Beyond Middle East, govt eyes new labour markets in Thailand, Japan, South Korea
The government is also working to reopen restricted labour markets, says the minister.
Highlights:
- Draft worker recruitment deal sent to Thailand.
- Qatar keen to hire more skilled Bangladeshi workers.
- New labour agreements planned with Asian and European countries.
- Japan Cell formed; South Korea seasonal worker programme expanded.
- BMET to strengthen language training to produce more skilled workers.
The government is intensifying efforts to diversify Bangladesh's overseas labour destinations beyond the Middle East, with plans to expand employment opportunities in countries including Thailand, Japan and South Korea, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury told parliament today (9 July).
Speaking during the question-and-answer session in parliament today (9 July), Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said a draft labour recruitment agreement has already been sent to the Thai government for final approval.
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At the same time, diplomatic efforts are underway to resume worker recruitment in Malaysia and increase employment opportunities in Japan and South Korea, he said.
The minister further added Bangladeshi missions abroad have also been instructed to assess local labour demand and submit country-specific plans to boost manpower exports.
The minister said Bangladesh's traditional labour markets remain concentrated in the Middle East, but ongoing instability in countries such as Iran, Lebanon and Syria has affected overseas recruitment. As a result, the government is focusing on strengthening existing markets while exploring new destinations.
He said diplomatic initiatives are continuing to reopen or expand labour markets in Malaysia, Oman, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, with particular emphasis on restarting Malaysia's recruitment process, which has remained suspended since 31 May 2024.
Ariful also noted that during the seventh Bangladesh-Qatar Joint Committee meeting held in Dhaka on 18 May, Qatar expressed interest in recruiting more skilled Bangladeshi workers across various sectors.
The government is also planning to sign new manpower agreements with several Asian countries. In Europe, diplomatic efforts are underway to establish visa centres in Dhaka for countries including North Macedonia, Serbia, Mauritius and Portugal to facilitate the recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers.
He said three high-level meetings chaired by the prime minister on 5 March, 24 March and 5 April this year helped formulate strategies to expand overseas employment, reopen closed labour markets and identify new destinations in Asia.
To expand opportunities in South Korea, Bangladesh is currently working to sign six memorandums of understanding with local governments under the country's seasonal worker programme. State-owned recruiting agency BOESL has already begun sending seasonal workers.
The minister added that a dedicated "Japan Cell" has been established at the ministry to strengthen employment in Japan. The unit coordinates 96 sending organisations, more than 200 Japanese language training centres and 60 Technical Training Centres (TTCs).
To produce more skilled workers, the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) will expand demand-driven language training. Japanese, Korean, Chinese and English language courses are currently being offered at 60 TTCs, while the recruitment of additional language instructors is also underway.
