Technology-based Support for Ready Made Garment Workers in Bangladesh : Understanding their Lives before and during COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brings uncertainty in many ways in lifestyle to lower-income communities in Bangladesh. We have explored qualitatively to understand the situation of such a lower-income group as Ready-Made Garments (RMG) workers in Bangladesh. The study before the pandemic on RMG workers (Female = 32 and Male =23) unfolded their workplace experiences, perceptions on healthcare, and technology access scenarios. Our study idea was impacted during the pandemic in Bangladesh and we could reach out to the same 12 participants and 3 stakeholders during the pandemic that revealed the helplessness and the impact on the daily life, and healthcare of the participants. Based on findings, we have worked on technology-based design implications that aim to help this community with their limited technology exposure, ensure their voices are heard through a service interface platform, and get emergency support from existing service providers of the society in a collaborative manner for their development