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Sunday | November 15, 2026 | Dhaka

Affordable childcare shortage keeps women out of jobs

 Staff Reporter
 Published: 12:05 AM, 15 November 2026

A lack of affordable and accessible childcare is keeping many women out of the workforce in Bangladesh, with four in 10 urban women outside the labour force citing childcare responsibilities as the main reason for not seeking employment, according to a World Bank study presented in Dhaka on Saturday.

The study found that inadequate childcare services were limiting women’s economic participation while also affecting children’s development and household welfare.

Titled Childcare in Bangladesh: What Families Need, What Providers Deliver, and Where the Gaps Remain, the study was presented by Kate Vyborny, an economist at the World Bank’s South Asia Region Gender Innovation Lab, at the National Childcare Conference 2026 at Bangla Academy.

Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain attended the inaugural session as the chief guest.

Vyborny said Bangladesh had around 9.6 million young people aged 15 to 29 who were not in employment, education or training (NEET), nearly two-thirds of them women.

The unequal burden of unpaid care work was among the factors restricting women’s participation in economic activities.

The study found that when suitable childcare was unavailable, women often had to give up paid work, take their children to their workplaces or depend on older siblings to look after younger children.

For the research, the World Bank surveyed 4,700 households in rural, urban and semi-urban areas to assess childcare needs, preferences, affordability and family decisions.

A separate assessment identified 514 childcare providers in Dhaka. Of them, 335 completed detailed surveys covering service availability, quality, staffing, affordability and financial viability.

The findings showed that only 0.1 per cent of urban female respondents used formal daycare centres, while nearly 20 per cent relied on care provided at a caregiver’s home.

Such informal arrangements remain an important part of the country’s childcare system, although many operate without adequate safety measures or trained caregivers. Service quality also differed considerably among government-run, private and home-based facilities.

Government centres were more likely to have trained workers, better infrastructure and meal provisions. However, many were situated in higher-income areas, and around half had waiting lists.

Home-based facilities faced greater safety and training gaps. None of the home-based caregivers covered by the provider survey reported receiving formal training.

Parents’ decisions were also strongly influenced by distance and trust. Mothers in semi-urban areas were willing to pay Tk1,000 to Tk1,700 more per month for facilities closer to their homes rather than their workplaces or training centres. They were also prepared to pay up to Tk1,200 more for services provided by someone they trusted.

The study cautioned that childcare access alone might not increase women’s employment, as household attitudes and restrictions on women’s work also shaped their decisions.

It called for a comprehensive national strategy to expand childcare services and improve their quality. Suggested measures include supporting community-based and home-based care, providing targeted financial assistance to low-income families, training caregivers and strengthening safety standards.

The researchers also warned that imposing strict regulations without providing adequate support could force existing informal providers to close, further reducing childcare options for low-income households.
The Child Day Care Act 2021 provides a framework for registering childcare centres, but full enforcement has yet to begin.

The study recommended linking registration and inspection with caregiver training, safety resources and regular feedback from communities.

The two-day conference, jointly organised by Synergos Bangladesh, Brac Institute of Educational Development, Brac and the World Bank Group, brought together policymakers, development partners and practitioners to discuss childcare, women’s employment and early childhood development.