Bangladesh is now aiming to export more skilled manpower so that remittances and the country’s global reputation increase in the days ahead.
Each year the country witnesses continuous growth in the export of workforce to various global destinations, but the amount of foreign remittance is not increasing with the rising number of expatriates, said the authorities concerned.
However, if the country cannot train and create more skilled manpower, then the gap will be higher in the coming days, said some industry insiders. The experts also said that the migration of skilled manpower has been increasing from Bangladesh in recent years.
Recent statistics of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) showed such an upward trend of sending skilled people abroad. The employment of skilled workers from Bangladesh has increased by 22 per cent this year. In 2022, some 2.52 lakh skilled workers went abroad, this year the number has increased to 3.08 lakh.
About 2.61 lakh semi-skilled workers went abroad this year, while the number was only 42,771 in 2022.
Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) Joint Secretary Md. Tipu Sultan acknowledging the increased number of people migration told Bangladesh Post, “There are many obstacles in the foreign labor market. The workers we send now are notably unskilled workers. If we can send skilled workers abroad, the remittances will be much higher.”
Citing various obstacles, he again said, “Our neighboring countries including India, Pakistan, Nepal, Philippines, and Sri Lanka can send workers faster than us. For us, it takes a lot of time due to various complications. If we can expedite our time in sending people and if we can improve their skills, we will be able to increase our current trend in the future.”
Dr Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment told Bangladesh Post, “Bangladesh is breaking its past record each year in sending workforce to different destinations of the world. But most of them are not skilled enough hence they face difficulties in getting ready jobs and earning money.”
Saleheen continued, “Our aim is to boost developing skilled manpower and send them abroad. We have already started the process, now we are going to concentrate more on it.”
According to BMET statistics, drivers, caregivers, housekeepers, hospitality workers, electricians, quality control supervisors, refrigeration and air conditioning workers, plumbing and pipe fittings and general electrical workers have found most jobs abroad.
Besides, employment of doctors, nurses, engineers, IT experts and other professionals has also increased this year.