International Migrants Day

International Migrants Day: Focus on Creating Alternative Labour Markets

In recent years, the number of Bangladeshi workers going abroad has risen sharply. However, the growth of skilled worker migration has failed to keep pace and, in the last fiscal year, even declined. Since the interim government took office, renewed emphasis has been placed on sending skilled workers overseas. Agreements have been signed to access skilled labour markets in countries such as Japan and across Europe, though officials acknowledge it may take several years for these initiatives to yield full results.

To work abroad, all Bangladeshi workers must obtain clearance from the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).

According to BMET data, 1,198,900 workers went abroad in the 2023–24 fiscal year, with about 26 per cent classified as skilled. In the following fiscal year (2024–25), overseas employment declined to 1,015,312 workers, while the share of skilled workers fell to 18 per cent. Only 3 per cent were professionals. Combined, skilled and semi-skilled workers accounted for 38 per cent, while the remaining 59 per cent migrated as unskilled labour.

Against this backdrop, International Migrants Day is being observed today, 18 December, alongside National Expatriates Day. This year’s theme is: “Go abroad with skills, build the homeland with remittances.”

To mark the occasion, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment organised a programme on Wednesday at Osmani Memorial Hall. During the event, insurance, medical and financial assistance, compensation, and scholarships for expatriates’ children were distributed. Commercially Important Persons (CIPs) and banks with high remittance inflows were also recognised.

Discussions with recruiting agencies, private development organisations, and government officials reveal that overseas recruitment still largely relies on brokers or personal networks. As a result, worker deployment remains concentrated in a limited number of countries, mainly in low-skilled sectors such as construction and infrastructure, which offer relatively low wages. Beyond a few Middle Eastern and Asian destinations, labour markets have not expanded significantly, and sufficient infrastructure for training skilled workers is still lacking.

Ali Haider Chowdhury, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), told Prothom Alo that overseas employment remains restricted to a narrow range of markets driven by demand for unskilled labour. Although demand for skilled workers is now emerging even in the Middle East, he said, Bangladesh must prioritise sending skilled workers to remain competitive.

Success Expected Within Three Years

The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has identified Japan, South Korea, and several European countries as initial target markets for skilled labour migration. A special training initiative focusing on language and technical skills has been launched, aiming to send 100,000 skilled workers to Japan over five years through the newly established “Japan Cell.”

For seasonal employment, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed with a province in South Korea, and worker deployment has already begun. Another MoU with Italy has been signed to facilitate both seasonal and non-seasonal migration.

The government has also digitalised the expatriate clearance process for developed countries and decentralised service delivery. In Singapore, the expedited worker deployment system has been reinstated.

From 1 January 2026, a comprehensive language training programme will be introduced under the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Talent Partnership Programme, as well as through independent initiatives, to send skilled workers to high-demand markets such as Japan, Germany, and Italy.

Professor Asif Nazrul, adviser to the Ministry, highlighted recent progress. He told Prothom Alo: “We have only just begun. In the past six months, more than 6,000 workers have been sent to Japan—an increase of over 50 per cent compared to the previous year. We have launched international nursing certification preparation courses and have begun sending skilled nurses to Europe. If our programmes continue, we expect significant success in skilled worker migration within the next three years.”

BMET data show that Bangladesh sends workers to 168 countries, although from January to 15 December this year, workers were deployed to 141 countries. During this period, 1,066,759 workers went abroad, with only one worker sent to each of 13 countries. More than 10,000 workers went to just eight countries, while over 100,000 were deployed to only two destinations—around 100,000 to Qatar and more than 700,000 to Saudi Arabia.

Expanding Skilled Worker Training

Large-scale overseas employment has long faced criticism. Many workers fail to secure jobs abroad, become undocumented, or face legal trouble before returning home. Networks centred on exporting unskilled labour have also been a persistent concern. In response, the government has now placed greater emphasis on developing skilled workers.

Currently, 44 Technical Training Centres (TTCs) offer courses in Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean. Under an agreement between BMET and Saudi Arabia’s Takamol Company, 15 TTCs gained the capacity to conduct skill assessments over the past year. Caregiver training, previously unavailable at TTCs, has now been introduced to meet growing international demand.

Experts note that countries such as the Philippines have long succeeded in producing skilled migrant workers. By contrast, Bangladesh has historically relied on exporting unskilled labour to the Middle East, where workers typically earn three to four times less than they could in Japan or Europe. Despite this, Bangladesh recorded its highest-ever remittance earnings in the last fiscal year. To sustain this momentum, the interim government has prioritized access to skilled labour markets in Japan and Europe.

Private development organizations are also contributing to skill development. The Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU), for example, runs programmes in 25 unions across five upazilas in Comilla, aiming to ensure that trained workers can work independently and sustainably abroad.

“Sending skilled workers requires strong groundwork. There are no visible steps to expand technical education in schools, colleges, and madrasas. Skills gained from TTCs are not internationally recognized. Improving training quality and ensuring global recognition of certificates is essential.”