Improving worker conditions in brick kilns: a randomized controlled trial in Bangladesh
Heat stress, occupational safety (including workplace injuries), poor living and working conditions, indicators of labor exploitation.
This study is a randomized controlled trial in 200 kilns (120 intervention and 20 control) with brick kilns as the unit of randomization. The study will be implemented across Jashore, Jhenaidah and Satkhira in kilns where icddr,b has established working relationships through previous interventions. Eligible kilns are those that adopted the ZZK2.0 technical intervention in past projects with icddr,b. Intervention kilns will get an integrated training on worker conditions and improvements, as well as a refresher on the ZZK2.0 technical methods. Implementation teams will support kiln owners with planning and implementing the improvements in their kilns through the brick season. Control groups will only be surveyed at baseline and endline. Owners in kilns in the intervention arm will receive an integrated ZZK2.0+ training, which includes a Zigzag 2.0 refresher training combined with a worker condition improvement (WCI) package designed to enhance occupational safety, improve payment practices, and improve living conditions for kiln workers. The WCI package, finalised during our pilot, is structured around five components: (1) provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) and occupational safety measures, (2) timely wage payment monitoring, (3) improvements to workplace and living conditions, (4) heat mitigation strategies, and (5) child labor awareness and prevention. PPE and occupational safety The intervention will encourage owners to provide basic safety gear to workers in high-risk roles, including firemen, unloaders, coal crushers, and loaders. Protective equipment includes work boots, gloves, head protection, goggles, cooling towels, masks, and sun caps, all sourced from local markets to ensure availability, sustainability and affordability. First aid kits and oral rehydration salts should also be provided for immediate management of minor injuries and heat-related illnesses. Implementation will be accompanied by systems for procurement support, action planni
1. Brick kilns (employers, the level of clustering) are included based on prior participation in a study with our team to improve the energy efficiency of their operation. To be included in the current study, a brick kiln must have previously adopted the technical intervention that improved the energy efficiency of operations. 2. At each kiln, five adult workers will be randomly selected across the main job categories at brick kilns: firemen, molders, loaders, and unloaders, yielding a study population of one thousand workers.
1. Kilns that do not plan to operate in the upcoming season or that did not previously adopt the technical intervention 2. Workers who decline to participate (and are replaced with a randomly selected worker in the same job category)