Policy, Payment and Participation Gaps Hold Back Women Freelancers
The expected pace and growth in skills among women freelancers in Bangladesh are being hindered by slow participation, ambiguity in digital labor laws, the absence of secure payment systems, and limited family and social awareness. Speakers shared these views at a discussion involving stakeholders who work closely with freelancers.
The discussion was jointly organized on February 17 at Creative IT Institute in Dhaka by Bytes for All Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN), as part of a research initiative titled “Contribution, Rights and Challenges of Women Freelancers in Bangladesh.”
Participants observed that without resolving these structural challenges, the women’s freelancing sector will not progress at the expected pace.
Monir Hossain, Chairman of Creative Business Group, said that the number and capacity of women freelancers in the country are not growing as needed. He stressed that, alongside the government, the private sector and media must play a more proactive role. According to him, increasing women’s participation will remain difficult without coordinated efforts in three key areas: training, market linkage, and visible role models.
Abdullah Titir, Head of Research at Digitally Right, noted that Bangladesh’s existing labor laws lack a clear framework for the rights and protections of digital freelancers. Many freelancers working for domestic clients secure jobs through platforms like Facebook, leaving them without legal safeguards or remedies. As a result, many are deprived of their rightful payments after completing work. He emphasized the need for an effective labor protection and dispute resolution mechanism.
Woman entrepreneur and graphic designer Emrajina Islam highlighted the absence of escrow facilities under domestic legal frameworks. She explained that without escrow systems, many buyers disappear without paying after receiving completed work. In contrast, global marketplaces such as Upwork offer escrow services, significantly reducing the risk of fraud. Participants agreed that without secure payment systems, it is not possible to ensure a sustainable and safe working environment for women freelancers.
The discussion also addressed the influence of family and social attitudes, the lack of mentorship and structured support systems, the need for women-focused safe training environments, and the challenges women face in moving from small gigs to high-value projects. According to participants, women’s freelancing is not just an income opportunity; it is a vital pathway to economic empowerment and improved social standing.
Currently, Bangladesh has an estimated 650,000 active freelancers. Industry data suggest that a significant portion of them are women engaged in digital marketing, graphic design, UI/UX, content development, and software services, contributing to foreign currency earnings.
The research team announced that after analyzing data from an online survey and two rounds of focus group discussions (FGDs), a set of clear policy and institutional recommendations will be formulated for women digital freelancers.
Among others, the discussion was attended by Ziauddin Mahmud (COO) and AGM Shakilur Rahman of Creative IT Institute; Najib Rafe, CEO of WIT Institute; Yasin Ahmed and Muntasir Hasnat, instructors at Grameenphone Academy; Arif Moinuddin, Managing Director of Decode Lab; entrepreneur Kazi Mamun of Team Mavin; trainers Rokaiya Haque and Ridah Tamanna; BdOSN Treasurer Promi Nahzid and Research Associate Labiba Bashar; woman freelancer Tanzila Akter; and ICT writer Rahitul Islam. The session was moderated by BdOSN President Munir Hasan.
The ongoing research is being conducted in three phases. On February 4, a separate discussion was held exclusively with women freelancers. An online survey is also currently underway nationwide to gather experiences and opinions from women digital freelancers. The full research report will be formally published after analysis, and recommendations will be presented to relevant policymakers, platforms, and stakeholders.
DBTech/SA/IK/OR
