Nepal imposed a nationwide lockdown from March 25 until June 14, 2020 to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Sanitation and waste workers had to continue providing essential services during the lockdown despite the risk of exposure to coronavirus prevailed. This added risk to occupational and environmental health hazards they regularly face, including illness, injury, and even death. Although these workers have been central to the functioning of towns and cities under lockdown, little is known about how they have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and how they are coping with this new situation.
WaterAid, together with MITRA Samaj, conducted a rapid assessment in three locations—Lahan municipality, Kathmandu Metropolitan City, and Lalitpur Metropolitan City—to understand the knowledge on COVID-19 that sanitation and waste workers have, health and safety measures in place, and the social, economic and personal impacts on their lives.
Thirty-one sanitation and waste workers WaterAid Nepal Rapid Assessment of Measures on Safety of Sanitation and Waste Workers during COVID-19 in Nepal Brief August, 2020 were interviewed who were, engaged in solid waste collection and transportation, sweeping, pit emptying, sewer maintenance and toilet cleaning under public institutions, and private agencies and some were self-employed. Additionally, eight experts in sanitation and waste management were interviewed.

Bibliographic information

WaterAid (2020). Rapid Assessment of Measures on Safety of Sanitation and Waste Workers during COVID-19 in Nepal WaterAid

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