60% of people remain jobless for 95 days for Covid-19: CPD

Around 60 per cent of employed people in the informal sector lost their jobs and was remain unemployed for about 95 days because of the economic shutdown and lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic, says Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).

The think-tank made the disclosure while revealing a study report at the two-day conference on "Bangladesh Emerging from the Pandemic: Coping Experiences and Policy Choices".

The Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh and CPD jointly organided the event at the Brac Centre Inn Dhaka.

 According to the report, many families fell into distress during the shutdown and a large section of unemployed people had to become agriculture workers.

Prof Mustafizur Rahman, distinguished fellow of the CPD and core group member of the Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh, said: "Hidden unemployment has increased and about 45 per cent of households had lower income compared to the pre-Covid-19 period.”

He suggested higher coverage and budgetary allocation for social safety net programmes in the form of cash transfer and a second stimulus package to support lower income people to recover from the shock of the crisis.

The study further claimed that most of the people could find jobs following the recovery of economic activities but there was income erosion.

The study carried out among 2,600 households in rural and urban areas in late January to early February this year.

The study said more than 40 per cent of the employed population reported that their employment situation was worse than the pre-Covid-19 period and about 86 per cent of individuals reported that they are not earning enough to meet their daily necessities.