Improved brick kilns are crucial for a just transition in Bangladesh
This study investigates the social and economic well-being of brick kiln workers in Bangladesh during the transition to improved kiln technologies. It reveals that workers in improved kilns experience better living and working conditions compared to those in traditional kilns. Despite these advancements, workers across all kiln types face long hours, gender pay disparities, and precarious living conditions.
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Kumar-et-al-Policy-Brief-March-2025.pdf
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- Air pollution is a serious public health concern in Bangladesh. Traditional brick kilns are among the most important sources of air pollution.
- The overall objective of this study is to understand the social and economic wellbeing of brick kiln workers in the wake of the recent push to transition to improved brick kiln technologies in Bangladesh.
- Findings from this case-control study show that there has been a steady shift from traditional Fixed Chimney Kilns (FCKs) towards improved and low-smoke options like Zig-Zag Kilns (ZZKs) and Vertical Shaft Brick Kilns (VSBKs).
- Workers in improved brick kilns have better quality of life, living conditions, and working conditions than their counterparts in traditional fixed chimney kilns.
- Across both types of kilns, workers report long hours – an average of eleven hours per day – and most days involve early morning or late night work. Most workers report that women and men are not paid the same amount, and our findings confirm that women in our sample are paid less on average.
- In general, workers in brick kilns, regardless of the type of kiln, live in precarious conditions, marked by unsteady income and poor living conditions relative to the conditions they might enjoy in their home villages.