10m jobs, several major hurdles: Can new govt tackle prevailing migration challenges?

Highlights:

• Reopening key labour markets remains major government challenge
• Recruitment syndicates and high fees hinder migration reform
• BNP target doubles recent annual overseas departures
• Experts demand education, skills, and institutional reforms
• Vocational training infrastructure lacks quality and social acceptance
• Migration costs soaring, requiring stricter regulation and accountability

Reopening closed labour markets and dismantling recruitment syndicates are now the primary hurdles for a government aiming to send 10 million workers abroad by 2030. 

Despite official optimism, the migration sector remains hamstrung by high fees and a skills gap – realities that experts say cannot be fixed by numerical targets alone. Without comprehensive structural reform, the government's ambitious balancing act may struggle to gain traction.

Several prime destinations – including Malaysia, Oman, the UAE, and Bahrain – have remained closed to Bangladeshi workers since the latter years of the Sheikh Hasina administration, amid allegations of corruption, mismanagement, labour oversupply, and misconduct by some migrants. 

During the 18-month tenure of the interim government, there was little visible progress in reopening these markets. 

Although talks resumed with Malaysia after the fall of the Awami League-led government to reopen its labour market – closed in May 2024 – sector insiders say concerns persist over the re-emergence of recruiting agency syndicates. 

Destination countries have reportedly imposed what insiders describe as "unfair conditions", complicating negotiations.

Infograph: TBS

Recruiters argue that reopening major destinations and exploring new markets, particularly for skilled workers, will be essential if the BNP-led government is to fulfil its pledge of creating one crore overseas jobs.

Soon after taking office, Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury directed officials to take immediate steps to reopen labour markets closed to Bangladeshi workers. 

He issued the instruction at an introductory meeting at Probashi Kalyan Bhaban in Dhaka on 19 February.

The minister announced a zero-tolerance policy against irregularities and malpractice affecting migrant workers and said special monitoring mechanisms would be introduced to protect aspiring migrants from fraud and deception.

Renowned migration expert Tasneem Siddiqui stressed the need to prevent unhealthy alliances between sections of the bureaucracy, policymakers, and certain private recruiting agencies.

Such alliances, she warned, hinder fair competition and transparency in overseas employment management. "If we truly want this sector to move forward in an orderly way, we must remain vigilant so that such alliances cannot take root," she said.

Ambitious target, structural realities

According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), Bangladesh sent more than 4.5 million workers abroad over the past five years. On average, more than 10 lakh workers left annually during this period, with over 80% categorised as low-skilled.

The BNP's manifesto pledge to send 10 million workers abroad in five years would require around 20 lakh departures each year – roughly double the recent annual average.

Tasneem said the goal is not unattainable, but it demands deep preparation. "Nothing is impossible, but the necessary groundwork must be done," she said, adding that setting numerical targets alone will not ensure success.

She called for fundamental reform of the education system, greater investment in vocational skills, and diversification beyond traditional markets such as Saudi Arabia.

"Unless we invest in education, skills and institutional reform, the market will operate on its own terms, and sustainable results will remain elusive," she said.

The BNP's plan includes expanding training at upazila level, offering loans of up to Tk10 lakh on easy terms to reduce reliance on informal brokers, and promoting migration at "zero or minimal cost" for low-income workers.

Reforming skills development

Experts say reforming the skills development system is central to any expansion of skilled migration.

Tasneem called for a comprehensive overhaul of Technical Training Centres (TTCs), noting that many posts remain vacant and trainers themselves require further professional development. 

She emphasised the need for adequate resources, updated curricula, modern equipment, and "training of trainers" to ensure quality skill formation.

Although BMET has expanded skill verification capacity in 26 TTCs for the Saudi labour market and now operates 110 centres nationwide, experts say overall upskilling efforts remain below expectations.

Migration expert Mohammad Jalal Uddin Sikder, an associate professor at North South University, identified cultural attitudes as a major barrier.

"It is not possible to shift overnight from a degree-oriented mindset to skill-based education. This is a significant cultural challenge," he said, noting that many young people still prioritise traditional honours and master's degrees over technical and vocational routes.

He said vocational education continues to face social stigma, affecting everything from marriage prospects to social recognition. As a result, many hesitate to pursue technical training, even when overseas markets offer demand.

He also questioned whether the current technical education infrastructure is adequate.

"Constructing buildings alone is not enough. We need modern equipment, updated syllabi and skilled instructors," he said, suggesting public-private partnerships and international cooperation may be needed. 

He cited nursing as an example of a sector with strong global demand but limited higher education and specialised training capacity at home.

The burden of migration costs

High migration costs remain a persistent problem. Sector insiders say expenses for low-skilled workers travelling to destinations such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Singapore range from Tk4 lakh to Tk10 lakh. 

Before 2008, the cost typically ranged between Tk80,000 and Tk5 lakh.

High migration costs were identified as the leading challenge in the overseas employment sector in the White Paper on the State of Bangladesh's Economy, published in November 2024. Recruiters attribute elevated costs to illegal visa trading, the involvement of intermediaries, and high airfare. 

Shamim Ahmed Chowdhury Noman, former secretary general of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira), said procuring job demands from destination countries accounts for a major share of total migration costs.

"The government must engage with destination countries to regulate or reform this system," he said.

Tasneem Siddiqui warned that Bangladesh's migration costs are in some cases up to four times higher than those of Nepal. She called for stricter accountability for private recruiting agencies.

Currently, agencies found guilty of fraud are required to refund only the officially declared migration cost. She argued that compensation should be at least five times the migration cost to reflect financial losses, lost time, and suffering.

"Without meaningful compensation, fraudulent practices will continue," she said.

Jalal Uddin Sikder added that increasing the supply of skilled workers and creating parallel employment at home would help regulate costs. He also stressed the need to curb broker networks, simplify procedures, and improve access to accurate information.

He proposed transforming the expatriates' welfare system into a "one-stop service" model, bringing passport processing, medical examinations, and clearances under one roof. Assigning medical checks to upazila health complexes could ease the burden on rural migrants.

State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur has also said reducing migration costs will be a top priority.

"Migration expenses must be reduced at any cost," he said on his first working day, noting that many workers are forced to sell family land or jewellery to finance jobs abroad.