'My heart was broken at the beginning of my life.'
Gönna Ketels & Monika GriebelerDecember 29, 2014
Every day, around 20,000 workers risk their lives in the shipbreaking yards of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Alamgir, who we meet in #headabovewater, is one of them. Earning a living makes him proud - and sad at the same time.
“My heart was broken at the beginning of my life.”
According to official figures, in 2013 the unemployment rate in Bangladesh was only at five percent - similar to that of Germany. But in fact, around 40 percent of the population is underemployed; many people, who are counted as employed work only a few hours a week and earn low wages.
Many, like Alamgir, would like a way out - but they are too poor.