At Unilever Bangladesh, we understand the far-reaching impacts of inequality, from income to health, human rights, and economic growth. Our Shohojatra: Co-Creating Impact event was created from the belief that real change can be achieved when we walk alongside our partners.
Across the four sustainability pillars of our Growth Action Plan (GAP) 2030 — Climate, Nature, Plastics, and Livelihood — we celebrated transformative partnerships that are driving change at scale in this event. Under the Livelihood pillar, we highlighted our Waste Worker Livelihood Enhancement Initiative in Chattogram, co-created with Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), Chattogram City Corporation (CCC), and supported by MetLife Bangladesh.
The Challenge
Dr. Mohammed Arifur Rahman, Founder and Chief Executive of YPSA, explained at Shohojatra: “Waste workers across the country face income instability issues because it is not a formal job. They are also generally not well respected and even one illness means days without work, and consequently without income. That is why we had to come up with a solution that aids them in addressing these challenges.”
Globally, ~20 million informal waste workers form the backbone of collecting, sorting and selling waste, including plastic. They are on the frontline in tackling plastic pollution - globally recognised as a mounting threat to the environment. Yet, most operate in unsafe conditions, without protective equipment, healthcare, or financial stability. In Bangladesh, especially in cities like Chattogram, these invisible heroes earn less than USD 2 per day. One illness or injury often means days without work, lost income, and even puts their children's education at risk.
The lack of safety net and recognition has long kept waste workers on the margins — excluded from social protection, overlooked in policymaking, and stigmatised in society. To truly create a socially-just circular economy for plastics, we cannot leave behind the people who make that system run.
A Co-Created Solution
In 2022, Unilever Bangladesh launched the plastic waste management initiative in Chattogram, in partnership with YPSA and CCC. Under this initiative, we designed several interventions and took steps to improve the livelihood of waste workers.
Working with YPSA for grassroots mobilisation and the CCC for long-term sustainability, we introduced a holistic model that puts dignity, safety, and security at the heart of the plastic value chain.
The initiative focuses on four key areas:
- Skills and Safety: More than 3,000 waste workers have received structured training on safe waste segregation and plastic recyclability. Over 2,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) were distributed, leading to a 50% increase in safety coverage. Today, 91% of workers consistently use PPE, compared to just 29% before the programme.
- Income and Stability: Workers receive incentive-based payments linked to performance, fully traceable through digital disbursement. By shifting to Mobile Financial Services (MFS), we have ensured 100% transparency, predictability, and contributed to their financial inclusion.
- Recognition and Dignity: Through structured awards and ID validation, waste workers are no longer invisible. They are recognised as essential contributors to the city’s sustainability, helping shift public perception.
- Social Protection: Most importantly, we introduced Bangladesh’s first corporate-funded group insurance for informal waste workers.
Insurance: A First-of-its-Kind Safety Net
For the first time, waste workers now have access to a formal insurance scheme that covers a range of risks — from minor injuries to loss of income, and even life coverage.
So far, 1,827 waste workers are covered under this programme. For individuals who once had no access to healthcare or social safety nets, this has been transformative. Insurance provides not just financial protection, but also peace of mind. It ensures that one accident does not spiral into a cycle of debt or despair.
As Mohammad Kamruzzaman, Assistant Managing Director and Chief Corporate Business Officer at MetLife Bangladesh, explained at Shohojatra: “The gap was not just in finance — it was in dignity, in security, in hope. Through this partnership, we are closing that gap.”
Impact and Recognition
The results so far have been inspiring:
- 92% of workers reported an increase in income, with nearly a third seeing significant rises.
- 94% reported increased productivity, while 99% expressed satisfaction with the initiative’s design.
- The model has reached across all 41 wards of Chattogram, engaging over 12,000 people in the waste value chain.
- By linking social protection with economic incentives, the programme has reframed ‘waste management work’ as a safer, more respected livelihood.
Looking Ahead
The Waste Worker Livelihood Enhancement Initiative is not designed as a one-off project. It is built to last — grounded in market logic, community ownership, and institutional accountability. By strengthening waste management committees in all 41 wards, we have embedded the model within local governance systems. By providing safety equipment, training, and insurance, we have created a culture of professionalism and care.
Most importantly, by co-creating this initiative with YPSA, CCC, and with support from Metlife, we have proven that partnerships can transform even the most invisible livelihoods into more dignified, secure, and future-ready professions.