Japan signs deal to take in Bangladeshi workers from 1 April

Japan is all set to take in Bangladeshi workers and help enhance their skills from 1 April next year under a new deal signed with the BNP government.

The deal termed “Memorandum of Cooperation on Employment Skills Development (ESDP-MOC)” will be applicable for five years and would be automatically extended by further five years.

Md Mokhtar Ahmed, secretary at the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh government on Saturday, the ministry said in a Facebook post on Monday.

The documents of the deal would be formally exchanged during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s three-day visit to Japan starting 26 October, the ministry of expatriates’ welfare added in the post.

In the post, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, minister for expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment, said the deal would facilitate the travel of Bangladeshi aspiring migrant workers to Japan, enhance their professional and technical skills in Japan, and ensure their recruitment in high-end sectors in Japan.

As a result of the deal, the migrant workers would also get the chance to secure long-term residency permits in Japan.

Under the deal, the job status of Bangladeshi workers would be equal to that of Japanese workers. Male and female workers can also enjoy equal benefits, and Japanese employers cannot fire a Bangladeshi woman simply because she is freshly pregnant or gets a newborn.

The deal would strengthen Japan-Bangladesh bilateral ties, and contribute to developing the Bangladeshi human capital, the post read.