Bangladesh has become the world’s second-largest supplier of online gig work, following India, according to studies by the ILO, Oxford Internet Institute, and the World Bank. With an estimated 1–1.2 million active freelancers, the country’s youth are increasingly engaged in digital platforms such as Upwork, Fiverr, and Freelancer. This expansion has reduced unemployment pressure and improved individual financial stability. The gig economy now spans both urban and rural areas, contributing around USD 1–1.2 billion annually to foreign exchange reserves.

However, the rapid, unregulated growth has exposed weaknesses in skill quality, professionalism, and infrastructure. Many Bangladeshi gig workers remain in low-skill, low-pay roles that are being replaced by AI tools like ChatGPT, Canva AI, and Google AutoML. Language barriers, missed deadlines, and lack of contract knowledge have also weakened client confidence. Unlike the EU, Bangladesh lacks social protection, health insurance, or pension systems for gig workers, prompting the ITUC to label such economies as “digital sweatshops.”

The article stresses the need for high-value skill development in AI, data science, and blockchain, along with policy reforms to ensure stable internet, secure payment systems, and inclusion of gig work in national labor frameworks.