Women in coastal fishing families facing socio-economic disparity: Study

Women in the coastal fishery families are still lagging behind in terms of empowerment and facing socio-economic disparity, according to a study.

All the women workers surveyed involved in fish processing are getting 25 per cent less wages than male workers.

Meanwhile, 31 per cent of women of fishing families do not have an opinion on the purchase of family property while 56 per cent of them do not have an opinion on the general expenditure of the family.

The COAST Trust conducted the study by collecting data from 1,200 fisher families in six unions in four upazilas of the three coastal districts of Cox's Bazar, Bhola, and Bagerhat.

A summary of the survey was presented at the press conference titled 'Women's contribution to the coastal fisheries sector needs to be recognised' held at the Dhaka Reporters' Unity auditorium on Monday.

The study said only 2.0 per cent of women members surveyed of the fishers families have directly contacted the concerned Union Parishad for any special need and 82 per cent of women have never participated in any arbitration or any other decision-making process of the society.

Moreover, 65 per cent female members of the fishers families are victims of some form of violence. 

Mostafa Kamal Akand, director of the organisation gave welcome speech while  Jahirul Islam, assistant director of COAST Trust presented the study.

Speakers said that 10-12 per cent of those directly and indirectly involved in the fisheries sector are women, but there is no separate information on their contribution, initiatives are needed in this regard.

The study also suggested formulating special policies to identify the contribution of women in the fisheries sector, to involve women members of fishing families in economic activities, to ensure women's participation in various fisheries programs, and to implement labour policies for fishermen.

[email protected]