INCOME VULNERABILITY OF TEA GARDEN WORKERS IN BANGLADESH

Objective: The aim of the study was the assessment of the income vulnerability of tea garden workers in Bangladesh. Methods: Household surveys were used to collect data from tea workers. Sixty households were selected for the study and face-to-face interview was conducted to collect data. A random sampling technique was used to select the sample. Vulnerability assessment tools were used to assess the vulnerability to income. Regression analysis was employed to determine the factors affecting income vulnerability. Results: The result of the study showed that 95% of workers out of the total sampled workers were high vulnerable, i.e., they have a greater probability to fall in future income vulnerability and only 5% had a low probability to fall. The exposure variables such as gender, education, family size, and expenditure had significant effect on tea workers to become income vulnerable, but the variables such as gender, family size, and expenditure had a negative relationship with the tea workers income vulnerability that means these variables had a significant effect to reduce income vulnerability of the tea garden workers. The acquisition value of livestock assets and access to credit as adaptive capacity had a negative and significant effect on the income vulnerability of tea workers. It can help to decrease the income vulnerability of tea garden workers. Conclusion: The result suggests that special attention should be given for the improvement of the livelihood of tea workers