Dhaka:The government has unveiled a comprehensive long-term plan for the years 2026-2030 aimed at developing skilled manpower, exploring new overseas employment markets, expanding existing ones, and ensuring safe migration, as stated by Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury in parliament today.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister emphasized the government's prioritization of overseas employment, increasing remittance inflows, and ensuring the welfare of migrant workers. This was in response to a call attention notice raised under Rule-71 of the Rules of Procedure by ruling party lawmaker Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas from the Pabna-5 constituency.
The government is actively working to diversify overseas employment destinations and tackle challenges related to the ongoing Middle East crisis. Despite a slight decline in worker migration compared to 2025, remittances increased to $30.79 billion during January-October 2026, up from $26.70 billion in the same period of 2025. Worker migration to Singapore and Japan saw significant increases of 62 percent and 53.5 percent, respectively, with new destinations including Malta, Serbia, Belarus, and Moldova being explored.
Efforts to reopen previously closed labor markets have also been initiated, with Malaysia's market being reopened following the Prime Minister's visit. The government plans to send 10,000 workers to Malaysia free of cost. Steps are being taken to reopen Bahrain's labor market while maintaining diplomatic engagement to expand opportunities globally.
A Bangladesh-Qatar Joint Committee meeting held in Dhaka identified a demand for skilled workers in various trades, with Qatar agreeing to provide training in technical centers in Bangladesh. Agreements have been signed with South Korea and Japan to enhance worker exchanges, and draft MoUs have been sent to 14 countries to develop alternative labor markets.
The Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET) is operating numerous technical training centers, offering courses in foreign languages and Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to enhance skills. A project to introduce new vocational courses is underway, with the EU-Bangladesh Talent Partnership project preparing skilled workers for employment in Italy.
The government has also launched an online portal for Italian employers, aiming to send 100,000 skilled workers to Japan over five years under the Japan Cell initiative. The BMET has signed MoUs with Japanese organizations, and language training is being strengthened for the Employment Permit System (EPS) examinations in Korea.
In Mauritius, 2,991 Bangladeshi workers have been employed in 2026, with ongoing efforts to finalize a proposed MoU. The government is also sending workers to Malaysia through the Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) without recruitment costs, with a lottery system used for selection.
The minister expressed optimism that these initiatives would address challenges in the overseas employment sector, expand job opportunities, and increase the country's remittance earnings.
Source Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha