EU, Bangladesh partner on €3m skilled worker programme

The European Union and Bangladesh signed a €3 million (approximately Tk38.37 crore)  talent partnership programme on Monday at the residence of the EU envoy in Dhaka to hire skilled workers.

Ambassador of the EU to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley said the programme will provide mutually beneficial, regular, and safe mobility pathways to the European Union, promoting legal labour migration from Bangladesh towards the EU and contributing to the prevention and reduction of irregular migration.

The EU envoy thanked member states, especially Italy and Germany, that have been part of the process up to now.

Acting Foreign Secretary Dr Md Nazrul Islam and European diplomats also spoke at the event.

Md Nazrul Islam said he sees immense potential in providing skilled workforce to the EU Member States in the sectors of ICT, nursing and caregiving, hospitality and tourism, construction, transport and logistics, garments and textile, agriculture and agro-processing, shipbuilding, etc.

"We are confident that the talent partnership project will significantly contribute towards the upgrading of technical and vocational training in Bangladesh with a view to enhancing workers' employability and competitiveness not only for EU Member States but also for the global market," he said.

Ambassador Charles Whiteley said the partnership will also improve overall migration management, increase labour force skills, and strengthen Bangladesh's capacity for cooperation with countries of destination outside the EU, including the reduction of irregular migration.

He said the talent partnership marks another milestone in Bangladesh-EU relations, and this win-win effort will boost sustainable growth and address labour market demands in Europe.

The talent partnership programme capitalised on the results achieved by the ongoing EU grant programme Skills21, particularly the development of models to facilitate skill mobility to the EU with operational modalities.

The Skills21 project has also been extended to complement the Talent Partnership with additional activities in the TVET sector, for €1.8 million.

In summary, nearly €5 million will fund the operationalisation of the talent partnership with Bangladesh, focusing on key areas including strengthening labour mobility mechanisms and fostering dialogue among migration stakeholders, enhancing infrastructure and technical capacity among key partners in Bangladesh.

It will also facilitate improving training packages in sectors needed in the EU, providing integrated training on soft skills like language proficiency, and supporting skills and entrepreneurship development for workers returning from EU member states.

The European Commission is currently developing talent partnerships with five countries: Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Bangladesh and Pakistan. A number of member states are already actively participating in the talent partnerships.

The EU envoy said promoting legal migration is crucial for Europe's future, particularly amidst a shrinking workforce and skills shortages in key sectors like healthcare and agriculture.