Skilled to Soar: Bangladesh-Japan Pact Paves Path for Youth Employment Abroad

In a significant step towards expanding overseas employment opportunities for Bangladeshi youth, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment has launched an initiative to offer free training in trades such as automobile mechanics and other vocational skills, enabling access to jobs in Japan and other developed nations without migration expenses.

On Thursday, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the Ministry’s conference room between the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), and Japan’s Onodera User Run Inc. The agreement focuses on the training and certification of Bangladeshi workers under Japan’s Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) category.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul, with Senior Secretary of the Ministry Dr. Neamtu Ullah Bhuiyan, BMET Director General Saleh Ahmed Mozaffar, and Overseas Business Department Manager of Onodera User Run Inc., Takato Kawakami, representing their respective organizations.

Prior to the signing, Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul stated, “We have taken the initiative to offer free training and post-training job placements abroad, including Japan, without any migration cost.” He added, “Japan is a highly desirable destination for Bangladeshis. Already, 695 technical interns have gone to Japan under the Technical Training Program. With this MoU, the number of Bangladeshi workers in Japan is expected to increase significantly.”

According to the agreement, training opportunities will be offered in trades including caregiving, industrial packaging, plastic molding, rod binding, scaffolding, welding, car painting, automobile mechanics, and more.

Speaking at the event, held under the chairmanship of Senior Secretary Dr. Neamt Ullah Bhuiyan, BMET Director General Saleh Ahmed Mozaffar, Japanese Embassy Chargé d’Affaires in Bangladesh Takahashi Naoki, and Takato Kawakami from Onodera User Run Inc. delivered remarks.

Dr. Bhuiyan hailed the MoU as a “historic milestone” for the employment of Bangladeshi workers in Japan and reiterated the government’s commitment to “producing skilled manpower aligned with the demands of developed nations and ensuring safe migration.”