Grantee: Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD)
Partner organizations: N/A
Country of focus: Bangladesh
Grant period: November 2025 – April 2027
FutureWORKS Asia is part of a global initiative supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada, aimed at addressing the evolving challenges in the world of work across the Global South. As the Asian arm of the broader FutureWORKS network, the initiative is led by LIRNEasia and focuses on supporting high-quality, innovative, and gender-responsive research to inform skills development and policy pathways for an inclusive and sustainable future of work in Asia.
Following the completion of the first competitive selection process, five research projects under Cycle 1 are currently ongoing. In November 2025, FutureWORKS Asia onboarded seven additional research projects under Cycle 2, expanding the regional research network. These Cycle 2 projects will run until April 2027, deepening evidence and policy engagement across diverse future-of-work themes, including climate transitions, gender, and labour market transformation.
CPD has been selected to conduct a 18 month research and advocacy project, Beyond the Platform: Social Insurance for Gig Workers in Bangladesh.
Platform-based gig work—such as ride-hailing and food delivery—has expanded rapidly in Bangladesh’s urban labour market, offering income opportunities to young people, migrants, and low-income workers. However, despite their growing economic importance, gig workers remain largely excluded from formal labour protections and social insurance systems. Most are classified as independent contractors, leaving them without income security, workplace protections, or access to long-term social protection.
This project examines the feasibility of introducing a social insurance scheme for platform-based gig workers in Bangladesh. It aims to move policy discussions beyond the legal classification of gig workers and towards practical, implementable solutions that can improve the sustainability and viability of gig work. The study complements LIRNEasia’s broader work on social protection for platform workers in Asia and contributes to regional comparative learning.
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Research objectives
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Methodology
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Grantee information
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Research team
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Publications
The project seeks to generate policy-relevant evidence on how social insurance can contribute to the long-term welfare of gig workers in Bangladesh. Its objectives are:
- To map the current social protection landscape for gig workers in the transport and food delivery sectors of Bangladesh’s platform economy, and identify the key challenges.
- What is the current landscape of social protection and social insurance for gig workers in Bangladesh vis-à-vis global models (including their design, uptake and use)?
- What is the current level of uptake of social insurance models by gig workers in platform economy in Bangladesh? What challenges exist in expanding such coverage?
- To identify feasible option(s) for operationalizing and sustaining a social insurance scheme for gig workers of the platform economy in Bangladesh.
- What are the alternative cost scenarios for adapting global models of social insurance for gig workers in Bangladesh, and how would these costs be distributed across key stakeholders (government, platform companies, gig workers, and potentially users)?
- What are the preferences of gig workers and platform companies and consumers based on these models?
- What are the potential institutional arrangements or public-private partnerships required to design, implement and sustain a social insurance scheme for gig workers in Bangladesh?
The study adopts a two-phase, mixed-methods research design, combining desk-based analysis with extensive stakeholder engagement.
The first phase focuses on evidence generation, including a review of global and national policies, laws, and social insurance models relevant to gig workers. This is complemented by stakeholder mapping, focus group discussions with gig workers and consumers, in-depth interviews with workers, and key informant interviews with government agencies, platform companies, insurers, development partners, and civil society organisations. Expert Group Meetings are used to test the feasibility of different design options and financing models.
The second phase centres on policy engagement and uptake, synthesising findings into a clear, context-specific roadmap for introducing social insurance for gig workers. Validation workshops and targeted policy dialogues are used to refine recommendations and build institutional alignment for future implementation.
The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) is a leading independent think tank based in Bangladesh, with over three decades of experience in policy research, public dialogue, and development analysis. CPD works closely with government agencies, the private sector, civil society, and international partners to generate evidence-based insights that inform national and regional policy debates. Its research spans inclusive growth, social protection, labour markets, and the future of work, with a strong emphasis on translating research into actionable policy outcomes.
The research team at CPD will be led by Dr. Debapriya Bhattacharya, Distinguished Fellow at CPD, who will oversee the project's implementation. Supporting him will be Mr. Towfiqul Islam Khan, Senior Research Fellow, who will manage research activities and outputs.
Other key team members include:
- Ms. Najeeba Mohammed Altaf, Senior Research Associate, involved in research design and report writing.
- Ms. Mamtajul Jannat, Research Associate, responsible for literature review and data analysis.
- Two early-career researchers will assist with research tasks, gaining experience in development research.
- Ms. Tarannum Jinan, Senior Administrative Associate, will support communications and outreach.
This project is one of the twelve projects selected under the FutureWORKS Asia, a research initiative funded by IDRC and led by LIRNEasia, a pro-poor, pro-market think tank specializing in digital infrastructure and policy research. LIRNEasia’s work focuses on leveraging digital technology to enhance knowledge, information access, and economic opportunities, particularly for underserved communities.
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