Bangladesh plans major workforce export to Japan under SSW category

The government has stepped up preparations to send large numbers of skilled workers to Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) category, as the country faces a persistent shortage of qualified labour.

The Japanese government has set a target to recruit 820,000 foreign workers across 16 sectors under the SSW scheme by March 2029, according to state news agency BSS.

Experts and officials believe that, with adequate preparation, Bangladesh could meet up to 40 per cent of this demand — more than 300,000 workers.

Previously, Bangladesh had the capacity to supply workers in only six of these sectors. The government is now working to develop skilled manpower for all 16 categories.

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 that with a strong focus on skills development, Bangladesh could meet a significant share of Japan’s labour demand, boosting foreign currency earnings.

Citing a recent report in The Japan Times, the labour welfare wing of the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo said Japan aims to recruit around 1.2 million foreign workers under both the Employment Skill Development (ESD) and SSW categories by March 2029.

Long-term projections suggest Japan may require up to 11 million foreign workers by 2040.

Professor Jahangir emphasised the importance of Japanese language proficiency and familiarity with advanced technologies prior to migration.

He noted that building trust within Japanese society would create greater opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in the future. If these conditions are met, Bangladesh could potentially supply 50 to 60 per cent of Japan’s labour demand by 2040.

To support this goal, the government has adopted comprehensive short-, medium- and long-term plans.

These include improving the quality of Japanese language training centres, enhancing trainer capacity, bringing in instructors from Japan, establishing special economic zones for skills training, and expanding programmes nationwide.

Efforts are also under way to upgrade Technical Training Centres (TTCs) under the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) to Japanese standards through agreements with Japanese institutions.

At present, Japanese language training is offered in 53 TTCs, with hybrid (online) training available in 15 centres.

In addition, more than 200 private language institutes are operating across the country. According to available data, Bangladesh now has 95 approved recruiting agencies authorised by Japan.

Dedicated ‘Japan Cell’ established

To remain competitive with countries such as Nepal, Vietnam and Indonesia, Bangladesh has increased its focus on the Japanese labour market.

The government has taken several institutional measures, including appointing a high-level adviser in the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and a special assistant to expand employment opportunities in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.

A dedicated ‘Japan Cell’ has been established within the ministry, with plans to strengthen its structure, recruit personnel and launch a separate website.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo has also been reinforced with additional staff, including a consular officer, support personnel and Japanese nationals, to better understand local demand and facilitate employment opportunities.

Student migration and financial support

The government is also promoting student migration. While 4,000 Bangladeshi students travelled to Japan on student visas in 2025, the target for 2026 has been set at 10,000.

To support this initiative, Probashi Kallyan Bank is offering loans of up to Tk 1 million per student on easy terms.

Students in Japan are permitted 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 process.

Deputy Secretary Md Hedayetul Islam Mondol of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment said Bangladesh has taken a range of practical steps to facilitate the placement of workers in Japan.

These include strengthening bilateral engagement, expanding training initiatives, easing access to loans, streamlining fee payments through banking channels and revising relevant guidelines.

He said these measures have helped position Japan as a key employment destination for Bangladeshi workers.

Japan ranks highly in human resource development and offers favourable working conditions, access to services and competitive income opportunities for foreign workers.

Through the Japan Cell and relevant ministries, the government is working to ensure that Bangladeshi workers are well trained in both technical skills and language proficiency before going abroad.