OEP Opens the Overseas Opportunity Overhaul
Previously, Bangladeshi migrant workers had to spend around Tk 750 to complete registration, collect clearance cards, and other procedures through the Ami Probashi app. There were also various allegations of irregularities against the platform. Closing that route, the government has now introduced the Overseas Employment Platform (OEP) to ensure transparency, accountability, and improved service quality at every step of the migration process—free of cost.
On Wednesday, 19 November, the OEP platform was inaugurated at a hotel in Dhaka by Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
The event was presided over by Dr. Neamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, and attended by Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, Deepak Elmer, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh, and Max Tunon, Country Director of ILO Bangladesh.
Representatives from various embassies, development partners, UN agencies, recruiting agencies, employer organizations, labor unions, and other government and non-government institutions also joined the ceremony.
During the event, it was stated that the National Digital Gateway was created to integrate key actors in the labor migration cycle—including aspiring migrant workers, recruiting agencies, the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), technical training centers, employers, immigration authorities, and returnee and reintegration service providers—onto a single platform.
By bringing these institutions and services together, OEP will ensure greater transparency, accountability, and higher service standards at every phase of the migration process. It will reduce the influence of brokers and help lower migration costs for workers.
Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul said, “This initiative marks a significant milestone toward safe, transparent, and efficient labor migration. Migrant workers are one of the main driving forces of our economy. Ensuring a safe, secure, and dignified migration journey is our responsibility. Over time, we will add more features to this platform, benefiting workers, employers, and the government alike.”
Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam, highlighting the importance of OEP from a foreign policy perspective, said that transparent and fair recruitment practices strengthen bilateral labor agreements and enhance Bangladesh’s credibility among destination countries.
ILO Bangladesh Country Director Max Tunon remarked that OEP is a key step toward implementing fair recruitment policies. By centralizing information and processes, the platform will enable better regulation of recruiting agencies, enhance workers’ access to verified information, and ultimately support safe and orderly migration.
From development partners’ perspective, Deputy Head of Mission Deepak Elmer of the Embassy of Switzerland said, “Technology alone cannot fix migration governance. The platform’s success hinges on the engagement of institutions, recruiting agencies, employers, and migrants. Its effectiveness will depend on the commitment and responsibility of all stakeholders.”
In his closing remarks, Senior Secretary Dr. Neamat Ullah Bhuiyan said, “The launch of OEP is not the end of a project; rather, it is the beginning of a new phase in labor migration governance. We will continue enhancing its features, strengthen institutional coordination, and work closely with our partners so that migrant workers can plan their journeys with dignity, safety, and confidence.”
Developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, the upgraded OEP platform is the result of a joint initiative of the Government of Bangladesh, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Government of Switzerland.
