Bangladesh should eye EU labour market

Kazi Enayet Ullah, president of France–Bangladesh Economic Chamber

Imtiaz Ahmed 

Bangladesh should train and groom manpower with proper skill and language to tap the manpower market in EU (European Union) member-countries that have been witnessing negative growth in the population over the years.

Kazi Enayet Ullah, president of France–Bangladesh Economic Chamber and a leading businessman in France, said this while talking to this correspondent.

Kazi Enayet Ullah, president of France–Bangladesh Economic Chamber

According to estimates, Europe requires approximately 12 million workers annually, including around 5 million in Germany and 3 million in France, with the remaining demand distributed among other European countries, said Kazi Enayet Ullah, also Secretary General, All European Bangladesh Association (AEBA).

Kazi Enayet Ullah said “At present, countries such as India, China, Vietnam, and several African countries are taking advantage of this demand by supplying skilled workers. Bangladesh, however, is unable to fully capitalise on this opportunity due to the absence of an appropriate policy framework and adequate, internationally oriented training centres.”

He also said “We believe that, based on appropriate policy decisions and coordinated initiatives, Bangladesh should immediately begin developing a highly skilled workforce capable of meeting European labour-market standards.

Kazi Enayet Ullah has proposed to establish a training system in Bangladesh based on the labour-market demands and standards of the European Union.

It is also important to ensure that Bangladeshi workers receive internationally recognized training based on European instructors, tools and equipment, and appropriate curricula.

The EU countries have high demand in construction and civil works, building construction, plumbing, electrical work, welding, air-conditioning and heating technology (HVAC), reinforcement/rod binding, healthcare and social care, elderly care, rehabilitation and support services for senior citizens, nursing, caregiving, hospitality and tourism,  housekeeping,  transport and logistics, warehouse operators, agriculture and food processing, Information technology and green technology/green energy and  information technology (IT)

During the initial phase under his proposal, 12 strategically located major cities in Bangladesh will establish world-class European Skill Development Centres. Following the successful completion of the pilot phase, the programme will gradually be expanded to all 64 districts of Bangladesh, he said.

He also said that the training centres will be equipped with modern European technology, tools, equipment, and laboratories.  Foreign/European instructors will be brought in to ensure international-standard training, he proposed.

As language proficiency is an important requirement for employment in Europe, selected trainees will receive mandatory training in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian, with appropriate proficiency targets such as A2/B1 level, depending on the destination country and occupation, he proposed

He also proposed that training will be based on relevant European and EU member-state vocational education and occupational standards, with the objective of ensuring that qualifications obtained through the programme have the greatest possible recognition and portability across European labour markets.

He expressed the views that Bangladesh should set up international standard training institutes under public-private partnership (PPP) to groom manpower, required in the EU countries.

To a question of political and social unrest in France, he said rising energy prices, cost of living and squeezing social benefits are some reasons behind social unrest in the major EU country.

He cautioned that Bangladesh’s exports to France and some EU countries are likely to suffer as citizens may cut spending on consumer goods.

Kazi Enayet Ullah, a successful Bangladeshi- France businessman, who has been in France since 1978 and a business turnover of millions of US dollars, said that he recently visited Bangladesh and handed over a memorandum to President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on the prospect of skilled manpower in EU countries.

He said that some 50,000 Bangladeshis are living in France and some 8,000-10,000 of them are likely to hold French passports. As the Ukraine war is putting a burden on EU member countries, immigrants and non-immigrants, including Bangladeshis (not having proper documents) are likely to get lesser social benefits including housing, education, health.

Bangladesh should launch a massive political and social campaign against unregulated and irregular migration as EU countries passed a law under which irregularand undocumented migrants are likely to be retained in concentration camps, he said.

He said that EU countries are becoming stricter over the illegal and unregulated migration with right wing politics gaining momentum in most of those.

The Presidential election will be held in France within the next 7/8 months and the current social unrest is likely to be contained before the election.

Right wing politics are gaining momentum in the EU countries and international politics are also behind this social unrest in France, he opined.

Kazi Enayet Ullah, also Secretary General, All European Bangladesh Association (AEBA), said that the growing popularity of far-right political movements and the economic downturn in Europe have compelled European countries to reconsider and modify their migration policies.

It is noteworthy that the 27 member states of the European Union have moved towards a common policy framework on migration. In the past, migrants arriving in Europe through different routes—by sea, land, or air—could initiate asylum procedures in the country of arrival. Once the process began, many were eventually able to establish residence in one form or another.

However, on 17 June 2026, the European Parliament in Strasbourg adopted legislation under which migrants seeking to enter Europe may have their asylum claims processed outside the EU or transferred to another designated country for assessment. Those whose claims are approved may subsequently be allowed to return to Europe, while those whose claims are rejected may be returned to their countries of origin, said Mr Kazi Enayet Ullah

At the same time, Europe has a growing demand for skilled workers in a number of sectors, including construction and trades of electricians, plumbers, welders, waiters, kitchen chefs, agriculture, and other occupations.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh on October 20 urged the European Union (EU) to expand employment opportunities for Bangladeshi skilled workers and professionals through demand-driven legal migration pathways, while reaffirming its commitment to combating irregular migration and human trafficking.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam made the call when EU Commissioner for Migration and Home Affairs Magnus Brunner paid a courtesy call on her at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed strengthening cooperation on migration management, the return of irregular migrants, combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling, and promoting safe, orderly and regular migration.

Shama urged the EU and its member states to establish practical, demand-driven and results-oriented labour mobility corridors to facilitate greater access for Bangladeshi skilled workers and professionals to European labour markets.

She emphasised that expanding legal migration opportunities would help discourage irregular migration while creating mutually beneficial employment opportunities.

The state minister also highlighted Bangladesh's adoption of the National Action Plan (NAP) 2026-2030 to implement the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM).

During the discussions, EU Commissioner Brunner presented the EU's Eastern Corridor Initiative, aimed at combating irregular migration to Europe through closer engagement with countries of origin, transit countries and other relevant stakeholders.

Shama expressed Bangladesh's willingness to cooperate with the initiative and briefed the commissioner on measures being taken by the government to prevent irregular migration.

These include initiatives to combat document fraud and dismantle criminal networks involved in facilitating irregular migration.

The state minister stressed that addressing the root causes of irregular migration was essential alongside creating greater opportunities for safe and regular migration.

Both sides acknowledged the importance of coordinated and comprehensive efforts to address migration-related challenges and agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in this area.

Shama also reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to strengthening its multifaceted partnership with the European Union, particularly through expanded trade and investment cooperation.

EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller was present at the meeting.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular dialogue and strengthen cooperation on issues of shared interest.