Japan to be key destination for Bangladeshi workers

Photo: Collected

Japan is expected to become one of the most important destinations for Bangladeshi skilled workers in the coming years, said Chief Adviser’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam on Thursday.

He noted that a Japanese businessman had expressed interest in recruiting 3,000 skilled workers from Bangladesh. “To make that possible, we need to train 3,000 individuals in the Japanese language as soon as possible,” he said, following a seminar on human resources.

Alam said Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus would undertake more coordinated initiatives on the matter after returning home.

“Japan could open its labour market to Bangladeshi workers like a floodgate, provided the workforce is properly trained,” he stated.

He added that steps are already underway to build a pool of skilled workers with proficiency in Japanese. So far this year, around 3,000 Bangladeshi youths have gone to Japan for language training, and the number is expected to rise to 10,000 by the end of the year.

“These individuals will not only study Japanese but also secure employment there,” he said, pointing out that Japan is increasingly looking to Bangladesh for skilled human resources.

The seminar highlighted Bangladesh’s capacity to supply skilled manpower and the readiness to meet Japan’s labour market demands. A large number of Japanese company representatives attended the event with notable enthusiasm.

Earlier at the programme, Japanese authorities and business leaders announced plans to recruit at least 100,000 Bangladeshi workers over the next five years to address the country’s labour shortage.

Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between the two countries to enhance skill development and facilitate employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers. The agreements were signed in the presence of the Chief Adviser in Hirakawacho, Chiyoda City, Tokyo.