Expatriate Welfare Minister announces sending 1 crore skilled workers abroad in 5 years

On Thursday (July 9), during the budget session of the National Parliament, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad Chowdhury provided this information in response to a question from Member of Parliament Zahidul Islam Dholu of Naogaon-5 constituency. The session was chaired by Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed.

The Minister informed that currently, under the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment, skill development training is being provided in 55 short-term and long-term job-oriented trades and courses across a total of 110 training institutions, including 104 Technical Training Centers (TTCs) and 6 Institutes of Marine Technology. Through these trainings, skilled manpower is being developed according to the demands of the international labor market.

He said that the government has taken effective steps to ensure safe, regular, and orderly migration, as well as to reduce the cost of sending workers abroad and control the fraud of broker syndicates. For this purpose, the 'Overseas Employment Platform (OEP)' has been launched.

According to the Minister, through this digital platform, services such as trainee admission, monitoring of training activities, certificate issuance, verification of demand letters and visas received from abroad, and issuance of emigration clearance for outgoing workers are being provided from a single point. As a result, the influence of intermediaries and brokers is decreasing, increasing transparency and accountability in the migration process.

He further informed that to bring brokers and sub-agents under the legal framework, the government has formulated the 'Overseas Employment and Migrants (Recruiting Agent License and Sub-Agent Registration and Conduct) Rules, 2025'. Additionally, migration coordination committees have been formed at the district and upazila levels to monitor migration activities at the local level.

In response to a question from Member of Parliament Mosammat Tahsina Rushdi of Sylhet-2 constituency, the Minister said that there are plans to expand skill development programs for various classes of people, including widowed women, so that they can get employment opportunities abroad.

In response to a question from reserved seat Member of Parliament Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, he said that various types of assistance, including help desks at airports, are being provided to outgoing workers. According to the Prime Minister's directives, the government is working to build internationally standard skilled manpower. Furthermore, the current government has implemented an initiative for the first time to bring the bodies of Bangladeshi workers who die while working abroad to the country under government management and hand them over to their families.

In response to a question from reserved seat Member of Parliament Nazmun Nahar, the Minister informed that regular communication is being maintained regarding Bangladeshi workers detained in prisons in various countries through the relevant embassies. Many have already been brought back to the country. He called upon those concerned to provide accurate information on this matter.