About Us

Our mission is to help Dhaka's low-income service providers to grow with the city. We do this through connecting labour with the consumer through research and communication.

• No Platform Fee

• No Top-down Matchmaking

• Consumers select Service Providers and Service Providers select Consumers

• Verification based on Proximity Networks

Increasing the income of those employed in the informal economy who often face precarious and low-paying work conditions, progress is made towards reducing poverty

Enhancing the income of low-wage earners in the informal economy contributes to the promotion of decent work and sustainable economic growth. It can lead to the creation of more opportunities for decent and productive employment, improving working conditions, and promoting inclusive economic growth.

Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.

Informal labour is unregulated and do not enjoy the social and legal protection characteristic of the formal labour market. As a data collection initiative, Kormo seeks to test the scope for expanding the protection in a small segment of the informal labour it works with.

In Bangladesh, informal labor is a vital part of the urban economy. Indeed, in developing countries, informal economies constitute a significant portion of the national economy. The characteristics of informal labor in urban areas typically include low incomes, job insecurity, lack of legal protections, and susceptibility to economic fluctuations. This sector plays a significant role in absorbing surplus labor, providing employment to those who are not integrated into the formal economy due to socioeconomic barriers.

One segment of informal labor in urban settings comprises the 'household service providers,' whom we designate as কর্মী in our platform কর্ম. Currently, we categorize 7 groups of low-income কর্মী-groups who are not included in digital platform-based marketplaces. With the emergence of the sharing economy and subsequently the gig economy, digital platforms have undeniably enhanced connectivity between workers and consumers. However, these platforms must generate revenue to sustain themselves as businesses. Consequently, issues such as compliance, training, and vetting through legal documentation like TIN, trade licenses, and proof of proprietorship become pivotal. These procedures necessitate the exclusion of certain categories of service providers. Moreover, revenue generation requires the imposition of a 'platform fee' as commission, thereby increasing costs for consumers and rendering the job impractical for lower-income laborers.
These service providers cannot produce such documents due to economic handicaps. This does not mean the labourers are untrustworthy or incompetent; rather, their jobs do not require such proof of legal existence since they mostly depend on territorial networks. Trust, in urban communities, are built through local networks, mutual inclusion and years of providing service in their communities. Kormo aims to solve the problem of exclusion in the dense urban areas, starting with Dhaka North City Corporation, by connecting lower-income labourers with the rapidly rising middle-class consumers.

Kormo operates as a digital platform and serves as an intermediary, albeit a distinct one as a data intermediary. What sets us apart from digital platform-based marketplaces is our sole provision of data. In theory, it is left to consumers and laborers to connect directly. This approach eliminates 'platform fees' and top-down 'matchmaking.' Ideally, it fosters a marketplace from the bottom-up, facilitating direct interactions between laborers and consumers. However, our exclusive focus on the supply side (labor pool) presents potential challenges in sustaining demand (consumers). These challenges are addressed by the indicators outlined in our theory of change, as discussed below.

Currently, the Kormo Beta is undergoing testing in the northern Mirpur area, including Mirpur DOHS, Pallabi Residential Area, and Mirpur-11 Residential Area. Upon the completion and evaluation of the Beta phase, our plan is to extend our coverage further north and south to encompass the entire Dhaka Metropolitan Area. This effort to unite low-income gig workers from across Dhaka during our phases aligns with Briddhi Foundation’s mission of promoting inclusivity in the urban economy.

This indicator involves documenting a notable increase or stability in income (excluding fluctuations obtained from historical data) to assess changes in income levels. Records are to be updated on a monthly basis.

This indicator entails documenting the number of calls received by our labor pool from unfamiliar clients to evaluate whether connectivity has improved. The metric also measures the number of new clients acquired through phone calls.

Under this indicator, if consumers refer service providers (কর্মী) to their neighbors and relatives, they will receive a 20% cashback (terms and conditions apply) from Briddhi Foundation on their subsequent service.