Bangladesh’s economic growth owes much to the remittances sent by its migrant workers. In 2023, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), 1.3 million people left Bangladesh as migrant workers, contributing nearly USD 22 billion in remittances that year. Despite their significant contributions, migrant workers face numerous challenges. Many are forced to take out loans or sell assets to finance their migration, often falling victim to exploitation by agents. Upon reaching their destination countries, they encounter further difficulties, including a lack of access to essential work-related social protection such as sick leave, health insurance, unemployment benefits, and coverage for work-related injuries and death. A report by the RMMRU notes that 3,860 bodies of migrant workers were repatriated to Bangladesh in 2023 alone.

International agreements and conventions emphasise the importance of decent work and access to social protection for migrant workers. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 underscores the critical need to extend social protection to “everyone, as a member of society.” Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8.8 also advocates for the protection of labour rights and the promotion of safe and secure working environments for migrant workers, especially women and those in vulnerable employment situations.

However, despite being signatories to these international conventions, many host countries where Bangladeshi migrant workers are employed do not offer adequate social protection. A testimony from a returning woman migrant worker illustrates this stark reality: “I was sick, bleeding from my throat and nose frequently, and couldn’t talk. Despite repeatedly asking my employer to take me to hospital, she refused. Eventually, my cousin persuaded her, but the hospital costs were deducted from my salary, leaving me unpaid for four months. Then, without advance notice, she sent me back to Bangladesh” (Source: OKUP).

Historically, social protection policies in host countries were often biased against migrant workers. However, due to international pressure and growing awareness of migrant workers’ rights, Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, have begun reforming their policies to better support migrant workers by removing legal barriers.

Despite these advancements, migrant workers often remain excluded from social protection systems in host countries due to various legal and practical barriers. Another ILO report identifies these challenges, including legal restrictions based on nationality and employment status, such as the duration and type of employment. Sector-specific barriers also exist, with domestic, self-employed, and agricultural workers frequently excluded due to the informal nature of their work. Practical obstacles further hinder access, including employers’ noncompliance with social security obligations, often due to cost constraints. Migrant workers may also be unaware of insurance options, and complex registration processes can deter participation.

Additionally, both employees and employers may distrust the efficiency of social protection systems, discouraging contributions. Language barriers exacerbate these issues, as policies communicated in the local language may be difficult for migrant workers to understand, further limiting their access.
To support the migrant workers unilaterally, the Bangladesh government introduced a mandatory insurance scheme in 2019, in collaboration with Bangladesh Jiban Bima Corporation, offering death and accidental coverage to migrant workers. Initially, the death coverage was set at BDT 2,00,000 but this amount was increased to BDT 10,00,000 in 2024. The insurance also covers injuries, with compensation amounts varying according to the severity of the injury. Additionally, the insurance provides BDT 50,000 for the early return of any migrant worker within six months of departure. Since 2022, the government has also borne the costs of repatriating deceased bodies if the families are unable to do so.

In 2023, the government launched the Universal Pension Scheme, which includes a component specifically for Bangladeshi migrant workers, offering them the option to join the scheme while working abroad and continue after their return, ultimately receiving a monthly pension upon reaching the age of 60. Beyond these initiatives, the government also provides scholarships to the children of migrant workers and loans to returnees under reintegration policies. While these initiatives represent positive steps, their effectiveness and adequacy remain unclear. Furthermore, while migrant workers often face exclusion from social protection systems in host countries, their families in Bangladesh may also be overlooked by key social protection programmes, as they might not be assessed as poor.

To ensure comprehensive and systematic social protection for migrant workers, the government may adopt a dual approach. Firstly, it should strengthen cooperation and negotiations with host countries to extend social protection to Bangladeshi workers. This may require Bangladesh to ratify relevant international conventions and sign bilateral and multilateral social security agreements where they are not already in place. Additionally, it is essential to promote awareness among migrant workers about available coverage where it exists. Secondly, the government should continue and expand existing programmes, including insurance, scholarships and the universal pension scheme, based on regular reviews of their effectiveness. At the same time, families of migrant workers should not be excluded from other social protection programmes simply because a family member is a migrant worker sending remittance.
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The writer is a social protection specialist and international consultant on social protection.