Impact of Shortfall in Daily Wages on Food Insecurity Leading Towards Depression in Punjab's Urban Laborers During COVID-19

Abstract

The research investigates the intricate relationship between the shortfall in daily wages, food insecurity, and its consequent impact on depression among urban laborers in Punjab amidst the COVID-19 crisis. This study aims to investigate the association between household food insecurity and the mental health status of urban informal sector laborers in five administrative divisions of Punjab, Pakistan, within the framework of the COVID-19 pandemic. The primary data was collected from a sample of 350 individuals who were both laborers and household heads involved in the urban informal sector in the Punjab region of Pakistan. The selection of administrative divisions for this study was conducted using a random sampling method. The data underwent analysis utilizing the logistic regression technique.  The findings illuminate a significant correlation between the shortfall in daily wages and increased food insecurity among over 25% of urban laborers, often resulting in a twofold rise in food prices and heightened household debts. This financial strain substantially reduces purchasing power and poses challenges in meeting daily expenses for more than half of the respondents. Notably, this financial adversity correlates with reported difficulties in saving money among 40% of the surveyed laborers. The study also uncovers a concerning trend wherein a substantial portion of respondents refrain from accessing alternative income sources despite the economic hardships. Such financial duress, compounded by job insecurity and increased debts, signals a growing concern for the mental health of these laborers, with nearly 20% reporting job loss or furlough during the pandemic. The research underscores the pressing need for targeted interventions to address the cascading effects of reduced daily wages on food insecurity, subsequently impacting mental health and highlighting the vulnerability of Punjab's urban labor force amid the COVID-19 crisis.