Financial literacy for the accountants of brick factories

About the event

Our previous trainings for brick kiln workers revealed the need to provide financial literacy training. This financial literacy training is specifically targeted for accountants from brick factories. Accountant/managers keep a record of brick workers’ productivity and deal with the financial matters of the factory. They also keep track of the workers’ advance payments, weekly allowances for groceries, and payments that the factory makes on behalf of the workers in cases of serious injury.

Financial literacy is especially important for daily wage labourers and their family members as they are extremely vulnerable and lack social protection. Following this Training of Trainers (ToT), the accountants will be able to provide financial literacy training to brick workers in their respective factories.

This training will also provide a technical refresher on basic accounting systems and help reinforce the relevance of financial literacy through an overview of the Social Code of Conduct (CoC) for the brick sector.

Expected outcome

• Brick factory accountants gain knowledge about applying the ToT manual on financial literacy
• Brick factory accountants can lead and organise financial literacy trainings for brick workers
• Increased saving habits among brick kiln workers
• Brick factory accountants are aware of the Social Code of Conduct for the brick sector

Expected participants

32 participants will be selected from showcase brick kilns and other brick factories across the provinces 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 of Nepal. Priority will be given to women accountants.

Background

During our study on the political economy of brick making in Nepal, we identified the need for financial literacy trainings among brick kiln workers. Financial literacy is especially important for daily wage labourers and their family members as they are extremely vulnerable and lack social protection. Low-skilled wage workers often tend to work for long hours (12-18) to support their families, making them susceptible to various risks. The brick owners provide facilities – free shelter and basic services such as water and electricity, which reduces the workers’ expenditures. Workers are also provided with money in advance before coming to work so that families can migrate and live together in the factories.

Similarly in 2019, the Air Pollution Solutions (APS) Initiative conducted a financial literacy training for brick kiln workers in seven showcase factories in Nepal. 194 kiln workers participated in this training. The training highlighted the income and expenditure patterns of brick workers and identified ways to reduce the expenses by organising their spending behaviours. The training adopted a “family approach”, targeting married couples and young workers. Based on the outcomes of this training, we prepared a Training for Trainers manual on financial literacy. The manual is expected to help vulnerable families in the brick sector manage their limited financial resources and plan for uncertainties.

Similarly, to help improve the working and living conditions of individuals and families engaged in the brick sector, ICIMOD with partners developed the first-ever Social CoC for the brick sector in Nepal. The Social CoC provides a foundation for ethical labour management practices, thereby improving working and living conditions and contributing to a more equitable operation of the industry.

Agenda