Ending the Discrimination faced by Informal and Marginalized Formal Women Workers in Bangladesh

This impact evaluation examines Oxfam in Bangladesh’s interventions with two highly vulnerable informal and marginalized formal worker groups: domestic workers and tea-garden workers. Using a mixed-methods and contribution-analysis approach, the study assesses changes in livelihoods, workplace dignity, social protection, gender-based violence, and decision-making power. The findings show notable gains for domestic workers in skills, confidence, employer relations, and awareness of rights, although structural barriers such as lack of legal recognition continue to limit outcomes. For tea-garden workers, improvements in sanitation, childcare, and reporting mechanisms emerged, yet entrenched labour dynamics and weak policy enforcement constrained deeper change. Overall, the evaluation highlights meaningful but uneven progress and underscores the need for stronger advocacy, policy reform, and sustainable support systems to secure equitable rights for marginalized women workers in Bangladesh.