Bangladesh is preparing to send workers to Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) category

The government has stepped up preparations to send a large number of skilled workers to Japan under the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) category, as the country continues to face a shortage of qualified manpower.

Japan has set a target to recruit 820,000 foreign workers across 16 sectors under the SSW scheme by March 2029. Experts and officials say Bangladesh could meet up to 40 percent of this demand—more than 300,000 workers—if proper preparations are made.

Previously, Bangladesh was able to supply workers in only six categories, but efforts are now underway to develop skilled manpower for 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 that with a strong focus on skill development, Bangladesh can meet a significant share of Japan’s labour demand, thereby increasing foreign currency earnings.

According to a recent report cited from The Japan Times, 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 indicate that the country may require up to 11 million foreign workers by 2040.

Professor Jahangir stressed the importance of Japanese language proficiency and familiarity with advanced technologies before migration. He added that earning trust within Japanese society would create more opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in the future, potentially allowing Bangladesh to meet 50 to 60 percent of Japan’s labour demand by 2040.

To support these ambitions, the government has adopted short-, medium-, and long-term strategies. These include improving the quality of Japanese language training centres, enhancing trainer capacity, bringing instructors from Japan, establishing special economic zones for skill development, and expanding training programmes nationwide.

Efforts are also being made to upgrade Technical Training Centers (TTCs) under the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) to Japanese standards through partnerships with Japanese institutions.

Currently, Japanese language training is available in 53 TTCs, with hybrid (online) courses offered at 15 centres. In addition, more than 200 private language institutes operate across the country. Bangladesh now has 95 recruiting agencies approved by Japan.

Focus on Japan

To remain competitive with countries such as Nepal, Vietnam, and Indonesia, Bangladesh has increased its focus on the Japanese labour market. Several institutional measures have been introduced, including the appointment of a high-level adviser at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and a special assistant tasked with expanding job opportunities in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.

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

The Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo has 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 support

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

To support this, Probashi Kallyan Bank is offering loans of up to Tk 1 million per student on easy terms. Students in Japan are also allowed to work more than 28 hours per week.

Additionally, 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 several practical steps to expand its presence in Japan’s labour market. These include strengthening bilateral engagement, enhancing training initiatives, easing access to loans, streamlining fee payments through banking channels, and revising relevant guidelines.

He said these measures are helping establish Japan as a key employment destination for Bangladeshi workers.

Japan remains a highly attractive destination due to its strong human resource development, favourable social conditions, access to services, and competitive income opportunities.

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.