Socioeconomic and Demographic Profile of Waste Pickers in Brazil and India

Abstract

In Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, we still have the biggest open dump in the Americas. There are more than two thousand waste pickers working in bad conditions without safety. In India, all over the country the waste pickers work for the collection and segregation of waste from different places including dump sites. The socioeconomic condition and the occupational health and safety hazard of the waste pickers are very bad conditions though they are the agent that makes the environment livable for the citizens. The purpose of this research is to show the reality of the socioeconomic profile, demographic, and social security conditions of these workers and compare the waste pickers in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, Bangalore and Kolkata, India. This is a narrative review and a cross-sectional study. The following socioeconomic data found in Brasilia were: 65.4% of waste pickers receive less than US$250 per month; just 33.20% receive financial support from the federal government. Only 12.7% contribute to social security. The demographic data indicate that most waste pickers (60%) are women; 36.5% of the sample has only primary education. The average age is 39.4 years. Most of these workers are associated with organizations. In Bangalore and Kolkata, the capital city of the state of Karnataka and West Bengal, respectively, there are nearly 20.000 waste pickers; 25% of them are formally organized. A significant number of them are between 18 and 40 years of age; the majority are women and illiterate; 70% earn between US$44.7–89.4 per month. Both groups are economically and socially vulnerable. Their access to water, sanitation and housing facilities in the city is inadequate. Most waste pickers from both countries are exempt from a number of benefits, such as retirement for length of service, maternity pay, sick leave, among others. One of the main needs of waste pickers of India is the inclusion of informal workers in the social protection service, making them part of the universal security system. In Brazil, it is necessary to reinforce the importance of the contribution of social security, which can guarantee assistance in case of disability. Therefore, this reality demonstrates the need to strengthen strategies to improve the quality of life, income, and working conditions of these trash pickers.