeholder workshop

Picture 1: The research team collecting information from fishermen, Shitakundu Chittagong

148

Picture 2: Participants of multi-stakeholder meeting, Barisal

Picture 3: Speakers of the multi-stakeholder workshop at Barisal

149

Picture 4: The Researcher presenting at the multi-stakeholder workshop at Barisal

Picture 5: BILS Executive Director Syed Sultan Uddin Ahmed speaking in multi-stakeholder workshop, Barisal

150

Picture 6: Labour leaders speaking in multi-stakeholder workshop, Barisal

Picture 2: Labour representative participants in multi-stakeholder workshop at Khulna

151

Picture 3: Boats for artisanal marine fishing, Shitakundu, Chittagong

Picture 4: A child alone operating an boat not for fishing but for training?

152

153