Tags: Brick Kiln, Air Pollution, Worker, Wellbeing, Climate Change, Human Health, Natural Disaster, Internal Migration, Financial Condition, Bangladesh
Bangladesh ranks among the countries with the highest levels of ambient air pollution globally, with brick kilns being one of the major contributors, especially in the rapidly urbanizing Dhaka region. Brick manufacturing is vital to meet the construction needs of a growing population, but it comes with significant environmental, health, and social costs. Traditional Fixed Chimney Kilns (FCKs) are highly pollution-intensive, prompting government efforts to transition toward cleaner technologies such as Zig-Zag Kilns (ZZKs) and Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns (VSBKs).
While these technological improvements aim to reduce emissions and improve air quality, their broader implications on the socio-economic well-being of brick kiln workers remain under-explored. Many of these workers are migrants displaced by climate-related disasters, seeking livelihood opportunities in harsh urban environments. They often endure precarious living conditions, low wages, long working hours, workplace injuries, and limited access to basic services such as clean water and housing.
The Brick Kiln Worker Wellbeing: Climate Change and Human Health project, conducted in partnership with Boston College, IGC Bangladesh, and ARCED Foundation, investigates the differential impacts of working in traditional versus improved kilns. Using a combination of quantitative surveys with 512 workers across 25 brick kilns and in-depth qualitative interviews, the study aims to inform policy efforts that not only prioritize environmental sustainability but also ensure a just and equitable transition for the vulnerable labor force at the heart of Bangladesh's brick industry.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate how the transition to improved brick kiln technologies impacts the well-being of brick kiln workers, especially those displaced by climate-induced disasters. The study seeks to offer actionable insights that contribute to both environmental and social policy development, ensuring that the benefits of a greener economy are equitably distributed.
Specifically, the study aims to:
Before launching the main survey activities, a pilot survey was conducted to test and refine the data collection instruments and procedures. Using the Brick Kiln Tracker, 50 brick kilns from five unions in Dhaka and Gazipur were initially identified. From these, five supervisors selected 30 kilns to visit for preliminary observations. During this two-day pilot phase (29th February–1st March 2024), enumerators gathered data from 13 respondents, which helped identify operational challenges, improve field protocols, and fine-tune the survey tools. The pilot also ensured that strategies for worker engagement, safety protocols, and honorarium procedures were clearly understood and ready for the main survey.
Following the pilot, the main quantitative survey was launched between 29th March and 21st April 2024, covering 25 randomly selected brick kilns (16 ZZKs and 9 FCKs) across Dhaka and Gazipur. A team of 14 enumerators, supervised by 5 supervisors and 1 field monitoring officer (FMO), conducted structured interviews with 512 workers. The survey followed a proportional sampling strategy, ensuring representation across three worker categories: production, loading, and unloading workers. Surveys were carefully scheduled around workers' availability, usually on their weekly off days, and workers received an honorarium as a token of appreciation. Data collection focused on capturing information related to labor conditions, workplace injuries, income, housing conditions, migration history, and overall quality of life.
To complement and deepen the quantitative findings, a qualitative follow-up survey was conducted from 8th July to 17th July 2024. Out of the 512 workers interviewed in the quantitative phase, 120 respondents were shortlisted, and 28 of them participated in in-depth qualitative interviews. A separate team of 4 trained qualitative researchers carried out this phase, focusing on understanding workers' lived experiences, perceptions of well-being, views on migration, working conditions, and adaptation to climate-related challenges. The qualitative findings provided rich, narrative insights that contextualized and enhanced the survey data, offering a fuller picture of the socioeconomic and health realities faced by brick kiln workers.