Significant progress has been made in the process of recruiting 100,000 skilled workers from Bangladesh to Japan, according to the Japanese business federation National Business Support Combined Cooperatives (NBCC). A 23-member NBCC delegation met with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to discuss the progress.
The meeting took place on Sunday evening at the State Guest House Jamuna, in the presence of Adviser on Expatriates’ Welfare and Employment Dr. Asif Nazrul and Chief Coordinator for SDG Affairs Lamia Morshed.
NBCC, a federation of more than 65 Japanese companies, recently signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with Bangladesh to facilitate the recruitment of skilled Bangladeshi workers. Under this agreement, Japan plans to recruit over 100,000 workers within the next five years under the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) and Specified Skilled Workers (SSW) schemes.
According to the delegation, the first phase will see the recruitment of 2,000 workers next year, followed by 6,000 in 2027 and 18,000 in 2028. The majority of workers will be employed in construction, services, garments, aviation, and agriculture sectors. Demand is also expected to rise in automobile, recycling, and driving professions in the coming years.
To prepare the workers, two training centers — in Khulna and Kaliakoir (Gazipur) — are already providing training. NBCC representatives have inspected these centers.
During the meeting, Chief Adviser Yunus inquired about the training quality and emphasized improving language proficiency. He suggested introducing virtual Japanese language classes conducted by teachers from Japan and possibly bringing trainers to Bangladesh for on-site instruction.
Highlighting the skills and dedication of Bangladeshi women, Professor Yunus said, “Bangladeshi women are exceptionally good caregivers. With proper training and language skills, they can play a vital role in Japan’s caregiving sector.”
NBCC Chairman Mikio Kesagayama expressed satisfaction with the progress made, saying, “When I visited the centers in March, they were at an early stage. In just seven months, the progress is remarkable. We are very satisfied and hopeful that recruitment of 2,000 skilled workers will begin next year.”
He added that Japan will require over 400,000 skilled nurses in the next few years and that NBCC is considering hiring more nurses from Bangladesh.
During the meeting, Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul said the government is regularly monitoring progress on worker recruitment to Japan and will soon develop a comprehensive roadmap. He also mentioned that a dedicated cell has been established at the ministry to resolve any issues related to the recruitment process.