CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISE OF INFORMALITY IN RURAL LABOUR MARKETS: A CROSS-COUNTRY STUDY OF NEPAL, BANGLADESH, AND INDONESIA
Keywords:
climate change, informal employment, rural labour, Asia-Pacific, labour insecurity, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, sustainable development.Abstract
This paper investigates the link between climate-induced disruptions and the expansion of informal labour in rural areas across Nepal, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. Using case-study methodology and comparative policy analysis, the research highlights how climate vulnerability exacerbates labour market insecurities and pushes rural workers—especially in agriculture and low-skill sectors—into informal and unstable employment. The findings aim to support the design of integrated labour-climate strategies that promote resilience, formalisation, and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific economies.
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