Bangladesh has fared poorly in migration as it is yet to harness a slew of opportunities of sending skilled workers abroad for not satisfying the labour markets.
Skilled workers are up for grabs in developed countries like Japan and South Korea, but Bangladesh cannot tap this potential for skilled-labour shortages.
Another case in point is Malaysia that also requires skilled workers. Yet, Bangladesh is only focusing on sending less-skilled workers there.
Recruiters also find it profitable as they can charge higher migration costs from such less-skilled workers.
Bangladesh can reach a new level of earning foreign exchange through exporting skilled workers who earn a lot more than those unskilled, sector insiders believe.
For Japan, proficiency in Japanese language N-4 level is a must along with job skills to be selected as a specified skilled worker (SSW).
There are no particular requirements with regard to an applicant's educational background.
Besides, Bangladesh has a deal with International Manpower Development Organisation (IM Japan) to send technical interns (TIs).
The educational qualification of TIs should be HSC level but Japanese language proficiency level must be N-5. But work skills are not required.
An SSW receives a monthly wage of Tk 100,000-200,000 while an intern gets about Tk 100,000.
The government has fixed Tk 148,500 for pre-selection training and post-selection management for SSWs.
Employers, on the other hand, bear all costs of TIs.
SSWs are supposed to be taken into 14 categories, but Japan has so far allowed migration from Bangladesh for caregiving and agriculture sectors.
The remaining sectors are building cleaning management, machinery parts and tooling, industrial machinery, electric, electronics and information, construction, shipbuilding, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, fishery and aquaculture, manufacture of food and beverages and food service.
About 80 types of jobs are there under the sectors.
According to a Japanese Immigration Services Agency report, 22,723 Bangladeshis were in Japan as of 2022.
Of them, over 5,000 are employed in different sectors as skilled workers and professionals-technical interns 451, skilled labour 292, caregivers 34 and SSWs 140.
China is the leading sender of manpower to Japan with 700,000, followed by Korea 600,000, Vietnam 400,000, Indonesia 250,000, Nepal 200,000 and Myanmar 50,000.
Sanaul Haque, president and CEO of Sadiatec Company Ltd that hires workers for Japan, spoke of a good opportunity to send workers as SSWs.
Bangladesh is still lagging behind in sending SSWs as most aspirants drop out in the skill test. Those passing the test are also weak in communication.
Even they are not smart enough to acclimatise Japanese culture or working nature, says Mr Haque. "As a result, despite the demand, still we can hardly hire workers from Bangladesh."
He suggests including foreign language courses in curriculum, especially the languages of the countries with ample migration opportunity.
Mr Haque says Japanese is required reading along with other foreign languages in Vietnamese schools.
Japan needs at least 6.7-million foreign workers by 2040, reveals a 2022 JICA study.
The demand for foreign workers may stand at more than 20 million during the period if it is not possible to invest properly in labour-saving technology.
According to the Bangladesh Embassy in Tokyo, the supply of required labour from the key senders may decrease significantly as the number of employable youth is decreasing in those countries.
Japan thus wants to hire workers from Bangladesh, a country with a big demographic dividend. It has an opportunity to send 50,000 workers to Japan in the next five years.
Md Zoynal Abedin, first secretary (labour) at the embassy, said the number of migrant workers from Bangladesh to Japan is increasing gradually.
Bangladesh will be able to send a notable number of workers to Japan in the next two to three years, he added. "We're working towards that goal."
On the other hand, South Korea will hire 20,000 workers in the E-7 category over the next three years for its shipbuilding, iron and cement industries.
It will also hire labour for working in sectors like automobiles, manufacturing and restaurants.
Korea needs welders, masons, carpenters, pipe fitters and scaffolders among 40 types of work. It also requires BSc and diploma engineers and architects.
Private recruiter RRC Human Resource Services Ltd has sent workers under E-7 category this April.
"We were able to send 36 welders to Samsung Heavy Industries," said RRC managing director Alamgir Kabir, adding that 125 engineers are in the pipeline to fly.
Two to five years of work experience is required to get these jobs, but those with 10 to 12 years of experience get preference.
In Korea, a worker in this category earns a monthly salary of around Tk 250,000. Migration cost is around Tk 550000 each.
"If we can send 5,000 workers to Korea, remittance will grow enormously," said Mr Kabir.
Korea mainly hires from Vietnam, Cambodia, Mongolia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Good news is Korean language proficiency is not mandatory for E-7 category. Workers need real work experience for working there.
He said more theoretical than practical lessons are taught in 92 TTCs run by the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET).
He suggests that the government make a database of the returnees from abroad with various work experiences. So, it might be easier to get workers for E-7 jobs.
However, Bangladesh sends semi-skilled workers to Korea under the employment permit system (EPS). Since 2008, it has sent 31,170 workers.
Bangladesh has got an EPS quota for 10,000 workers this year. However, employers have so far sought only 1,800 workers.
The crunch is language barrier for Bangladeshis as their dropout rate in language tests is very high.
Only 6,358 out of 19,011 candidates recently passed the Korean language proficiency test.
Bangladesh sent a record 1.1-million people abroad in 2022, including only 22.22-per cent skilled migrants, according to the BMET.
According to sector insiders, about 1.0-million Bangladeshis are working in Malaysia. Of them, some 10,000 are employed as skilled workers.
Migration experts believe that sending unskilled workers is an easy way for a section of recruiters to cheat and make money.
Taking to the FE, Ahmadul Kobir, an expatriate journalist living in Malaysia, said there is a demand for skilled workers in the sectors like manufacturing, IT, hotel and services, and automobiles there.
Chinese, Indians and the Philippines are getting more employment as skilled workers there. But Bangladesh is yet to tap the potential, he said.
A less-skilled worker's monthly income is Tk 35,000, but they spend about Tk 400,000 to Tk 500,000 on migration costs for Malaysia, he said.
A skilled worker gets Tk 70,0000-100,000 a month there.
When contacted, Ali Haider Chowdhury, secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA), calls for a government policy as Malaysian employers usually hire skilled workers at a zero migration cost.
BMET director general Md Shahidul Alam said the skill test for SSWs is being conducted in Bangladesh. "We also are working to improve training quality."
Steps will be taken to prepare suitable workers for Korean E-7 category with the cooperation of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
Bangladeshis staying in Japan sent $69.29 million in fiscal year (FY) 2021-22 and $112.99 million in FY23, according to the Bangladesh Bank.
Those living in Korea sent home $135.46 million in FY22 and $130.46 million in FY23.
On the other hand, migrants from Malaysia sent $1.02 billion in FY22 and $1.12 billion in FY23.
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