Dhaka: The government of Bangladesh is set to roll out a series of strategic programmes from the fiscal year 2026-27 aimed at expanding overseas employment opportunities, diversifying labour markets, enhancing skills, and bolstering welfare services for Bangladeshi migrant workers. Bangladeshi migrant workers are essential to the national economy, contributing billions in remittances despite facing significant recruitment costs and various abuses abroad.
According to United News of Bangladesh, a budget document reveals that the government is prioritising the creation of new overseas employment opportunities while ensuring safe migration, affordable financing, and improved governance in migration management. One of the notable initiatives is the introduction of the 'Probashi Card' for migrant workers, which will be rolled out on a phased basis starting from FY27. This card will serve as a unified identity and service platform, containing personal information, skills, employment details, and a connection to a bank payment gateway, making remittance transfers more efficient and secure.
The Probashi Card will also link workers to expatriate welfare services, insurance, banking facilities, and emergency assistance, facilitating access to various government services and benefits. This initiative is expected to streamline services provided by institutions like the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), and the Wage Earners' Welfare Board, while also reducing workers' dependence on intermediaries.
BMET reports a notable decline in the number of workers migrating abroad, with 1,011,869 workers leaving Bangladesh between January and December 2024, a 30% decrease from 2023. To address this, the government is not only focusing on expanding existing labour markets but also opening new destinations through bilateral agreements with countries like Russia, Portugal, Romania, and Greece. Efforts are underway to reopen labour markets in Malaysia, Oman, the UAE, and Kuwait.
A Skill Verification Programme will be introduced to verify workers' skills, experience, and certifications, complemented by the development of a Smart Skill Bank and issuance of internationally recognised digital certificates. Technical and vocational training facilities will be enhanced by engaging 7,500 local trainers and 1,000 foreign experts, while language training will be bolstered by recruiting 1,000 instructors.
Additionally, Bangladesh Support Centres will be established at embassies in major migrant worker destinations to assist workers facing legal or employment issues. The government is also focusing on digitising the migration process and strengthening technical training centres, along with providing easy-term loans for overseas-bound workers.
The government anticipates continued strong growth in remittance inflows, with monthly remittance inflows reaching a record US$3.75 billion in March 2026. To sustain this growth, the government will encourage the use of formal channels and continue the existing 2.5 per cent cash incentive for remittances sent through legal channels.