The Social Well-Being Status of Female Rice Mill Workers in Bangladesh: An Empirical Study
Rice mill workers can be considered as the lifeline to maintain the country’s food security. More than half of them were female. However, a few studies focused on socioeconomic conditions and well-being of rice mill workers. The present study aimed to assess the social well-being of female rice mill workers in Bangladesh and socio-economic factors affecting it. The data were collected from a sample of 398 female rice mill workers (age mean = 31.82 years, SD = 8.39 years) who were selected through mixed sampling method. The data were collected using face-to-face interview with a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions about personal information, education, income, living environment, health, violence, belongingness, equality, working environment, and social well-being. Results showed that there was a lower household income, a lower standard of living environment, lack of health and recreational facilities, unhealthy working environment, and a lower social well-being of female rice mill workers. Regression analysis showed that education, number of rooms for living, number of families using bathrooms, hygiene of bathrooms, leave facilities, discrimination in working hours, and mill environment were associated with lower social well-being. Rice mill owners, the government, and non-governmental organizations should come forward to enhance the living standards and well-being of these workers.
