Sambodhi ISSN: 2249-6661

(UGC Care Journal) Vol-44 No.-01(VI) : 2021

THE IMPACT AND CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN ON DAILY WAGE
WORKERS AND THEIR LIVELIHOOD

*Padmakar Shahare, ** Mukul Burghate, ***Niyaj Sheikh

*
Professor (Associate), Jain (Deemed-To-Be) University, Bengaluru, India
**
Professor (Associate), Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Institute of Management Technology & Research,
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
***
Professor (Assistant), Sau Leena Kishor Mamidwar Institute of Management Studies Research,
Chandrapur, Maharashtra, India

Abstract
The Corona virus pandemic is having a serious impact on the living conditions of the people who
belong to the daily wage society. The impact of the death of the Corona virus on retail markets and
other businesses is clearly visible in their banking transactions, but in the case of daily betting it is
invisible because they spend what they earn and may not have an excess in their profits. Since the
daily bets are in different categories, it is very difficult to find various problems with limited impact.
This study reveals around the standard of living for daily wagers during the blocking period. The
researcher risked collecting data from the largest daily bets in the village regions in the COVID-19.
The researcher collected primary data from 800 salaried workers using simple random data
collection techniques and analyzed the data using the simple percentage method. The present
research is undertaken to study the impact of COVID-19 on the Daily wageworkers, considering the
data which are secondary in nature, different appropriate statistical tools and techniques are applied
for analysis and conclusion. On the basis of finding, recommendations are suggested to overcome
these adverse situations in Chandrapur District of Maharashtra.

Keywords: Covid-19, Daily Wage Workers, Livelihood, Lockdown, Income etc.

1. Introduction
Corona virus is a pandemic disease that has affected everyone for no reason and recognizes no color,
religion, cast, language, literacy, business people, occupations, community etc. It has affected nearly
40,000,000 people worldwide and could exceed the death rate of 3,000,000 globally at the time of
this research article.
Everyone knows that this virus was first detected in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, and named
a person as a Covid-19 patient on 17th October 2019. It then slowly began to affect the countries of
the borderless world. In this order, when India was about to be affected by the COVID-19 virus, the
Indian government decided to implement Lock Down / Shutdown from 25 th March 2020 to 14th April
2020 for the first time and it spread again from 15 th April 2020 to 17th May 2020. This Lock Down
system serves to guarantee people's lives by preventing them from the Corona Virus. So, it's a great
system and also helps people prevent corona by isolating themselves and staying at home. At the
beginning of the lockdown, people were able to manage what they had as savings with their own
financial resources. Later, when their financial situation was zero, they started crying for food and
money to take care of their children and the elderly at home. This is the time when the government,
the volunteer organization and local authorities can plan and support people to compensate for their
basic needs.
Impact of Covid-19 on daily wage workers livelihood
The days of freezing / closing affected the entire Indian economy. All types of industries such as
hotels, transportation (roads, airways and maritime), automotive sectors, electronics sectors,
chemical sectors, IT sectors, tourism, textiles, film industries and even agricultural industries have
been affected due to unusual conditions. There is no doubt that all of these sectors are the lineage of
the Indian economy and can be raised with a concrete plan. But very harmful and sad is that these

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(UGC Care Journal) Vol-44 No.-01(VI) : 2021
days of closing have completely changed the standard of living of the people who belong to the
society of wage workers (Cooli) to the limit of waiting even for a cup of tea at least once day. This
research article is the result of studying the standard of living of that particular group of people
(Daily Wage Workers).
Building construction, home maintenance, dry cleaning, rag picking, playing traditional instruments,
cooking, hairdressing (barbers), cleaning containers at tea stalls and mini Tiffin centers, waste
collection, street vending, mechanical workshops, supermarkets, retail stores, weightlifting in the
market offers employment opportunities to wage workers. But the periods of confinement disrupted
the functions of all those places and thus totally closed the lives of day workers without food, money,
routine medicines and to meet the needs of children.
Definition
By day wage workers, we mean workers who work in different categories such as contract workers,
casual workers and daily wage workers for completing jobs on an hourly / day / week / unit /
quantity basis. According to the Apprenticeship Act of 1961, "worker means any person who is
employed for a salary in any kind of work and who receives pay directly from the employer, but does
not include an apprentice".
Daily Wage Workers
Day workers are called contract workers, day workers, sub-contractors, casual and seasonal workers.
People involved in building construction, housework, dry cleaning, picking up rags, playing
traditional instruments, cooking, hairdressing (barbers), cleaning pots at tea stalls and mini Tiffin
centers, tailoring, beautician jobs, plumbing, paints, brick Work, peddling, machine shops,
weightlifting at the train station and market, and other types of contract work are called daily wage
workers.
Profile of the Study Area
Chandrapur is one of the districts of the state of Maharashtra. It is totally surrounded by various
industries and is famous for the coal mines and cement industries located in this region also known
as the "City of Black Gold". The district became part of Maharashtra since its inception in May 1960.
The Chandrapur district now includes Chandrapur Tehsil, Bhadravati, Warora, Chimur, Nagbhir,
Bramhpuri, Sindhewahi, Mul, Gondpipri, Pomburna, Saoli, Rajura, Korpana, Jivati and Balharshah
wage workers and the illiteracy rate is high even among these wage workers. (Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrapur)
2. Problems of the Study Area
Chandrapur is the only district surrounded by various industries and tribes. Mostly the nature of work
is agriculture and industrial work, where farm crops are the main source of income. But due to poor
irrigation and high technology, job opportunities are less in the agricultural sector. Therefore, most
people prefer to carry out daily wage jobs such as Hamali / Cleaning Jobs, Hotel Work, Tiffin Mini
Center and Tea Stand, Street Vending, Tailoring Work, Supermarkets and Retail Stores. The
Lockdown period has affected the routine life of the Daily Wage Workers and that is why they suffer
a lot to live a normal life.
3. Review of the Literature
Das, Dr. Kishore Kumar and Patnaik, Shalini (June 26, 2020), the impact of COVID-19 on the
Indian economy: an empirical study published in International Journal of Electrical Engineering and
Technology, 11 (3), 2020, P. 194-202 mentioned in their research that the current pandemic situation
has a profound and negative impact on Indian companies. Nationally, the impact of the COVID-19
coronavirus pandemic could cause a slowdown in domestic demand. India's real GDP fell to its
lowest level in more than six years during the fourth quarter of 2019-20. India's growth for next year
2020-21 is expected to be between 5.3% and 5.7%.
Source:https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3636058
Shanmughasundaram J (Apr 2020) City edition page talked about the lockdown could be a
measure to prevent and control Covid-19. But in this process, people who depend on daily or weekly

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wages have not only lost their livelihoods, but are also struggling to make ends meet. Although the
government has announced a subsidy of 1,000 and a basket of 15 kg of rice, 1 kg of dal and 1 kg of
oil, the reality of the soil is grim. The state has made no effort to ensure that the employer pays the
wages of its workforce during the closing period.
Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/workers-go-hungry-as-tamil-nadu-
governments-wage-order-remains-dead-letter/articleshow/75114057.cms
Ritu Kumar Ahmad1 , Mohammad Shakil Ahmad2 , Riyaz Ahamed Shaik3 (May 2020) clarify in
their research article titled "India's response to the COVID 19 pandemic and its impact on migrant
workers: a public health perspective" that the blockade and the global COVID-19 pandemic has
caused the destruction of millions of workers' lives. Therefore, the central government together with
the state government must take comprehensive measures to take care of the lives of migrant workers
and must urgently launch an appropriate aid package to prevent further deaths and inhuman suffering
of millions of migrant workers. These welfare packages could only be useful if migrant workers are
counted as migrant workers, and thus creating digital profiles to provide migrants with identification
documents would be the first step.
4. Research Methodology
This research work deals with daily wages workers. The Universe of the study was all the category
of daily wage workers in Chandrapur District.
In order to accomplish the objectives of the study, researcher has used questionnaire tools as a means
of primary data collection. Data was collected using the simple random sampling method. The
Sampling units covered all the daily wage workers from: Agriculture, Mason, House Keeping, Hotel
Workers, Two-Wheeler & Four-Wheeler Mechanic, Weight Lifting (Market Place), Painting &
Plumbing, Super Market / Retail Shop Work, Tea Stall & Mini Tiffin Centre, Saloon (Hair
Dressing), Street Selling, Driver (Auto, Taxi, Load Vehicle), Tailoring and others.
Sample sizes of 800 responses were collected on the basis of convenient sampling. The collected
data was tabulated, analyzed and interpreted using the simple percentage method as a data tool. The
data collection period was 30 days from 1 st April 2020 to 30th April 2020. The primary data was then
analyzed with the help of statistical tools like percentage analysis, Pearson correlation and t-test
paired two samples for means using MS-Excel.
5. Objectives and Hypotheses of the study
฀ To analyze the impact of the Covid-19 Lockdown on daily wage workers.
฀ To understand the reason for daily wage workers
฀ To explore various livelihood problems of daily wage workers during this Covid-19 Lock-down
periods.
฀ To suggest some measures to the government, corporates, voluntary organizations and local
authorities.
6. Hypothesis of the Study
The Hypothesis of the study is as follows:
Null Hypothesis H0 = There is no major impact of covid-19 lockdown on daily wage workers and
their livelihood.
Alternate Hypothesis H1 = There is a major impact of covid-19 lockdown on the daily wage workers
and they are facing lot of Challenges to get their livelihood.
7. Limitations of the Study
฀ Although there are thousands and thousands of salaried workers living in Chandrapur District only
800 samples could be collected during the lockdown period.
฀ The data relates only to the population of the Chandrapur region. Therefore, it will not refer to any
part of the other regions.
฀ It took a very short time to collect the data to show to the concern of people / officials.
8. Data Analysis & Interpretation
Table 1: Age and Gender wise Respondents (Data within the bracket is % percentage)

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Age / Male Femal Tota Percentag
Gender e l e
Up-to 30 144(18 96(12) 240 30
)
31 – 40 192(24 128(16 320 40
) )
41 – 50 96(12) 64(8) 160 20
Above 50 48(6) 32(4) 80 10
Total 480(60 320(40 800 100
) )
Sources: Primary Data
Table 2: Gender wise Educational Qualification (Data within the bracket is % percentage)
Educational Qualification / Male Femal Tota Percentag
Gender e l e
Illiterate 240(30 160(20 400 50
) )
Schooling 144(18 96(12) 240 30
)
Diploma 48(6) 32(4) 80 10
Degree 48(6) 32(4) 80 10
Total 480(60 320(40 800 100
) )
Sources: primary data
Interpretation:
From the table 2 it is concluded that 50% of the respondents are illiterate, 30% of the respondents
have only completed school and others have completed their diploma and degree in the same
percentage.
Table 3: Gender and Reason for Daily Wage Work (Data within the bracket is % percentage)
Gender / Reason for Daily Wage Male Femal Tota Percentag
Work e l e
Illiterate & Poor Economy 240(30 160(20 400 50.5
) )
No Regular Job 40(5) 20(2.5) 60 7.5
Feed Children 40(5) 40(5) 80 10.0
Fulfill Minimum Basic Needs 60(7.5) 40(5) 100 12.5
Children Education 20(2.5) 20(2.5) 40 5.0
Medical Expenses 80(10) 40(5) 120 15.0
Total 480(60 320(40 800 100
) )
Sources: primary data

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(UGC Care Journal) Vol-44 No.-01(VI) : 2021

Gender and Reason for Daily Wage Work

900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
Fulfill
Illiterate &
No Regular Feed Minimum Children Medical
Poor Total
Job Children Basic Education Expenses
Economy
Needs
Male 240 40 40 60 20 80 480
Female 160 20 40 40 20 40 320
Total 400 60 80 100 40 120 800
Percentage 50,5 7,5 10 12,5 5 15 100

Interpretation:
Table no. 3 clarifies the reason for going to work with the daily salary and gender of the
interviewees. It shows that 50% of the interviewees are illiterate and live in precarious economic
conditions, so they have to cover medical expenses and children's education.
Table 4: Nature of Problem Faced (Data within the bracket is % percentage)
Nature of Problem Facing / Gender Male Female Tota Percentag
l e
Financial Problem 130(16.25 70(8.75) 200 25.0
)
Food / Grocery Problem 140(17.5) 100(12.5 240 30.0
)
Medicine Buying Problem 80(10) 60(7.5) 140 17.5
Police Men Problem 70(8.75) 50(6.25) 120 15.0
Social, Psychological and Emotional 60(7.5) 40(5) 100 12.5
Traumas Problem
Total 480(60) 320(40) 800 100
Sources: primary data
Interpretation:
Table no. 4 describes the nature of the problems faced during and the gender of the respondents. It
shows that 16.25% of men & 8.75% of women interviewed face financial problems, 17.5% of men
and 12.5% of women. Women surveyed face food / grocery problems, 10% of men and 7.5% of
women surveyed face drug purchase problems, 8.75% of men and 6.25% of women surveyed they
face police problems and 7.5% of the men and 5% of the women interviewed face problems of
social, psychological and emotional trauma.
It is concluded that 55% of respondents collectively face financial and food / food problems as they
are basic necessities for living. At the same time, 12.5 of the respondents face problems of social,
psychological and emotional trauma that need to be eliminated with extreme urgency.
Table 5: Gender and Nature of Daily Wage Work (Data within the bracket is % percentage)
Gender / Nature of Daily Wage Male Femal Tota Percentag
Work e l e
Agriculture 36 24 60 7.5
Mason 84 76 160 20.0
House Keeping - 60 60 7.5

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Hotel Work 32 28 60 7.5
2 Wheeler & 4 Wheeler Mechanic 20 - 20 2.5
Weight Lifting (Market Place) 30 - 30 3.75
Painting & Plumbing 30 - 30 3.75
Super Market / Retail Shop Work 44 36 80 10.0
Tea Stall & Mini Tiffin Centre 36 24 60 7.5
Saloon (Hair Dressing) 40 - 40 5.0
Street Selling 32 28 60 7.5
Driver (Auto, Taxi, Load Vehicle) 40 - 40 5.0
Tailoring 36 24 60 7.5
Others 20 20 40 5.0
Total 480(60 320(40 800 100
) )
Sources: primary data
Interpretation:
Table 5 clarifies the nature of the daily wage work and the gender of the respondents. From the table
above, it is identified that 20% of the respondents will work in Mason, 10% of the respondents will
work in Supermarket / Retail Store, 7.5% of each of the respondents work as a daily salary such as
home maintenance, hotel work , tea shop and Mini Tiffin center, street vendor and tailor shop; 5% of
each of the interviewees carries out paid daily jobs as hairdresser (salon) and guide (car, taxi, freight
vehicle) 3.75% of each of the interviewees carries out salaried daily jobs such as weight lifting (at
the market) and painting and plumbing work, 2.5% of the interviewees perform 2 and 4 wheel
mechanics jobs; and only 5% of respondents choose other jobs.
It is concluded that 20% of the respondents are Mason and 10% of the respondents work in the
supermarket and retail store. Due to the scarcity of groundwater and rain, agricultural work is only
7.5%.
Hypothesis Testing:
Null Hypothesis H0 = There is no major impact of covid-19 lockdown on daily wage workers and
their livelihood.
Alternate Hypothesis H1 = There is a major impact of covid-19 lockdown on the daily wage workers
and they are facing lot of Challenges to get their livelihood
t-Test: Paired Two Sample for Means
Before During
Covid-19 Covid-19
Mean 5453.846154 1942.307692
Variance 33851025.64 1789102.564
Observations 13 13
Pearson Correlation 0.88498075
Hypothesized Mean
Difference 0
Df 12
t Stat 2.707605904
P(T<=t) one-tail 0.009519776
t Critical one-tail 1.782287556
P(T<=t) two-tail 0.019039552
t Critical two-tail 2.17881283
Table-6: Using the t-test paired two sample means for nature of daily wage work before COVID-19
and during COVID-19, it is observed that critical value of t is less than the level of significance i.e.
0.05, hence we got sufficient significant to reject null hypothesis and accept alternative hypothesis

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i.e. there is a major impact of covid-19 lockdown on the daily wage workers and they are facing lot
of Challenges to get their livelihood. Also from the Pearson value it shows that there is strong
relationship between daily wage worker and impact on their livelihood.
9. Findings of the Study
Based on the Data Analysis and Interpretation of the study the following are the major findings of
the Study:
a) 50% of the respondents are illiterate and live in precarious economic conditions, so they have to
cover medical expenses and children's education.
b) 40% of respondents earn up to Rs.200 and another 25% of respondents earn Rs.201 - Rs.300.
c) 55% of respondents collectively face financial and food / food problems, as they are basic necessities
for living. At the same time, 12.5 of the respondents face problems of social, psychological and
emotional trauma.
d) 20% of respondents are Mason and 10% of respondents work in supermarkets and retail stores.
e) Due to the scarcity of groundwater and rain, the work of Agriculture is practiced only by 7.5% of the
total interviewees.
f) The men surveyed only opt for jobs similar to mechanic, driving, plumbing, weight lifting and
hairdressing (salon / hairdresser).
10. Suggestions of the Study
The following are the suggestions to the government, corporates, local authorities, volunteer teams
and non-governmental organizations to handle the grieved situation in the Lockdown Period.
฀ The necessary food, shopping packages and medicines must be provided free of charge.
฀ Adequate medical facilities, adequate facilities for clean drinking water and sanitary facilities must
be ensured at minimum cost.
฀ When people leave their homes to have their own needs, they cannot be punished under any
circumstances by the police or any government official.
฀ The job opportunity will be created on the basis of the skills and qualifications of the people after the
closing period.
฀ Daily wage workers can be allowed to relax when they are stuck to do their job through which they
can stand on their own legs and without looking at the hand of others.
฀ People need to be guided to overcome the various social, psychological and emotional traumas they
face during this period of confinement.

11. Conclusion
The impact of Covid-19 on day-to-day workers is the correct argument from the researcher's point of
view during the lockdown period due to the covid-19 virus outbreak. Salaried workers usually face
many problems such as irregular work and unbalanced wage structure. If there is a climate change
(weather conditions), some work such as bricklayers may not be done for construction work; drivers
who drive hired (hired) vehicles cannot win unless the public uses those vehicles; Some exclusive
people who go to work such as housekeeping, tailoring, hawking, woodworking, plumbing, and
painting, may not earn an income if they suddenly fall ill or face other family problems. In all these
unavoidable critical conditions, day workers swim against the tide and live their lives. But
unexpectedly, the surprising death of new lives and the pandemic death of Covid-19 has completely
closed the lives of people without work, without income, without food, without security and without
drugs and has generated a problem of social, psychological and emotional trauma.
Therefore, the government, local authorities, volunteer teams and non-governmental organizations
should step forward and take immediate action to save people from starvation first and then save
them from the Covid-19 virus.

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impact on Migrant Workers_-_A_Public_Health_Perspective

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