A Socio-economic Study of Informal Sector Workers of Dhaka City

Informal sector is a very important area of the economy for any developing country; it is a growing occupational sector for the less skilled people, living both in urban and rural areas. Considerable amount of employment are ensured by this sector. What is specific to the informal economy is the absence of rights and social protection of the workers involved in it. Living in extensive poverty; exploited, with no place to go for protection; lacking access to basic social services; no basic safety conditions at work; holding little or no hope that life can be better; struggling on a daily basis just to survive, they are street vendors, wage labourers working in small enterprises on a regular, casual or contract basis; unpaid workers including family workers and apprentices, home-workers, paid domestic workers and more; and a smaller number are the owners of tiny enterprises. This study concentrates on the workers and their work life and living standards.