Inside Dhaka’s informal labour markets

While most of the city's residents are still in deep sleep, some people have to leave their beds even before the first light of dawn spreads across the sky, heading out in search of a livelihood. 

At different intersections, open squares, and busy roadsides of the capital, they begin to gather one by one. They wait from dawn to dusk. If fortune favours, they find work; if not, they have to return home empty-handed for the day.

Panthapath, Moghbazar Rail Gate, FDC intersection, Mirpur-1, or Gabtoli Bus Stand — such sights can be found across different parts of the capital. 

We are talking about workers who stand at various intersections across Dhaka to sell their labour. Most of them are day labourers. They themselves call the place where they gather a "labour market." They live hand-to-mouth. Only if they find work on a given day can they secure food for the next. 

That is why their waiting begins at dawn. If a contractor, a homeowner, or someone involved in construction work arrives and offers them a job, they get a chance to earn some money.

Some among them are completely destitute, with nothing to their name; others have learned certain skills and become somewhat experienced workers. 

Yet, this hardly makes a significant difference. Although their situations may slightly vary, their struggles are almost the same. Their stories are about surviving in the capital amid daily uncertainty and the constant pressure to earn a living.

What drives them from village to Dhaka

Md Ziaul Islam is a resident of Chapainawabganj. This day labourer in his 50s has been working in the "labour market" for around five years. 

Back in his village, he has a small family consisting of his wife and four children. Before coming to Dhaka, Ziaul mainly earned his living through farming. Cultivating crops on his grandfather's five bighas of land used to provide enough income to support the family. 

But that peace did not last long.

Trouble began over the ownership of the land. 

"Earlier, I used to farm on my grandfather's land. After he passed away, my elder uncle started claiming the land as his own. I couldn't really fight him over it. But you can't survive without food either. Thinking of my family, I came to Dhaka to earn a living," Ziaul said.

The early days in Dhaka were not easy for Ziaul. He wandered from place to place looking for work, and many days he could not find any. It also took him time to adjust to the unfamiliar environment of the city. Along with that, he had to endure severe financial hardship. 

"If I work as a labourer in the village all day, I earn about Tk400 to Tk500. In Dhaka, I get double that. Some money remains in my hand. I can send it home. That's why I stay here."

Rafiqul Islam, day labourer

However, he believes he has managed to overcome those difficulties. Now, he says, his situation is somewhat better.

But the story of Rafiqul from Paikgacha in Khulna is different. Back in the village, he had started a small business with his own capital. It ran fairly well for about a year, and he was living happily with his family. 

But then he started suffering heavy losses and lost everything. Left with nothing, he too set out for Dhaka. From a familiar person in his area, he learned about these temporary labour markets. And so, putting aside all other worries, he came to Dhaka in the hope of changing his fortune.

"After suffering the loss, I didn't know what to do. Later I heard about this place from others and came here. Now I try to do whatever work people give me. I have to feed not only myself but also my wife and children," Rafiqul explained.

Another worker, Shahin from Satkhira, explains that staying in the village does not provide the kind of regular income opportunities that exist here. 

He said, "Living in a shared mess costs around Tk6,000–7,000 a month. I can still save some money. I manage to send around Tk20,000 home every month. I wouldn't have been able to do that if I stayed in the village."

We spoke with another worker, Rafiqul Islam, at the Panthapath intersection. His home is in Belabo upazila of Narsingdi district. About seven years ago, he came to Dhaka in search of work. 

If fortune favours, they find work; if not, they have to return home empty-handed for the day.

He had no acquaintances in the city, nor did he find opportunities for other types of work. Without any capital, starting a business was also out of the question. After wandering in search of employment, he eventually began working as a day labourer.

Apart from physical labour, Rafiqul does not have any specialised skills. As a day labourer, he earns around Tk700 to Tk800 per day. However, work is not available every day. By the end of the month, he is left with an average income of about Tk12,000 to Tk15,000. When he returns home every three or four months, he can at least take some money with him. For that reason, he rarely considers leaving this profession.

Over time, Rafiqul's range of work has expanded. Sometimes he carries bricks, rods and cement at construction sites. At other times, he helps load and unload goods at houses. He also carries furniture during house relocations or does digging work when needed. He says that most days he works at construction sites. 

Carrying heavy loads and lifting them to higher floors is extremely demanding work. At the end of the day, the wages are small, but he still feels happy if he gets work — because he sees no other option.

In Rafiqul's words, "If I work as a labourer in the village all day, I earn about Tk400 to Tk500. In Dhaka, I get double that. Some money remains in my hand. I can send it home. That's why I stay here."

Hazards of the job

Finding work does not mean all their worries are over. They often face various problems even after being hired. Sometimes they work the whole day but never receive their wages. Some employers say they will pay "later" and then avoid them. But that promised payment rarely comes.

Shahin expresses his frustration, "After making us work all day, they say they'll pay later. But that 'later' never comes. It feels really frustrating."

In addition, there is no safety protection. If someone gets injured while working, the employer usually does not take responsibility. The burden of medical treatment falls entirely on the workers themselves. Sometimes, they also complain that a portion of their rightful wages is unfairly deducted.