title: Effects of occupational illness on labor productivity: A socioeconomic aspect of informal sector workers in urban Bangladesh.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The informal sector is the dominant area of employment and the economy for any developing country including Bangladesh. The cost of productivity loss due to absence from work or presenteeism with illness has rarely been examined in the Bangladesh context. This current study, therefore, attempted to examine the impact of ill health of informal sector workers on labor productivity, future earning, and healthcare-related expenditure.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey was conducted among three occupational groups of informal workers (rickshaw pullers, shopkeepers and restaurant workers) that were generally found in all urban areas in Bangladesh. A total of 557 informal workers were surveyed for this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most of the respondents (57%) reported that they had been affected by some type of illness for the last six months. The overall average healthcare expenditure of informal workers was US&#36;48.34, while restaurant workers expended more (US&#36;53.61). Self reported sickness absenteeism was highest (50.37days) in the case of shop keepers, followed by rickshaw pullers (49.31 days), in the last six months. Considering the income loss due to illness in the past six months, the rickshaw pullers were exposed to the highest income loss (US&#36;197.15), followed by the shop keepers (US&#36;151.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the informal sector contributes the most to the economy of Bangladesh, the workers in this sector have hardly any financial protection. This study provides critical clues to providing financial and social protection to informal sector workers in Bangladesh.
authors.affiliation: Health Economics & Financing Research Group, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research.
authors.forename: Abdur Razzaque
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sarker
authors.forename: Marufa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sultana
authors.forename: Rashidul Alam
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Mahumud
authors.forename: Sayem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Mohammad Wahid
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Mohammad Enamul
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hoque
authors.forename: Ziaul
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Rukhsana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gazi
authors.forename: Jahangir A M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001459:Bangladesh; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003906:Developing Countries; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D000070100:Informal Sector; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000191:economics*; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000069597:Presenteeism / Q000191:economics; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult