Challenges of right to employment faced by transgender Hijra in Bangladesh

Abstract

Employment is a right of every citizen of the people's republic of Bangladesh who is capable of working according to his or her abilities. The main purpose of this thesis is to look into the major challenges of right to employment which is faced by Transgender Hijra through the existing policy analysis in the formal sector of Bangladesh. The specific objectives of this thesis are to find out the existing policy gap, to identify the impacts of those policies in the formal sector employment and to explore the reasons of failure of transgender Hijra to access employment. The study employed the qualitative methodology data collection tools such as field observation, Face to Face Interview (Key Informant Interview, In-depth Interview) and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) as primary source of data. Observation was used to understand the Transgender Hijra's everyday way of life and their works. Relevant secondary literatures (books, journals, magazines, scholarly articles, research reports and document, legal and policy documents, relevant thesis and daily newspapers) were reviewed to understand the Hijra identity, exclusion process from the formal employment sector. The study participants are the administrative officials of Social Welfare Ministry, Hijra Leaders, and Hijra victims of employment initiative in 2014. The findings indicate that there are three major challenges of right to employment of Hijra people institutional: social prejudices and cultural, and religious factors. The thesis suggests some recommendations for promoting employment rights of Transgender Hijra in the formal sector of Bangladesh, such as the consolidated employment policy for Hijra should be addressed and the existing policy should be amended and the gender recognizing policy of Hijra should be constructed and prepared properly on the basis of international standard principles like Yogyakarta principles and ICCPR article 16.