Project 4c
Internal migration and remittances in Bangladesh

Summary
Internal and international migrations are key livelihood strategies for many in Bangladesh. Since the late 1990s various studies have been conducted on remittance patterns of Bangladeshis who migrate overseas. Remittances of internal migrants play an almost equally important role in sustaining individuals and their households. However, so far hardly any research has been conducted that deal with patterns, flows and utilisation processes of remittances of internal migrants.

This research makes an analysis of remittance flows of two groups of internal migrants -- domestic workers and rickshaw pullers in Dhaka city. The preliminary findings on domestic workers show that they are mostly women. They represent various age groups including children. They are paid very low salaries and no standardised wage structure is followed. Work and living conditions are generally poor. A large segment does not enjoy any private space. An overwhelming majority remit their full earnings. Remittances are hand carried by mostly male members or by the migrants themselves when they go home on holiday. During the initial years remittances are mostly used for maintenance of the family. After a few years a section of the remittances begin to be spent on home repairs and purchase and mortgage of land. Interestingly, the purchased assets are usually in the name of male family members. These migrants work as facilitators for further migration from rural areas.  The major policy thrust would be to argue for domestic work as wage employment, with an entitlement to minimum wage and fixed working hours.

Key Research Questions

	Who takes the decision to migrate? How is information on migration secured? How do migrants secure work in the urban areas?
	What are their salaries/income and other entitlements? What are the mechanisms used for negotiating wages?
	Are they subjected to abuse and violence?
	What are the general patterns of remittances? What methods do they employ? What is a migrant's role in decision-making within the family?
	What are the major policy reforms that may be advocated?