Bangladesh (BD)
Bangladesh is a densely populated delta nation in South Asia, bordered by India and Myanmar, with the Bay of Bengal to the south.
Family Rights & Benefits
Maternity, parental leave and child benefits in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's Labour (Amendment) Act 2026 (effective April 2026) extended maternity leave to 120 days for eligible female workers — a historic increase from the previous 112 days. The Act covers formal-sector employees in registered establishments; workers in garment factories, banks, and major employers fall within scope. No universal child benefit scheme exists. Expat families rely on employer-provided benefits: school allowance, housing, health insurance, and repatriation flights are the critical items to negotiate before signing any Bangladesh employment contract.
Maternity Benefit (Bangladesh Labour Act)
Before birth: Leave may be taken partly before delivery within the 120-day total entitlement. Employees are prohibited from working in the first 8 weeks after birth — this mandatory post-birth rest is non-negotiable under the 2026 Act. In practice, most employees take 2–4 weeks before the due date and the balance after.
After birth: 120 calendar days (approximately 17 weeks) total paid maternity leave under the Bangladesh Labour (Amendment) Act 2026. Paid at 100% of basic wage by the employer. Important restriction: the entitlement applies only to women with fewer than two surviving children — for the third and subsequent births, no statutory maternity benefit is payable.
Job protection: Employers cannot dismiss a female employee during maternity leave or for reasons connected to pregnancy. Return to the same or equivalent position is protected. Dismissal during maternity leave constitutes unlawful termination under the Labour Act. Contact the Bangladesh Labour Directorate or a labour law specialist if threatened with dismissal or pressure to resign during pregnancy.
Paternity Leave (no statutory entitlement)
Max duration: Bangladesh has no statutory paternity leave under the Labour Act. Multinational employers, NGOs, and international organisations typically provide 5–15 days paternity leave as a contractual benefit. Negotiate paternity leave explicitly before signing your contract — do not rely on verbal assurances.
Split rules / Elterngeld: No shared parental leave framework exists in Bangladesh. Maternity leave is the mother's statutory entitlement only. Any additional leave for fathers is at employer discretion and must be confirmed in writing in the contract.
Benefits
Maternity Benefit (employer-paid)
100% of basic wage for 120 days
Duration: 120 days per qualifying birth (first two births at each employer only)
Eligibility: Female employees covered by the Labour Act who have completed at least 6 months of continuous service before the expected delivery date AND have fewer than two surviving children.
How to apply: Notify your employer of pregnancy and expected delivery date with a medical certificate. The employer pays through regular payroll — no separate government claim is required.
Entitlement does not apply to the third or subsequent births. Expat employees should confirm in their contract whether local labour law applies directly or whether the employment contract provides equivalent or better terms.
Employer Family Package (expatriate)
Varies; key items: school fees (USD 10,000–30,000/year at international schools), housing, health insurance, repatriation flights
Duration: Assignment duration
Eligibility: Negotiated in employment contract before arrival
How to apply: Negotiate with HR before signing contract; specify school, housing, and insurance caps in writing
No universal child benefit or public childcare subsidy exists in Bangladesh. International schools in Dhaka (Australian International School, American International School, Scholastica International) are heavily subscribed — apply before accepting the relocation offer.
Private Health Insurance for Dependants
Premium varies by provider and coverage
Duration: Policy term (renew annually)
Eligibility: Families with dependant cover included in employer or private policy
How to apply: Enrol dependants through employer HR or independent broker on arrival. Add newborns within the insurer's notification window (typically 30–90 days).
Public healthcare is limited for expats. Private hospitals in Dhaka — United Hospital, Square Hospital, Evercare — are the standard for international families. Medical evacuation cover is essential for pregnancy complications and neonatal care.
Sick child leave
Bangladesh has no statutory sick-child leave separate from an employee's own sick leave (up to 14 days/year with medical certificate under the Labour Act). Parents caring for sick children typically use personal sick leave, annual leave, or negotiate informal flexibility with their employer. International employers and NGOs commonly include emergency family leave in their HR policies — check your contract.
Birth registration
Births must be registered at the local City Corporation ward office or upazila/municipality within 45 days under the Birth and Death Registration Act 2004. The hospital provides an initial birth notification document. Required documents: hospital birth notification, both parents' passports or national IDs. Foreign parents must also register the birth at their home-country embassy or high commission in Dhaka for the child's citizenship and passport — most countries have strict deadlines for birth registration abroad.
Childcare rights
There is no universal public childcare subsidy in Bangladesh. Private daycare centres, nannies, and domestic helpers are the standard for expat families. Large employers with 40+ female employees are required under the Factories Act to provide a crèche — in practice, most multinationals provide a childcare allowance in the expat package rather than on-site facilities. Vetted nanny services and registered daycare centres are available in Dhaka's expat neighbourhoods (Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara). Establish a written employment contract for any domestic staff covering pay, working hours, public holidays, and emergency procedures.
Family Rights
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