B Mirror Report: As the East Asian country continues to struggle with a lack of trained labor, Bangladesh has intensified plans to send a large number of skilled workers to Japan under the Specified trained Worker (SSW) scheme.
By March 2029, Japan hopes to hire roughly 820,000 foreign workers in 16 SSW-related sectors. According to experts, if sufficient preparations are made, Bangladesh might supply up to 40% of this need, or more than 300,000 workers.
Bangladesh used to be able to source labor for just six industries. In order to take advantage of the expanding opportunity, authorities are currently attempting to develop skilled labor across all 16 sectors.
Professor Dr. Md. Jahangir Alam, Chairman of the Japanese Studies Department at Dhaka University, described Japan as an attractive destination for Bangladeshi workers. He said focused investment in skill development could help Bangladesh meet a significant share of Japan’s labour demand while boosting foreign currency earnings.
According to a recent report cited by the labour welfare wing of the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, Japan aims to recruit around 1.2 million foreign workers under both the SSW and Employment Skill Development (ESD) categories by 2029. Long-term projections suggest demand could rise to as high as 11 million by 2040.
Professor Jahangir emphasized the need for proficiency in the Japanese language and familiarity with advanced technologies before migration. He noted that building trust within Japanese society could create broader opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in the future.
To achieve these goals, the government has adopted short-, medium-, and long-term strategies. These include improving Japanese language training centres, enhancing trainer capacity, recruiting instructors from Japan, establishing special economic zones for skill development, and expanding training programs nationwide.
Efforts are also underway to upgrade Technical Training Centers (TTCs) under the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) to Japanese standards through partnerships with Japanese institutions. Currently, 53 TTCs offer Japanese language training, while hybrid learning is available in 15 centres. More than 200 private institutes are also providing language training, and 95 recruiting agencies have been approved for Japan.
To stay competitive with countries like Nepal, Vietnam and Indonesia, Bangladesh has intensified its focus on the Japanese labour market. A dedicated “Japan Cell” has been set up under the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, with plans to strengthen its structure and launch a separate website.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo has also been reinforced with additional staff, including consular officials and Japanese personnel, to better understand market demand and facilitate employment opportunities.
The government is also encouraging student migration. Around 4,000 Bangladeshi students went to Japan in 2025, while the target for 2026 has been set at 10,000.
To support aspiring students, Probashi Kallyan Bank is offering loans of up to Tk 1 million on easy terms. Students in Japan are allowed to work more than 28 hours per week.
In addition, the requirement for manpower agencies to deposit Tk 1.5 million has been waived to simplify the recruitment process.
Deputy Secretary Md. Hedayetul Islam Mondol said the government has taken pragmatic steps to expand access to Japan’s labour market, including strengthening bilateral engagement, enhancing training initiatives, easing loan facilities and streamlining payment systems.
He added that these measures are helping position Japan as a major employment destination for Bangladeshi workers, offering better income opportunities, social benefits and scope for skill development.
Authorities said efforts are ongoing to ensure that workers are adequately trained in both technical skills and language proficiency before being sent abroad.
