Migration of Female Construction Labourers to Dhaka City, Bangladesh

Abstract

Female labour migration in Bangladesh involves movement from backward rural areas to urban conglomerations like Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. Interviews with female construction workers reveal that the major goal of these female migrants, whose mobility and employment have traditionally been restricted, is to take responsibility in the struggle for livelihood, which has become essential due to increased landlessness, aggravation of rural poverty, break-up of joint family systems, and weakening of patriarchy. Success of many migrations is linked with participation in construction work in the city. Employment in such activities is largely by women from male-headed households, indicating male support in the work, followed by females heading their own households. The adverse impact of this migration is seen in the growth of slums, squatting, footpath dwellings and unhygienic living conditions. The positive impact is on employment status and income, while the rural environment is improved through financial return from the workers. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.