Employing in Bangladesh

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Expanding into
Bangladesh

The population of around 170 million was the eighth largest in the world in 2023. Nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 460 billion US dollars in 2022 placed it 32nd globally, building on 7.2% annual growth over the previous year.

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Global Expansion is a step to make for any business, regardless of your goal. But the opportunities that can come with an expansion can be stimulating as well as intimidating and confusing, especially when you consider all of the registration procedures that need to be done and the documentation required.

Going at it without the proper support can increase the costs, time and risks involved.

The legwork and potential red tape can be worked through more efficiently and cost-effectively with the support of a Professional Employer Organisation (PEO) such as Bradford Jacobs, primarily through our Employer of Record (EOR) framework.

It can be best utilised when businesses are just beginning their expansion process and require more information before incorporating an entity and fully establishing themselves in that market.

Country EOR Guide - Bradford Jacobs

Download our Guide to Bangladesh

Learn all about expanding into Bangladesh and see what we can do to make your expansion easier.

Download our Guide to Bangladesh

Learn all about expanding into Bangladesh and see what we can do to make your expansion easier.

Country EOR Guide - Bradford Jacobs

Hiring Staff
in Bangladesh

Hiring Staff
in Bangladesh

The Main Sectors of the Bangladesh Economy

The country focuses on the following key sectors, which all have a significant impact on the country’s economy:

The services sector employs around 35% of the workforce across a diverse spectrum including wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance and business services; utilities, transportation, logistics and government agencies. The services sector supports Bangladesh’s dominant RMG industry, but must also be developed as an alternative stream of government revenue. The Asian Development Bank recorded that growth in the sector accelerated from 5.7% in 2021 to 6.3% in 2022, buoyed by additional contributions from real estate, education and accommodation.

The low wages of Bangladesh’s workforce are a major attraction for companies operating in labour intensive manufacturing and industrial sectors, such that even some Chinese-owned companies have moved their production facilities to Bangladesh. Manufacturing is dominated by production of ready-made garments (RMG).

Following a lethal fire and then a factory collapse in 2012 and 2013, the government moved to improve health and safety. By 2020, 150 global brands had joined the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, which was supplanted later that year by the RMG Sustainability Council to oversee safety requirements. In addition to garments, general apparel and home textiles, manufacturing includes shoes and headwear. The government wants a diversified manufacturing sector to reduce dependence on RMG production and its 80% contribution to export revenue.

It has highlighted manufacturing high-value leather goods, automotive parts, pharmaceuticals and upgrading the country’s agri-business as targets for Foreign Direct Investment.

Revenue from tourism was expected to reach US$1.8 billion in 2023, with further growth taking it to 2.5 billion by 2027. The market’s largest segment is hotel accommodation, predicted to raise US$972 million in 2023. The sector is credited with creating 2.2 million jobs annually. World Heritage Sites, mosques and monuments, rivers, forests, rolling plains, stunning beaches on the Bay of Bengal, tribal culture and lush flora and fauna are among the attractions.

Royal Bengal Tigers and freshwater pink dolphins feature among the wildlife. The sector’s recovery from the pandemic is hindered by visa red tape, over pricing, insecurity, harassment of tourists and conservative attitudes towards foreigners. The World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index ranked Bangladesh 100th out of 117 nations rated for tourism.

Minerals extraction is a minor component of the Bangladesh economy, comprising, limestone, granite, coal, cement, iron and steel, natural gas, crude and refined petroleum, salt and crushed stone. Its contribution to GDP is in low single figure percentages. GDP from mining in 2022 decreased to US$4.8 billion.

Bangladesh Bank is the Central Bank of Bangladesh, although it does not oversee the entire financial system’s three levels. The formal sector comprises all regulated institutions such banks, non-bank financial institutions, merchant banks, insurance companies and brokers and micro finance institutions. The semi-formal sector includes entities that are regulated, but not by the Central Bank, the Insurance Authority or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It includes house building finance bodies, Non-Governmental Organisations and other banks. The informal sector includes totally unregulated intermediaries. Bangladesh Bank has had to deal with issues to stabilise the system and restore depositors’ confidence after a number of loan frauds, in particular affecting the Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited that had to bailed out.

Bangladesh’s Bureau of Statistics estimated that in the fiscal year 2021-22 crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry products accounted for 12% of GDP and employed between 35% and 40% of the population. Agricultural production includes rice, the main ingredient of Bangladeshis’ diet, wheat, corn, fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood and dairy products.

The sector needs to develop agri-business initiatives and new technologies to offset lack of arable land and natural resources, and meet the demand for higher quality products from the growing middle class, estimated at 30 million out of the population of around 170 million. Consequently, there is high demand for imported fresh fruits and nuts, high quality dairy products and processed foods, particularly in the more affluent urban areas such as Dhaka and Chattogram, also known as Chittagong.

The Main Sectors of the Bangladesh Economy

The country focuses on the following key sectors, which all have a significant impact on the country’s economy:

The services sector employs around 35% of the workforce across a diverse spectrum including wholesale and retail trade; finance, insurance and business services; utilities, transportation, logistics and government agencies. The services sector supports Bangladesh’s dominant RMG industry, but must also be developed as an alternative stream of government revenue. The Asian Development Bank recorded that growth in the sector accelerated from 5.7% in 2021 to 6.3% in 2022, buoyed by additional contributions from real estate, education and accommodation.

The low wages of Bangladesh’s workforce are a major attraction for companies operating in labour intensive manufacturing and industrial sectors, such that even some Chinese-owned companies have moved their production facilities to Bangladesh. Manufacturing is dominated by production of ready-made garments (RMG).

Following a lethal fire and then a factory collapse in 2012 and 2013, the government moved to improve health and safety. By 2020, 150 global brands had joined the Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Building Safety, which was supplanted later that year by the RMG Sustainability Council to oversee safety requirements. In addition to garments, general apparel and home textiles, manufacturing includes shoes and headwear. The government wants a diversified manufacturing sector to reduce dependence on RMG production and its 80% contribution to export revenue.

It has highlighted manufacturing high-value leather goods, automotive parts, pharmaceuticals and upgrading the country’s agri-business as targets for Foreign Direct Investment.

Revenue from tourism was expected to reach US$1.8 billion in 2023, with further growth taking it to 2.5 billion by 2027. The market’s largest segment is hotel accommodation, predicted to raise US$972 million in 2023. The sector is credited with creating 2.2 million jobs annually. World Heritage Sites, mosques and monuments, rivers, forests, rolling plains, stunning beaches on the Bay of Bengal, tribal culture and lush flora and fauna are among the attractions.

Royal Bengal Tigers and freshwater pink dolphins feature among the wildlife. The sector’s recovery from the pandemic is hindered by visa red tape, over pricing, insecurity, harassment of tourists and conservative attitudes towards foreigners. The World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index ranked Bangladesh 100th out of 117 nations rated for tourism.

Minerals extraction is a minor component of the Bangladesh economy, comprising, limestone, granite, coal, cement, iron and steel, natural gas, crude and refined petroleum, salt and crushed stone. Its contribution to GDP is in low single figure percentages. GDP from mining in 2022 decreased to US$4.8 billion.

Bangladesh Bank is the Central Bank of Bangladesh, although it does not oversee the entire financial system’s three levels. The formal sector comprises all regulated institutions such banks, non-bank financial institutions, merchant banks, insurance companies and brokers and micro finance institutions. The semi-formal sector includes entities that are regulated, but not by the Central Bank, the Insurance Authority or the Securities and Exchange Commission.

It includes house building finance bodies, Non-Governmental Organisations and other banks. The informal sector includes totally unregulated intermediaries. Bangladesh Bank has had to deal with issues to stabilise the system and restore depositors’ confidence after a number of loan frauds, in particular affecting the Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited that had to bailed out.

Bangladesh’s Bureau of Statistics estimated that in the fiscal year 2021-22 crops, livestock, fisheries and forestry products accounted for 12% of GDP and employed between 35% and 40% of the population. Agricultural production includes rice, the main ingredient of Bangladeshis’ diet, wheat, corn, fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood and dairy products.

The sector needs to develop agri-business initiatives and new technologies to offset lack of arable land and natural resources, and meet the demand for higher quality products from the growing middle class, estimated at 30 million out of the population of around 170 million. Consequently, there is high demand for imported fresh fruits and nuts, high quality dairy products and processed foods, particularly in the more affluent urban areas such as Dhaka and Chattogram, also known as Chittagong.

Commercial Laws in
Bangladesh

The National Revenue Board (NBR):  Responsible for formulating and updating tax laws and collecting revenue from personal and corporate taxes, Value Added Tax, customs and excise duty. The NBR is also responsible for e-services.

Ministry of Labour and Employment:  The national body includes the Directorate of Labour; the Department of Factory Inspection; the Minimum Wages Board; the Labour Appellate Tribunal; the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation; the Central Fund.

The Bangladesh Labour Foundation: A non-government, non-profit organisation represents the interests of all workers, including men, women, children and professionals in terms of their rights and employment standards.

Trade Unions: The Bangladesh Trade Union Centre is affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions.

Open-ended, permanent employment contracts:  These must specify both the start and end date, as indefinite contracts are not permitted under the Act.

Fixed-term or temporary employment contracts: These are allowed and the Act does not limit their term.

Probation periods:  The usual for office or clerical work is six months. Three months applies to other areas with the option of an extra three months. If the probationer continues to work after the trial period they are considered permanent employees.

Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs): Section 2 (52) of the Labour Act establishes the right of workers to collective bargaining with the management of the establishment where they work. If the establishment already has a trade union presence, they are the negotiators for CBAs, which remain in force for two years.

Commercial Laws in
Bangladesh

The National Revenue Board (NBR):  Responsible for formulating and updating tax laws and collecting revenue from personal and corporate taxes, Value Added Tax, customs and excise duty. The NBR is also responsible for e-services.

Ministry of Labour and Employment:  The national body includes the Directorate of Labour; the Department of Factory Inspection; the Minimum Wages Board; the Labour Appellate Tribunal; the Bangladesh Labour Welfare Foundation; the Central Fund.

The Bangladesh Labour Foundation: A non-government, non-profit organisation represents the interests of all workers, including men, women, children and professionals in terms of their rights and employment standards.

Trade Unions: The Bangladesh Trade Union Centre is affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions.

Open-ended, permanent employment contracts:  These must specify both the start and end date, as indefinite contracts are not permitted under the Act.

Fixed-term or temporary employment contracts: These are allowed and the Act does not limit their term.

Probation periods:  The usual for office or clerical work is six months. Three months applies to other areas with the option of an extra three months. If the probationer continues to work after the trial period they are considered permanent employees.

Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs): Section 2 (52) of the Labour Act establishes the right of workers to collective bargaining with the management of the establishment where they work. If the establishment already has a trade union presence, they are the negotiators for CBAs, which remain in force for two years.

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