Silenced Grievances: Waste Workers' Knowledge, Perceptions, and Experiences Regarding Occupational safety and Health Hazards in LG’s of Bangladesh

Abstract

Occupational safety and health hazards are a significant public health concern worldwide, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In Bangladesh, twelve city corporations produce vast amounts of solid waste, and thousands of waste workers are employed by these corporations to collect, transport, and dispose of it. These workers suffer from various diseases and  are often neglected and maltreated despite performing risky jobs. However, the literature on occupational health hazards relevant to solid waste collection in the local government of Bangladesh, particularly on waste workers’ livelihoods, working environment, and health risks, is limited. This article explores the nature of the violence waste workers face, along with the societal expectations and perspectives that perpetuate it. Data were gathered from Cumilla City Corporation in Bangladesh through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions with waste workers, key-informant interviews with various stakeholders, and observations of waste collection and disposal points. Thematic analysis shows that waste workers experience violence in the occupational setting, encompassing physical and psychological abuse, persistent pressure, constraints on personal liberty, denial of treatment, exploitation, discrimination, social exclusion, undermined social recognition, and wage withholding. Fear of job loss prevented them from filing complaints. Supervisors described the waste workers as ‘illiterate’, ‘low class’, ‘insubordinate’, ‘uncooperative’, and ‘reluctant to work’, thereby rationalising their conduct as acceptable. Other stakeholders largely dismissed these issues. The study highlights the need for actionable measures to prevent workplace violence and address emerging occupational health concerns in Bangladesh's waste management sector.