The Impact of COVID-19 Crisis on Homeless Children in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world patterns including economic, human needs, and daily activity. Millions of people have been called to stay at home, keep physical distancing, and many economic activities are closed as a precautionary measure. As a result, many people are unable to work and earn money, especially those who receive a daily salary. For a certain group of people such as homeless children, this situation is bad. Without a proper home, lack of basic needs and social services makes them exposed to multiple deprivations. In this regard, in this conceptual chapter, the researcher will report the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on homeless children in Malaysia. Aside from that, the researcher will also explain the roles of a social services provider to help homeless children meet their needs during the pandemic. This conceptual chapter enables agencies who work with vulnerable children, policymakers, and child social services providers to utilize the input to frame special social care programs for homeless children during the spread of the pandemic.

Impact of COVID-19 on Food Insecurity and Coping Mechanisms of Marginalized People in Bangladesh

This chapter is part of an extensive panel survey conducted among the BRAC COVID-19 response HHs between April 2020 to September 2020. This chapter aims to describe the food insecurity status of BRAC-supported HHs and their coping strategies to combat the impact of COVID-19. A total of 6,086 HHs were interviewed in the 1st round (April 2020-June 2020), whilst these HHs were interviewed in the 2nd round (July 2020 to September 2020). Findings reveal that COVID-19 has created an unprecedented impact on HH food insecurity. The study prepared a food index score and found that 33% of HHs are extremely food insecure, whilst 19% are highly insecure. In terms of coping strategies to the current food needs of the HHs, dependency on the personal mechanism and institutional mechanisms were identified. The study argues that the COVID-19 crisis forces HHs into long-term loan burden, which may lead to another hurdle, causing delayed HHs economic recovery. Long-term GO and NGO sustainable economic recovery intervention could help marginalized people to build back better from COVID-19.

The Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Readymade Garments Workers in Bangladesh

This chapter demonstrates the readymade garments (RMG) industry workers' plight during COVID-19. The authors collected data through interviews with garment workers in Bangladesh. Online publications and research reports of relevant cases, web pages, and newspapers were examined. It reveals that RMG workers' living standards and earnings have fallen due to COVID-19. Due to the cancellation of foreign orders and deferred payment by foreign buyers, many factory owners shut down operations. They terminated a large number of workers by disputed approaches from March 2020 onward. This study also examines a few initiatives taken by different stakeholders, which seems inadequate, in favor of workers' rights. The financial institution can come up with a role in supporting the sector by loans and other financial supports.

Labour Market Challenges Amidst the COVID-19 Crisis

The chapter discussed the reasons for the labour market vulnerability of youth and the challenges they face amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. While youth have been experiencing unsatisfactory progress in the labour market, the pandemic crisis has worsened it. Challenges in the labour market outcome include higher youth unemployment, financial instability (due to low wages and decrease in monthly income), labour market skill mismatch, low quality of jobs, and difficulties in school-to-work transitions, which threaten to widen the pre-existing challenges. This chapter also discussed remedial actions on policy options and interventions to the labour market to alleviate those challenges. The vulnerability of youths must be identified, heard, and targeted with proper measures to address the challenges that the young workers face in the current labour market.

Don't Let Kellys Go to Hell

This chapter aims to make the most of the lessons learned due to the Spanish cleaning ladies' crisis in order to bring useful recommendations abroad. Spain has been the cradle of Las Kellys, a cleaning women union turned into a social movement that has disclosed the outsourcing-driven precariousness that preys on thousands of women. This chapter uses those maids' struggle for dignity at work to expose how oppression hides even in very highly developed countries. Oppression may crouch behind a gender gap or sit in a manager's desk when a job applicant is discriminated against by her nationality or gender. And, of course, oppression may appear in the digital plane as it engulfs labor dignity everywhere. Apropos of global events, this chapter will focus on how the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the maids' lives and on their brave stand against rising discrimination, aggravated vulnerability, and belittled human rights. Finally, this chapter gathers the opinions of two vet Kellys about their situation in order to better illustrate its content.

Seeing the Largest Refugee Community

This study is about the world's largest refugee community, the Royingas of Bangladesh. It is based on an empirical reflection and interviews with some NGO professionals, UN officials, leaders from the Rohingya refugee groups, and some neighbouring community leaders. Displacement of people has become one of the chronic problems at all levels: global, regional, and national. There are several impacts from people's movements from their original areas to other areas due to conflicts and natural disasters. The authors think scholars have somehow sidelined this most contemporary issue. Day by day, the Royinga issue, their settlements, is a parable. Seeing the socio-economic situation, they felt that a political step needs to settle this burning issue—the lack of active diplomacy is vivid. Further, all-encompassing research is pertinent to imply a practical set of policies.

Christianity, COVID-19, and Marginal People of Bangladesh

This chapter aims to discuss the correlation between Indigeneity and Christianity in the context of Bangladesh's Santal community during this pandemic C-19. Methodologically, this study informs the Indigenous research paradigm. As instruments, this study adopted interviews, observational fieldwork, and sharing circle for primary data collection. Authors scrutinized census reports and other governmental and NGO reports for secondary information. Findings show that the Christian commonwealth faith has been very predominant during this pandemic among the Santals. Collaboration among the churches, NGOs, and government is recommended for the new normal and further crisis management.

Ubuntu Philosophy

This chapter is guided by, informed by, and deals with the Indigenous African faith Ubuntu, which is translated as “I am because we are.” When we are nearing the new normal, we feel that the sense of individualism, consumerism, Eurocentric “self,” and “making self” should be replaced by a common principle of solidarity. In the new value, “I” will be merged into “we”—and “ours.” The whole study evolved with three simple questions: What is Ubuntu is? And Why and how can Ubuntu be a vector and vantage for the new normal? Tracing back to 1846, this discussion concludes that Ubuntu is a more appropriate way of establishing a just, harmonized, and rights-based society.

A Look at the Early Lessons From the COVID-19 Pandemic

Despite the lessons from past pandemics, COVID-19 paralyzes individuals, groups, institutions, and governments. This chapter traces the early lessons which can be acted upon as the pandemic continues to make havoc while at the same time considered as a basis for future responses. Based on the available literature, several lessons can be drawn. This chapter begins with an ethical question and the lessons on the environment. Second, the focus is on the concern for the safety of the frontliners, which was seen as very crucial in containing the spread of the virus. Third, the discussion focuses on the timely and accurate dissemination of information to broaden people's awareness of the situation and to gain support and cooperation. Fourth, the importance of the quick response from governments is highlighted. Finally, the chapter culminates with a discussion on the immediate action needed. It proposes a groundwork for future pandemics wherein the government can ensure an all-inclusive policy.

Risk and Resilience Among Rural Migrant Workers in Mainland China During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Post COVID

Rural migrant workers are an indigenous population migrated from rural to urban, encountering risks due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including social, political, and psychological facets. Through conducting a case study in an eastern city, it is found that economic crisis and mental distress are risks rural migrant workers faced during COVID-19. Social trust and support, self-help, traditional Chinese culture, and volunteerism are presented as resilient among rural migrant workers during COVID-19. Risks persist in post COVID, which are difficulties in job hunting and finding a place to live. However, they still maintain resilience, such as hard-working, enduring hardship, and trust for the future to cope with additional risks. The research findings can reveal further implications for social workers and policymakers.