This consultation meeting was a critical component of the Gender and Social Equity (GSE) Analysis of Bangladesh’s Migration Framework. The event gathered key stakeholders and experts for a structured, analytical discussion focused on improving safety, equity, and service provision for women migrant workers.

Objective and Structure: The consultation employed the SDC Gender Lenses (Gender Roles, Access/Control, Participation/Voice, Needs/Interests) to systematically assess the migration lifecycle. Discussions were organized both vertically (by these SDC pillars) and horizontally (by the stages of the migration journey), ensuring comprehensive coverage.

Key Areas of Deliberation: The agenda meticulously explored specific challenges faced by women at every stage, including:

1. Recruitment & Policy: Examining gender roles in recruitment, promoting job diversification, and assessing the gender-responsiveness of current migration policy.
2. Pre-departure Processing: Identifying social and family barriers, and gaps in institutional mandates and services.
3. Arrival & Work: Analyzing post-arrival challenges, wage discrimination, job security, and the role of Bangladesh Foreign Missions.
4. Return & Reintegration: Discussing differences in return decision-making, social acceptance of returnees, and the provision of specialized reintegration loans and programs.
5. Migration Governance & Cross-cutting Issues: Debating the need for separate female migration policy and mechanisms to extend legal aid services and combat social stigma.

Outcome: The insights and expert opinions captured during this session—through both recording and writing is instrumental in developing evidence-based policy briefs. These outcomes are designed to inform policymakers on how to design services that are inclusive, address systematic inequities, and effectively promote safe, dignified, and gender-responsive migration for all Bangladeshi workers.