Bangladesh has committed to assisting Japan in addressing its projected shortage of 11 million workers by 2040, with plans to provide skilled workers through enhanced bilateral cooperation. The pledge was made by Dr. Neyamat Ullah Bhuiyan, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, during a seminar in Nagoya on Friday, November 7, reports BSS.
Dr. Neyamat Ullah emphasized that both countries would benefit from the joint efforts of Bangladeshi and Japanese recruitment organizations to meet Japan's growing demand for labor while ensuring decent employment opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers.
The seminar, titled "Bangladesh: A Highly Potential Source Country of Skilled Human Resources for Japan," was organized by the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo and supported by the Japan International Trainee and Skilled Worker Cooperation Organization (JITCO). The event included a business matching session with participation from around 250 manpower-sending and recruiting organizations from both countries.
Speaking at the event, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Japan, Md. Daud Ali, expressed the Embassy’s full support in facilitating the smooth deployment of Bangladeshi workers to Japan. Mr. Neyamat Ullah highlighted the workforce potential in Bangladesh, noting that while Japan is expected to need 11 million foreign workers by 2040, Bangladesh has a surplus of approximately 25 million working-age individuals — a trend that is projected to continue.
To prepare workers for the Japanese market, Neyamat Ullah announced that 33 Technical Training Centres (TTCs) have been designated across Bangladesh, with plans to increase the number if necessary. He also highlighted the creation of a dedicated "Japan Cell" within the Ministry to streamline coordination and communication related to Japan’s labor market.
Ambassador Shigeo Matsutomi, Senior Vice President of JITCO, provided an overview of global labor trends and Japan’s employment prospects, underscoring the importance of international collaboration in addressing labor shortages.
During the event, four agreements were signed between Bangladeshi manpower-sending agencies and Japanese recruitment companies to enhance bilateral labor cooperation and strengthen the recruitment process.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
