Japan has announced a large-scale recruitment plan to employ at least 100,000 workers from Bangladesh over the next five years, in a move aimed at tackling its severe labour shortage driven by an aging population and declining birth rates. The moves were disclosed during the “Bangladesh Seminar on Human Resources,” held at the Toshi Kaikan conference hall ,Tokyo.
The event was attended by key government officials and business leaders from both countries. Head of the interim government of Bangladesh, Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus was the chief guest In the event .The initiative is seen as a major opportunity for Bangladesh’s youth, with more than half of its 180 million population under the age of 27. The Bangladeshi government has pledged to support the process and ensure that young workers are adequately prepared to meet the demands of the Japanese labour market.
Two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed at the seminar to formalize the recruitment framework. One agreement was signed between Bangladesh’s Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) and Kaicom Dream Street (KDS), a Japan-Bangladesh joint venture. The other MoU involved BMET, the National Business Support Combined Cooperatives (NBCC)—a federation of over 65 Japanese companies—and the Japan Bangla Bridge Recruiting Agency (JBBRA). These partnerships aim to ensure a smooth and structured recruitment and training process.
Japanese business representatives highlighted the growing interest among companies in hiring workers from Bangladesh. Many firms have reported satisfaction with the professionalism, skill, and adaptability of Bangladeshi workers currently employed in Japan. The agreements are expected to further streamline access to this emerging talent pool.
The Watami Group, a leading Japanese company, has been proactive in preparing Bangladeshi workers for the Japanese market. It currently operates a school in Bangladesh that trains around 1,500 students annually in technical skills and Japanese language. Plans are underway to expand this number to 3,000 per year to meet rising industry demands.
Despite the positive momentum, several Japanese officials acknowledged that language remains a significant barrier. The shortage of qualified Japanese language instructors in Bangladesh could limit the speed at which new workers can be integrated into the workforce. Both countries are expected to collaborate on enhancing language training capacity and technical education.
The long-term economic implications of the initiative are substantial. With projections indicating a potential labour shortfall of 11 million workers in Japan by 2040, countries like Bangladesh are being seen as key partners in addressing this gap. Bangladesh’s large and youthful population positions it well to benefit from this demand.
The seminar was attended by a number of senior Bangladeshi officials, including Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi, and Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed. Daud Ali, Bangladesh’s envoy to Japan, also addressed the event, stressing the tactical significance of labour movement and skills development.
Japanese companies that have employed Bangladeshi workers commended their hard work, commitment, and professional conduct in the workplace.They expressed readiness to scale up hiring, provided there is continued support from both governments to streamline visas, training, and worker integration processes.
Professor Yunus is currently on a four-day visit to Japan, during which he is also attending the 30th Nikkei Forum: Future of Asia. He is expected to meet Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba for bilateral discussions focused on deepening cooperation in employment, economic development, and people-to-people exchange.
This landmark initiative marks a new chapter in Japan-Bangladesh relations and offers significant promise for both countries — a sustainable solution to Japan’s labour deficit and a new horizon of opportunity for Bangladesh’s skilled and semi-skilled workforce.
