MODERN-DAY slavery remains one of the most shameful stains on our collective humanity. Despite commendable strides in economic and human development, Bangladesh continues to face a grave challenge in the form of labour trafficking. Each year, thousands of Bangladeshi men, women and children are ensnared by false promises, deceptive recruiters and unscrupulous employers. Whether trapped in overseas jobs or hidden in domestic industries, these victims endure conditions that amount to modern slavery 鈥� denied pay, deprived of freedom and threatened into silence. While there has been progress in tackling human trafficking, forced labour remains an entrenched issue that requires urgent, systemic intervention.
Labour trafficking is the exploitation of individuals through coercion, deception, or abuse of power to extract labour under duress. Unlike smuggling, a consensual but illegal movement, trafficking involves the violation of human rights. In Bangladesh, it often masquerades as 鈥榣abour migration鈥� or informal job placement, both locally and abroad.
The sectors most prone to forced labour include construction, domestic service, agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and informal supply chains such as brick kilns and tanneries. Abroad, Bangladeshi migrant workers, particularly in the Gulf and Southeast Asia, routinely face passport confiscation, wage theft and inhumane conditions. The clandestine nature of this crime, concealed behind factory walls or rural outposts, makes it exceedingly difficult to detect, let alone eliminate.
Quantifying forced labour is inherently difficult due to its hidden character, yet Bangladesh is consistently listed among the top ten source countries for trafficking victims. The US Department of State鈥檚 annual Trafficking in Persons Report regularly flags Bangladesh for concerns over forced labour, especially among outbound migrants.
Approximately 700,000 to 1 million Bangladeshis leave for foreign employment each year. Many fall prey to exorbitant recruitment fees, sometimes tenfold the legal limit, plunging them into debt before they even begin work. Once abroad, contracts are altered, passports seized and movements restricted 鈥� hallmarks of forced labour as defined under international law.
Domestically, similar abuses persist. Child labourers toil in informal sectors, bonded workers endure punishing conditions in brickfields, and countless domestic workers, especially women and girls, suffer abuse behind closed doors with no legal protection.
At the core of forced labour trafficking lies economic desperation. Poverty, unemployment, limited access to quality education and rural underdevelopment drive people to seek better livelihoods elsewhere. This vulnerability is exploited by unscrupulous recruiters who dangle the illusion of prosperity, only to funnel workers into exploitative arrangements.
Though recruitment is nominally regulated, widespread collusion between licensed agencies and unregistered brokers remains commonplace. Victims often borrow from informal lenders at exorbitant interest rates, locking themselves into debt bondage even before they step onto foreign soil.
Compounding the crisis is a lack of effective oversight. Corruption within government and law enforcement, weak enforcement of labour laws, and a culture of impunity allow trafficking networks to thrive. Offenders frequently operate with little fear of consequence, shielded by either negligence or active complicity.
Bangladesh has enacted significant legislation, including the Prevention and Suppression of Human Trafficking Act 2012 and the Overseas Employment and Migrants Act 2013. It is also a signatory to international conventions such as the UN Palermo Protocol. These instruments provide a solid foundation for combating trafficking.
However, implementation remains weak. Law enforcement often conflates trafficking with illegal migration, leading to the misidentification of victims and the wrongful criminalisation of survivors. Investigations into labour trafficking are rare, and successful prosecutions rarer still.
Critically, Bangladesh lacks a national referral mechanism to formally identify, protect and support trafficking victims. Without such a system, survivors are left to navigate their recovery without access to legal aid, shelter, or reintegration support, increasing the risk of re-trafficking.
Labour migration, while economically significant, has become a double-edged sword. Remittances from migrant workers constitute nearly 6 per cent of Bangladesh鈥檚 gross domestic product, yet the process that underpins this flow is riddled with risks.
Excessive recruitment fees, lack of contract transparency and weak post-deployment monitoring expose migrant workers to abuse. Though the government has signed several bilateral agreements with destination countries to ensure safe migration, enforcement remains sporadic and poorly resourced.
Government initiatives such as the Wage Earners鈥� Welfare Board and safe migration awareness campaigns show potential but lack funding, oversight, and sufficient reach, particularly to rural populations most in need of protection.
Certain groups face disproportionately high risks. Female domestic workers are especially vulnerable, often employed in private homes beyond the reach of monitoring agencies. Numerous reports document sexual violence, confinement and physical abuse, with little or no recourse.
Children, too, are trafficked for domestic work, agricultural labour, and hazardous sectors like shipbreaking and leather tanning. These practices often go unchecked due to cultural normalisation and weak enforcement. Similarly, ethnic minorities and displaced communities, marginalised by legal precarity, face heightened exposure to trafficking networks.
For survivors, escaping forced labour is just the beginning. Reintegration into society presents numerous challenges, including psychological trauma, social stigma, and overwhelming debt. With few specialised shelters or mental health services available, many struggle to rebuild their lives.
Existing returnee programmes fail to distinguish between voluntary returnees and victims of trafficking. As a result, survivors receive generic assistance that does little to address their specific needs. A survivor-centred approach 鈥� combining psychosocial support, vocational training and financial aid 鈥� is urgently needed.
Civil society has played a crucial role in combatting trafficking. Organisations like BRAC, OKUP and WARBE Development Foundation provide vital services, raise awareness and advocate for policy reform. Their grassroots work has helped many survivors access justice and support.
The media also holds power in shaping public discourse. Investigative journalism can expose trafficking networks and pressure authorities into action. However, reporting must be sensitive and avoid victim-blaming narratives that further endanger or stigmatise survivors.
Forced labour trafficking transcends borders; so must the response. Destination countries share responsibility and must ensure ethical recruitment, uphold labour rights and prosecute abusive employers. Joint efforts are essential to identify victims, share data and dismantle cross-border networks.
While international agencies such as the IOM and ILO support anti-trafficking initiatives, greater political commitment is needed. Diplomatic pressure, remittance leverage, and regional cooperation through platforms like the Colombo Process can be used to push for migrant protections.
Technology offers a promising avenue for prevention and protection. Mobile apps that provide information on safe migration, blockchain systems for tracking recruitment and digital complaint mechanisms can empower workers and increase transparency.
Yet, these tools must be made accessible to those most at risk 鈥� rural populations with limited literacy or digital access. Pilot programmes have demonstrated feasibility; now, scaling them must become a national priority.
A multi-pronged, sustained response is vital. First, law enforcement must be better trained to distinguish between trafficking and smuggling, correctly identify victims and pursue prosecutions. Dedicated anti-trafficking units must receive adequate resources and institutional support. Second, recruitment practices must be overhauled. Regulatory frameworks should be strictly enforced, unethical agencies penalised and fee structures brought within legal bounds. Transparency must be introduced at every stage of the recruitment process.
Third, a national referral mechanism must be established to ensure that victims are promptly identified and offered comprehensive support, from emergency shelter to legal representation.
Fourth, survivor services must be expanded. Dedicated shelters, trauma-informed counselling and economic reintegration pathways are essential to prevent re-victimisation and promote long-term recovery. Fifth, ethical labour migration must be promoted through stronger bilateral agreements, enforceable protections and worker-friendly grievance mechanisms. These agreements must outlaw passport confiscation, ensure minimum wage compliance and guarantee humane working conditions. Sixth, public awareness campaigns should be scaled up, especially in rural areas. Educating families and prospective migrants on the risks of trafficking, their rights and available protections is crucial in reducing vulnerability.
Finally, international cooperation must be intensified. Bangladesh should work closely with labour-receiving countries on joint investigations, data sharing and repatriation protocols and ensure shared accountability across borders.
Forced labour trafficking is not only a human rights crisis; it is a national development challenge. As Bangladesh eyes graduation from least-developed country status, it must reckon with the hidden exploitation fuelling parts of its economy and tarnishing its global standing.
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Musharraf Tansen is a development analyst and former country representative of the Malala Fund.
