LATEST
BD beat S Korea, Chinese Taipei Rising vegetable output, lack of storage hit Sylhet farmers BPC incurs Tk 22,875cr loss in six months Wasteful spending keeps staff unpaid Opposition ‘living in fool’s paradise’: Rizvi Trump prepares sanctions against ICC Rohingya crisis a ‘Grave Human Crisis’ Ashulia inferno toll rises to 8 PM on way to NY to attend 81st UNGA Fuel hike ripples across economy
Skip to content

Wednesday | September 23, 2026 | Dhaka

Welfare fee for migrant workers raised

 City Desk
 Published: 12:01 AM, 23 September 2026

The welfare fee payable by Bangladeshi workers going abroad for employment has been increased from Tk 3,500 to Tk 5,500.

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment issued a circular on Sunday announcing the Tk 2,000 increase.

According to the circular, the welfare fee collected from workers going abroad, those already overseas or at airports has been revised to Tk 5,500. The revision was made in line with the expansion of welfare services for expatriate workers, efforts to strengthen their protection and overall welfare, and adjustments to the market value of the US dollar.

Shariful Islam, deputy director of the Expatriate Welfare Desk at the Wage Earners’ Welfare Board at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, told the media that the new fee would come into effect on October 1.

The government set the welfare fee for people going abroad at Tk 3,500 in 2015.
Workers are also required to pay Tk 1,000 as an insurance fee in addition to the welfare fee. Meanwhile, the BMET smart card, which previously cost Tk 500, is now issued free of charge to outbound workers.

Registered expatriate workers and their families are entitled to a range of government benefits under the welfare fee and social protection scheme.

For instance, if a worker dies abroad, Tk 35,000 is provided through a cheque to cover burial and transportation expenses after the body is brought back to Dhaka, Chattogram or Sylhet international airport and the necessary documents are verified.

The family of the deceased worker also receives a one-time grant of Tk 300,000 as financial assistance.
The welfare services also include medical assistance for sick expatriate workers and educational stipends for their children.

The Wage Earners’ Welfare Board also monitors the overall welfare of expatriate workers and maintains their records through its database.

The ministry said the revised fee would support the expansion of welfare services and strengthen measures aimed at protecting Bangladeshi migrant workers and their families.