Covid-19 risks jobs of 1.3cr people: Citizen’s Platform for SDGs
The estimate is from reviewing the data of 2017-18 labour force survey
For the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, about 1.3 crore citizens of the country are at risk of losing their jobs. In particular, citizens employed in temporary or part-time employment are at risk, according to a press release issued on Thursday by Citizen's Platform for SDGs, Bangladesh.
The estimate is from reviewing the data of 2017-18 labour force survey. Considering the current situation, the number of citizens at risk of losing their jobs will increase further, it adds.
A virtual dialogue titled "SDG's New Challenges and Budget 2020-21" organised by the platform, Bangladesh, revealed the information.
Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya, convener of the platform and Honorary Fellow of Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), presented the key note in the dialogue, reads the press release.
The dialogue informs that the backward and marginalised people of the country are most at risk. To overcome the current situation, the government may consider a special economic recovery programme.
The government also needs to move forward with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework in the process of reviving the country's economy and ensuring economic security, including employment for its citizens, recommended the dialogue.
It is important to take a detailed action plan and take steps to recover from the ongoing crisis through periodic monitoring. The SDG framework needs to be specially incorporated in the country's Eighth Five-Year Plan to address the new challenges posed by pandemic, reads the press release.
In this case, special attention is required to bring the backward and marginalised people of the country under cooperation.
Dr Shamsul Alam, member (Senior Secretary), General Economics Department, Planning Commission, was special guest in the event.
He said that the government would take a short-term action to recover the economy from the ongoing crisis.
"In all development activities, including the Eighth Five-Year Plan, the government will consider providing assistance to all citizens who are at risk in the country," he said.
Professor Rehman Sobhan, member of the Advisory Council of the SDG Platform and Chairman of the CPD, presided over the dialogue.
The dialogue also discussed about the ongoing challenges of women, children, elderly people, the disabled, ethnic people, people in the remote areas, youths and the backward sections of the society, reads the press release.
The dialogue was attended by development workers-experts, economists, researchers, business representatives, youth representatives and journalists from different parts of the country including Dhaka, Chattogram, Sylhet, Khulna, and other districts.