Forgotten Contributors in the Brick Sector in Nepal

Sugat B. Bajracharya, Kamala Gurung, Luja Mathema, Sanjay Sharma and Arabinda Mishra
Additional contact information
Sugat B. Bajracharya: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Lalitpur, G.P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu 44700, Nepal
Kamala Gurung: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Lalitpur, G.P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu 44700, Nepal
Luja Mathema: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Lalitpur, G.P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu 44700, Nepal
Sanjay Sharma: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Lalitpur, G.P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu 44700, Nepal
Arabinda Mishra: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Lalitpur, G.P.O. Box 3226, Kathmandu 44700, Nepal

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 12, 1-11

Abstract: Brick making in Nepal is an informal sector that is still highly labor intensive. It employs transient workers who are extremely marginalized and exposed to poor working and living conditions. This study assesses the working and living conditions of male and female brick workers and their children and looks to address the main issues and challenges to promote decent living and working conditions in the brick factories through action research. A rapid needs assessment was conducted to take stock of the working and living conditions of male and female workers across five provinces in Nepal. Subsequently, selected pilot interventions through stakeholder consultations were initiated to address these issues and challenges. There are a host of challenges faced by these workers in the factories, with the main issues being occupational health and safety and childcare/education for workers’ children. The study suggests that the working and living conditions of the workers can be improved by incentivizing the brick entrepreneurs to invest in them, thus creating a more productive workforce. Moreover, the findings from the pilot interventions can help in the design of effective solutions.

Keywords: brick sector in Nepal; informal sector; decent working and living conditions; rapid needs assessment; informal workers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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