Figure 8.10: Trend in monthly household consumption, 2020

• For workers in the category

‘unfairly dismissed (did not find employment)’, total consumption reduced by nearly 8% over the course of the year falling from an average of 155 USD prior to the pandemic, to an average of 143 USD in December 2020 (Figure 8.10). For workers in the category

‘unfairly dismissed (found employment)’, household consumption remained at the pre-pandemic subsistence level of 155 USD, throughout the year. • Some of the workers who were dismissed and could not find any alternative employment in 2020, stated that they could not pay for

Covid-19 treatment of their children or spouses due to loss of income. Further, family members of these workers cut short on medicines for diabetes and hypertension, and pregnant women avoided prenatal checkups and tests to save money for food.

• Twelve workers who were unfairly dismissed, all of whom were helpers, stated that their children were forced to drop out of school within two months of their dismissal, with most such children employed in street hawking, earning around 3000 BDT (35 USD) per month.

• Twenty-two unfairly dismissed workers who were unemployed for over four months, informed us that they may be homeless if

Most garment workers surveyed are primary breadwinners. The loss of wages of the primary breadwinner of the family forced households to rely on debt to pay for survival needs such as food and accommodation, and compromise on healthcare and education.

Figure 8.8: Trend in monthly household consumption, 2020 Figure 8.10: Trend in monthly household consumption, 2020

200 Unfairly Dismissed (found employment) Unfairly Dismissed (did not find employment)

US D 150

100

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