The Paradox of Flexibility: A Socio-Legal Appraisal of Gig Workers' Rights and Protections in Bangladesh

Abstract

Current research reveals the rapid growth of digital platforms for flexible work in Bangladesh, a sector that is expanding quickly but remains structurally fragile. The study combines doctrinal analysis of laws, judicial precedents, and platform terms with empirical evidence drawn from document review using socio-legal methods. The law does not clearly recognize platform workers, leaving most of them outside the scope of basic labor protections. Bangladesh Labor Act 2006 contains protections for identifiable employers and established workplaces, but does not correspond to disperse, app mediated labor. Platform management—through opaque algorithmic practices and unilateral deactivation—further increases income instability and limits meaningful avenues for redress. Existing social protection mechanisms are ill-suited to intermittent and informal earnings, creating uneven vulnerabilities along gender and socio-economic lines. Proposed reforms include legal recognition of dependent “gig workers,” portable social security benefits, mandatory platform transparency, compulsory insurance, and accessible dispute-resolution mechanisms. The research aims to contribute to policy discussions and academic understanding of legal texts.