Japan to Recruit 100,000 Skilled Workers from Bangladesh — Process to Begin Next Year

A delegation from Japan’s National Business Support Combined Cooperatives (NBCC) met with Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus to discuss progress on the recruitment of 100,000 skilled workers from Bangladesh.

On Sunday (October 26) afternoon, a 23-member Japanese delegation met the Chief Adviser at the state guesthouse Jamuna. Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Employment Dr. Asif Nazrul and Chief Coordinator for SDG Affairs under the Chief Adviser’s Office Lamia Morshed were also present.

NBCC is a Japanese business federation comprising more than 65 companies. The organization has recently signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) to facilitate the recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers. The agreement aims to establish a framework for the training, certification, and employment of Bangladeshis in Japan. Under this framework, more than 100,000 workers are expected to be recruited over the next five years through programs such as the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) and Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) schemes.

Delegation members said that under the signed MoI, the process to recruit 2,000 skilled workers in the first phase will begin next year. In subsequent phases, 6,000 workers will be recruited in 2027 and 18,000 workers in 2028.

They mentioned that the highest demand will be in the construction, service, aviation, garments, and agriculture sectors. They also noted that demand for skilled workers in the driving, automobile, and recycling industries is expected to increase in the coming years.

To prepare workers for these opportunities, training is being provided at two centers — one in Khulna and another in Kapasia, Gazipur. Members of the NBCC delegation have already visited both centers.

During the meeting, the Chief Adviser inquired whether there were any shortcomings in the training process.

NBCC Chairman Mikio Kesagayama, who led the delegation, said,

“I visited both training centers last March. I am amazed by the progress made in just seven months. We are very satisfied with the training. We are hopeful that we will be able to recruit 2,000 skilled workers next year.”

He also suggested that improving the trainers’ language proficiency would further enhance the quality of training.

Emphasizing that language proficiency is the biggest challenge, the Chief Adviser said:

“Virtual classes can be introduced for this purpose. Teachers from Japan can conduct online lessons, and we can also consider bringing Japanese trainers here for on-site instruction.”

Dr. Yunus also highlighted the skills, dedication, and hard work of Bangladeshi women, especially in the caregiving sector.

“Bangladeshi women are exceptional caregivers. They are very attentive and compassionate. With proper language and professional training, they can play an outstanding role in Japan’s caregiving sector,” he said.

He added:

“Although it may seem difficult at first, once Bangladeshi women receive training, they can in turn train others. Once this process begins, more women will be encouraged to participate.”

The NBCC representatives noted that Japan will require over 400,000 skilled nurses in the coming years, and they are considering recruiting more nurses from Bangladesh.

Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul stated that the government is regularly reviewing progress on Japan-bound worker recruitment and will soon develop a specific roadmap for the process. He added that the ministry has already formed a dedicated cell to address issues related to overseas employment in Japan.