Japanese authorities and businesses on Thursday (May 29) announced plans to recruit at least 100,000 workers from Bangladesh over the next five years to address the country's growing labor shortage.

Speaking at a seminar titled “Bangladesh Seminar on Human Resources”, Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus said the Interim Government of Bangladesh would do everything in its capacity to create job opportunities for Bangladeshis in Japan.

“This is going to be the most exciting day for me, the most inspiring day. This will open the door for Bangladeshis not only to work but to know Japan,” he said.

The Chief Adviser witnessed the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs)– first between Bangladesh's Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) and Kaicom Dream Street (KDS), a Japan-Bangladesh joint venture, and second between Bangladesh's BMET and Japan’s National Business Support Combined Cooperatives (a business federation with over 65 receiving companies operating in Japan) and JBBRA (Japan Bangla Bridge Recruiting Agency) at the event organized in Toshi Kaikan conference hall in Tokyo.

“This gathering is about opening the door,” said the Chief Adviser, noting that Bangladesh is a country of 180 million people, and half of them are under 27.

“The government’s job is to open the door for them,” he added.

Mitsuru Matsushita, Representative Director of Supervising Organisation Shizuoka Workplace Environment Improvement Cooperative, said many Japanese companies are facing enquiries about Bangladeshis, and he believed this trend would continue.

“Bangladeshi talents hold great potential. It is our duty to nurture their talent,” he said.

Mikio Kesagayama, Chairman of NBCC, recalled that about 14 years ago, Dr. Yunus came to Japan and was telling stories about helping women through microcredit.

He said that in the first three decades of their business, they strived for a quality workforce.

“Our Federation looks to Bangladesh for young and capable labor. They can contribute to the development of both Bangladesh and Japan,” he said.

“In the coming five years, we are prepared to welcome more than 100,000 Bangladeshi workers,” he said.

Sharing the future plan for recruiting Bangladeshis in Japanese industries, Miki Watanabe, President of Watami Group, stated that a school they established in Bangladesh trains 1,500 students annually, and they are now planning to increase this number to 3,000.

With technical education in Bangladesh, they can enter the job market in Japan, he said.

Hiroaki Yagi, Chairman of Japan International Trainee & Skilled Worker Cooperation Organisation (JITCO) shared the potential and challenges for Bangladeshis in the Japanese labour market.

He said the number of language teachers in Bangladesh is still short.

Niki Hirobumi, State Minister of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), Japan, stated that Japan is facing a declining population and thus will require the support of the Bangladeshi workforce.

“This can be promising not only for Bangladesh but also for Japan,” he said.

In his welcome speech, Daud Ali, Bangladesh's Ambassador to Japan, stated that by 2040, the Japanese labor shortage could reach 11 million, presenting an opportunity for Bangladesh to send more skilled workers.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Chief Adviser’s Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, and Principal Coordinator on SDG Affairs Lamiya Morshed were also present at the meeting.