Virtual migration: A new path for Bangladesh’s digital future
The world is changing fast, and migration is also changing. In Bangladesh, migration usually means going abroad and sending remittances. But now, people can stay at home and work for foreign companies using digital technology. This is called “virtual migration.” Sociologist Aneesh Aneesh explained in Virtual Migration: The Programming of Globalization (2006) that work can move across borders while the worker stays in their own country.
This change is driven by the digital economy and the online labour market. The World Bank report Working Without Borders (2023) says digital platforms allow people to work globally without leaving home. The International Labour Organization (ILO) report Digital Labour Platforms in Kenya (2024) also shows that these platforms are now a key part of global employment.
People are already earning through this system. Researchers Otto Kässi and Vili Lehdonvirta found in How Many Online Workers Are There in the World? (2021) that 163 million people are registered on platforms, 19 million are working, and at least 5 million earn a good income. This shows virtual migration is now a real way for people in developing countries to earn from the global market.
COVID-19 showed a new reality
Digital technology and online labour markets have changed migration and made “virtual migration” real. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this change. During this time, offices were closed, but work continued. Millions of people worked from home using the internet. The ILO report ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the World of Work (2020–2021) says about 2.7 billion workers were affected by lockdowns. As a result, companies had to find ways to work remotely.
“Work from home” became common and later a regular system. Many companies realised they do not need to send workers abroad. They started hiring people from other countries online. This opened the global labour market and made virtual migration a strong and real form of employment.
In the Philippines, more than 1.5 million people work in online jobs, and the IT-BPO sector earns about $38 billion every year (Louella Desiderio, The Philippine Star, 16 January 2025). Before, many women went abroad as domestic workers. Now many work from home as virtual assistants, customer support workers, and in other online services. This has increased foreign income and reduced risky migration. It has also reduced long family separation.
Virtual migration, freelancing, and outsourcing—what is the difference?
Many people think freelancing, outsourcing, and virtual migration are the same. But they are different in how they work and in their impact. Freelancing is an individual way of working. A person finds short-term, project-based jobs such as design, writing, or IT work. There is no fixed employer, so the work is not stable. It provides income, but it does not create a strong link with the global labour market.
Outsourcing is different. Here, work moves from one company to another. For example, a foreign company may give its work to a company in Bangladesh or India. Workers do not connect directly with the global market; they work under a local company.
Virtual migration is different from both. A worker stays in their own country but works directly for a foreign company, sometimes as a regular employee. So, they are directly connected to the global labour market without any intermediary company.
How it is working in the world: some real examples
India
In India, there was a problem of “brain drain,” where skilled young people moved abroad. Now this is changing. Many IT workers stay in India and work for foreign companies from home in areas such as software, AI, and data analysis. This shift is due to the rapid growth of remote work.
Researchers Sanjay Sugandhi and Shreekant Tare in Work From Home – A Revolution in Indian Scenario (2022) found that 12.7% work fully from home and 28.2% work in hybrid systems. Many companies now use remote work permanently. As a result, fewer skilled workers are leaving the country. Many now stay and earn from global jobs. So, virtual migration is helping reduce brain drain in India.
A “one umbrella” approach—bringing ICT, Expatriates’ Welfare, Education, and Labour together—can improve training, jobs, and protection. This can help virtual migration grow as a strong labour export sector for Bangladesh.
Philippines
In the Philippines, more than 1.5 million people work in online jobs, and the IT-BPO sector earns about $38 billion every year (Louella Desiderio, The Philippine Star, 16 January 2025). Before, many women went abroad as domestic workers. Now many work from home as virtual assistants, customer support workers, and in other online services. This has increased foreign income and reduced risky migration. It has also reduced long family separation.
Romania
In Romania, the situation is different. Because of tensions such as the Russia–Ukraine War, many young people prefer to stay in their country. At the same time, Western European companies are hiring remote workers. Researchers Adina Maria Voda and Monica Roman, in Work from Home by Occupation in Romania (2020), found that 46% of jobs can be done from home and about 1.7 million workers can work remotely.
Also, a report in the Romania Journal (8 January 2026) titled “How Romania’s Remote Work Boom Is Reshaping Small Cities” shows that 12–15% of workers now use remote or hybrid systems, compared to less than 5% before COVID. So, many young people now stay in Romania and work for foreign companies. This shows virtual migration is a real and growing path there.
Why it is important for Bangladesh
The current global situation is a serious challenge for Bangladesh. Conflicts such as the Iran–Israel conflict, the Russia–Ukraine War, and instability in the Middle East have made working abroad less safe and less certain. For a country that depends on sending workers abroad, this is a big risk.
In this situation, virtual migration is a practical and timely option. People do not need to travel abroad, so they avoid war and safety risks. They can also stay with their families, which reduces social problems.
Another important point is speed. Going abroad takes time, money, and involves uncertainty. But in virtual migration, a young person can learn skills quickly and start earning in a short time.
Many people think freelancing, outsourcing, and virtual migration are the same. But they are different in how they work and in their impact. Freelancing is an individual way of working. A person finds short-term, project-based jobs such as design, writing, or IT work. There is no fixed employer, so the work is not stable. It provides income, but it does not create a strong link with the global labour market.
What jobs are possible in Bangladesh
Young people in Bangladesh can do many jobs through virtual migration, such as graphic design, video editing, data entry, customer service, online teaching, medical support, accounting, and IT support. These jobs do not always require higher education; practical skills are more important.
Learning foreign languages is also very important. English helps people work globally, while learning German can open job opportunities in many European countries, and Russian can help access jobs in Russia and several Central Asian countries. So, language skills can increase access to many international job markets.
These skills can be learned quickly. With 3 to 6 months of training, a young person can start working. For example, 3 months for data entry or customer service, 4 months for graphic design or digital marketing, and 6 months for web development or IT support. So, people can start earning in a short time.
Need for target groups, policy, and coordination in Bangladesh
To make virtual migration work, Bangladesh should focus on rural youth, women, return migrants, unemployed graduates, and migrant families. With short training, they can join the online labour market.
Access is a big problem. Educated people use platforms such as LinkedIn, but ordinary people often do not know how to find jobs. The government can create a national digital job platform where people can register their skills and connect with global job markets. Local training centres can help them create profiles and apply for jobs.
Policy support is also needed. Virtual migration is not officially recognised, and there is no clear law, protection, or data. Better coordination is also important, as ministries currently work separately.
A “one umbrella” approach—bringing ICT, Expatriates’ Welfare, Education, and Labour together—can improve training, jobs, and protection. This can help virtual migration grow as a strong labour export sector for Bangladesh.
Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder is an Associate Professor and Researcher at the Department of Political Science and Sociology, North South University.
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