14. IMPACTS OF THE CRISIS ON BANGLADESH MIGRANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES
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FIGURE 14.4 Change in Household Income between 2008 and 2009
percentage of households
100 26.3
80
49.7
54.2
64.1
decrease
60
increase
40
20
0
73.7 50.3
45.8
Manikganj
35.9
Gazipur
Hobiganj
total
Source: Authors’ calculations.
TABLE 14.6 Reasons for the Decrease in Income percentage of households Reason
Manikganj
Gazipur
Hobiganj
Total
Reduction in remittance income
47.82
62.50
34.99
51.88
Job loss among family members
43.48
25.00
5.00
9.22
Wage cut among family members
8.70
12.50
37.55
26.62
Other
0.00
0.00
22.46
12.29
Source: Authors’ calculations.
More than 45 percent of the households that experienced a reduction in remittances decided to work more to compensate for the decline in income (table 14.7). The main source of compensation for income loss among the households that experienced a wage cut also was working additional hours. About 50 percent of the households that experienced job losses among family members compensated by consuming their savings. Therefore, the use of savings seems to be a last resort, which was used after the loss of a job.
Coping Mechanism of the Migrants In response to the crisis, migrants can return home when they are laid off or lose their job, or they can work in more jobs and/or for more hours to compensate for any reduction in their income. The percentage of migrants returning home increased during the