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The families of migrant workers are facing a shortage of nutritious food as they have brought in changes in their food intake for losing income during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study.
It showed that 81 per cent of all migrant household (HH) members have reduced fish consumption while 90 per cent meat consumption and 63 per cent milk consumption.
Some 65 per cent of these HHs have children less than 7 years of age. Of them, about 72 per cent have cut milk consumption while 43 per cent egg consumption and 74 per cent meat consumption, the findings revealed.
It also showed that the monthly household expenditure of migrant workers on average was Tk17,000 before the Covid-19 outbreak. Currently, it dropped to Tk 7,300, a 43 per cent decline.
Nine member organisations under Bangladesh Civil Society for Migration (BCSM) conducted the study on impact of 'Covid-19 on Left Behind Migrant Households' during the period between May and July this year.
The organisations are Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), WARBE Development Foundation, Bastob, BASUG, ASK, BOMSA, YPSA, BOAF and Rights Jessore.
The study interviewed 100 arbitrarily returnee migrant workers and 100 migrant households in 21 districts of the country.
It showed that 61 per cent of the migrant workers' families did not receive any remittance.
Though 39 per cent families received remittance, they got on average Tk 30,000 per quarter. During normal time, these families received on average Tk 47,000 per quarter.
About 60 per cent of male migrants' households are surviving mostly on loans during the Covid-19 pandemic period as they fail to receive remittance from their near and dear ones, it said.
The findings showed that nearly 38 per cent of female migrant workers' households depend on loans to meet their family expenses.
Putting forward a set of recommendations, it said increase in remittance flow may not reflect that migrants are being able to cope with the Covid-19 situation. Therefore, there is need to extend cash/grant support to the distressed left behind families.
It also suggested incorporating distressed migrant families in public assistance schemes under Covid-19.