Japan signs MoU to hire 100,000 Bangladeshi workers in 5 years

Japan is set to recruit at least 100,000 workers from Bangladesh over the next five years, under two newly signed memoranda of understanding aimed at addressing its domestic labour shortage and deepening bilateral cooperation.

The announcement was made at the “Bangladesh Seminar on Human Resources” held in Tokyo on Thursday, where Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus pledged full government support to facilitate the opportunity.

“The interim government will do everything necessary to create employment opportunities for Bangladeshis in Japan,” Yunus said. “It will open doors for our people to better understand Japan.”

The Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) signed two MoUs during the event, according to Bangladesh’s state-run news agency BSS.

SPECIALISED TRAINING CENTRES

One agreement was signed with Kaicom Dream Street (KDS), a Japan-Bangladesh joint venture, to set up a specialised training cell at the Monohardi Technical Training Centre (MTTC).

The facility will support Japan’s Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) and Specified Skilled Workers (SSWO) initiative and will operate under the name Dream Street Business Training Center (DSBTC).

A second MoU was signed with the National Business Support Combined Cooperatives (NBCC)—a federation of over 65 Japanese companies—and the Japan-Bangla Bridge Recruiting Agency (JBBRA).

Under this agreement, a model training centre named Bhalo Chakri Training Centre will be established to prepare Bangladeshi workers for roles under TITP and SSWO programmes. The initiative will gradually expand to other technical training centres in Bangladesh.

JAPANESE EMPLOYERS EYE SKILLED TALENT

Representatives of Japanese industry groups expressed growing interest in Bangladeshi workers.

Mitsuru Matsushita, director of the Shizuoka Workplace Development Cooperative, said Japanese companies are increasingly turning to Bangladesh for skilled manpower.

NBCC Chairman Mikio Kesagayama added, “Our federation sees Bangladesh as a promising source of young and skilled workers. They can contribute to the growth of both countries. We are ready to welcome 100,000 workers in the next five years.”

Miki Watanabe, president of the Watami Group, noted that their training school in Bangladesh currently prepares 1,500 students annually, with plans to double that number to 3,000.

“Graduates of Bangladesh’s technical education system will find meaningful job opportunities in Japan,” he said.