Dhaka inks deal with Tokyo
Dhaka and Tokyo have signed a new employment agreement aimed at strengthening worker protection, developing skills and expanding job opportunities for Bangladeshi nationals, with recruitment under the arrangement scheduled to begin on 1 April 2027.
The Memorandum of Cooperation on Employment Skills Development (ESDP-MOC) was signed on 17 October following nearly a year of
efforts by the two governments, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, a statement said.
The agreement has an initial term of five years and will automatically be extended for a further five years, bringing its total duration to 10 years.
Bangladesh was represented by the secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, while Japan’s signatories represented its Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, and National Police Agency.
The ministry said the agreement would strengthen bilateral cooperation in the recruitment and reception of workers while creating opportunities for Bangladeshis to improve their professional skills through employment in Japan.
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said the arrangement would help ensure the highest possible level of protection for Bangladeshi workers and create opportunities for skills development, higher wages and longer-term residence in Japan.
Under the agreement, Bangladeshi workers will receive legal protection equivalent to that afforded to Japanese workers, while equal opportunities for men and women will be promoted in the workplace, the minister said.
The agreement also addresses the protection of female migrant workers. Women must not face dismissal or discriminatory treatment because of pregnancy or childbirth.
Nor does the agreement contain a mandatory provision requiring women to return to Bangladesh against their will because they become pregnant or give birth.
These provisions are particularly significant for migrant workers, whose employment conditions and access to legal remedies can shape their ability to work safely and maintain stable livelihoods abroad.
For Bangladesh, Japan represents an opportunity to diversify overseas employment beyond traditional destinations in the Middle East and other Asian countries.
Access to the Japanese labour market could also help workers acquire technical expertise, professional experience and language skills that may improve their future employment prospects.
However, the agreement’s practical benefits will depend on its implementation, including transparent recruitment, adequate preparation and training, and effective mechanisms for addressing workplace grievances.
Ensuring that prospective workers understand employment contracts, wages, living costs and applicable immigration rules will also be important to help them make informed decisions before travelling.
The ministry said the formal exchange of copies of the agreement would take place during Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to Japan.
It expressed the expectation that implementing the agreement would deepen friendly relations between the two countries while expanding opportunities to develop Bangladesh’s skilled workforce.
The agreement marks a new step in Bangladesh-Japan cooperation on employment, with its long-term success likely to depend on whether the framework translates into accessible jobs, fair working conditions and sustainable skills development for Bangladeshi workers.
