Women platform workers struggling without basic protections, rights: Experts

Despite Bangladesh being the world's second-largest supplier of online labour, accounting for 16% of the global online workforce, women workers in the country's platform economy continue to face systemic neglect, lack of legal protections, and frequent violations of basic workers' rights.

Experts noted that although women are increasingly joining the platform-based informal economy, providing services like domestic help, childcare, and beauty care, their safety, dignity, and rights are often ignored by platform operators and policy frameworks.

These concerns were brought to light this evening (31 July) at a seminar titled "Precarity of Women Platform Workers: Bangladesh Scenario and Agenda," organised by DataSense – iSocial.

Platform workers are individuals who offer services via online platforms, typically on a freelance or contract basis. Instead of holding traditional, long-term jobs, they use digital platforms to connect with clients or customers seeking specific tasks or services, ranging from ride-sharing to software development.

According to the experts, most platforms offer only elementary safety training, placing the burden of security squarely on the workers. While a formal grievance channel exists, women workers often hesitate to report harassment or abuse for fear of retaliation. 

The lack of a clear legal framework further hinders any meaningful redress, they added.

These workers, often navigating unfamiliar homes and unpredictable work environments, are left vulnerable due to the absence of platform accountability.

In a presentation, Sadman Rahman, research fellow of iSocial, said deep-seated social biases follow women into their platform jobs. 

"Salma, a babysitter, was asked to scrub doormats. Rabeya, a professional beautician, was publicly scolded for using a client's bathroom. Such incidents reflect the subtle, yet persistent, indignities informal women workers endure," he said.

"Though many women work full-time hours through these platforms, they receive none of the basic protections guaranteed to formal employees – such as paid sick leave, maternity leave, or access to healthcare," he added.

With vague job descriptions and one-sided contracts, many women find themselves coerced into tasks well beyond their agreed duties, he further said.

Mehedi Shoron, co-founder of HelloTask, said, "When we started eight years ago, there were around 4,000 domestic workers. Now the number has grown to 24,000. However, the market is still not ready. Currently, only two platforms, including ours, are working with domestic workers. We need more platforms in this space."

In a video message, AHM Shafiquzzaman, secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Employment, acknowledged the urgent need to protect platform workers and ensure their rights.

"Our young workers are now taking on white-collar jobs, but employment remains a key concern. If we ensure these workers receive their due rights, not only will our domestic industries thrive, but global competitiveness will improve as well, contributing significantly to our national revenue," he said.

Shafiquzzaman called for formal recognition of platform workers to provide benefits such as maternity leave, service benefits, paid leave, bonuses, and unemployment support, essential steps to building an inclusive and sustainable labour market.

Experts said despite these challenges, the women in this sector show extraordinary resilience. Many are single mothers or sole breadwinners, juggling economic hardship and domestic responsibilities. They turned to platform work hoping for dignity, fair pay, and social protection.

To ensure justice and equity, rights groups and experts urged the government and private sector to take the following steps – reclassify platform workers as employees to grant them access to legal protections and benefits; tackle structural discrimination by expanding employment opportunities beyond traditional "women's work"; implement a robust policy framework to guarantee fair wages, dignified conditions, and social security.