This paper aims to examine and analyse the impact of ongoing global economic crisis on social dimensions in the context of Bangladesh, particularly focusing on employment, labour market, protection of labour rights, safety net programmes and resource allocation. The report  forms part of a wider ILO study on the impact of the financial crisis on employment and labour markets of South Asian economies.

Thea authors argue that some South Asian countries, such as India, have been taking safeguard measures in view of the crisis; however, in low income countries such as Bangladesh appropriate policies and measures are yet to be designed or even thought of.

The paper, which includes a literature review, is divided into the following sections:

• implications of the crisis at international level
• the crisis and Bangladesh economy
• impact of the crisis on employment and labour market of Bangladesh
• suggested measures to safeguard affected industries
• measures taken by the government to stimulate domestic demand, income and employment

The paper concludes that there is a strong possibility that as global recession deepens in 2009, some of the adverse developments and their implications will become more evident in the course of the coming months. A clearer picture with regard to retrenchment, recruitment, wage levels, level of participation of female workers in export-oriented sectors, social compliance at work place, and adherence to workers’ rights etc. is likely to emerge. Investigation along these lines will be carried out in the second phase of this study.

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