Staff Reporter :
In a major step towards facilitating legal migration and deepening bilateral ties, Bangladesh and Italy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Migration and Mobility, enabling the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in both seasonal and non-seasonal categories.
The MoU was signed during the official two-day visit of Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to Dhaka.
Dr Asif Nazrul, Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, signed the agreement on behalf of Bangladesh, while Minister Piantedosi represented the Italian government.
According to a joint statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the MoU underscores Bangladesh’s ongoing commitment to expanding overseas employment opportunities, boosting remittance flows, and providing safe, legal pathways to migration.
For Italy, the agreement helps address labour shortages while ensuring migration remains safe, orderly, and regulated.
The MoU also reinforces joint efforts to address irregular migration, in alignment with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) signed between Bangladesh and the European Union in 2017 regarding the return of individuals without legal authorisation to remain in Europe.
During his visit, Minister Piantedosi held high-level meetings, including a courtesy call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, and bilateral discussions with several key advisers of the interim government.
Topics included security cooperation, labour mobility, visa facilitation, and the welfare of Bangladeshi nationals residing in Italy.
Professor Yunus emphasised the need to enhance trade and investment links, particularly in sectors such as textiles, leather, information technology, renewable energy, and food processing.
He also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in education, youth exchange programmes, and innovation.
In a meeting with the Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare, both sides acknowledged the rising demand for skilled workers in Italy.
Bangladesh requested an increase in quotas for skilled and semi-skilled migrants and proposed joint initiatives for skills development.
Both parties reiterated their commitment to protecting migrant workers’ rights, dignity, and safety, and to promoting formal remittance channels.
Discussions with the Adviser for Foreign Affairs centred on the Bangladeshi diaspora’s contributions to both countries.
Bangladesh urged Italy to streamline visa processing, particularly for applicants with valid work permits, and to address administrative delays in permit verification at the Provincial Immigration Office.
In a separate meeting with the Advisers for Home Affairs and Agriculture, both governments agreed to strengthen cooperation against transnational crime, human trafficking, and cybercrime, with plans to establish a Joint Committee on Law Enforcement Cooperation.
Minister Piantedosi praised Bangladesh’s economic resilience and humanitarian leadership, particularly regarding the Rohingya refugee crisis, and reaffirmed Italy’s support in multilateral forums.
He conveyed the Italian Prime Minister’s commitment to deepening bilateral relations, initially expressed during a meeting on the sidelines of the 2024 UN General Assembly.
The MoU forms part of Italy’s annual migration quota, which allocates work permits for non-EU nationals.
Thousands of Bangladeshi job seekers are expected to benefit from this agreement in the coming years. Officials confirmed that recruitment will take place through government-to-government (G2G) channels, with the aim of preventing exploitation and ensuring ethical labour practices.
Implementation will begin shortly, with job announcements and application procedures to be published by the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) through official portals.
Currently, Italy hosts more than 150,000 Bangladeshi nationals, and the new agreement is projected to significantly expand this number. Remittances from Italy already contribute substantially to Bangladesh’s economy, and this new framework is anticipated to further enhance that economic impact.
