Bangladesh, Italy sign MoU to promote legal migration

Bangladesh and Italy have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to curb illegal migration through human trafficking and promote legal migration.

The MoU was signed today (6 May) by Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Adviser Asif Nazrul and Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi.

"Italy will take both seasonal and non-seasonal workers from Bangladesh. We will also try to increase the existing quota for Bangladeshi workers," Asif Nazrul told journalists.

"This is the first MoU between Bangladesh and Italy," he added.

Mentioning that the two countries will develop a procedure and form a joint working group on the migration issue, the adviser said, "The agreement doesn't specify which sectors the workers will be employed in. This is a framework agreement, so it doesn't contain detailed information."

He further said, "The main benefit will be the reduction of risks faced by migrants who take illegal routes – many of whom lose their lives, are exploited without proper wages, or get arrested.

"We hope this will ease those sufferings. The more opportunities there are for legal migration, the less interest people will have in illegal routes. The Italian side seemed very sincere," Asif Nazrul added.

The adviser also mentioned that Bangladesh has requested Italy to take responsibility for one or two of our technical training centres. "They could offer Italian language instruction or skill training as per their needs. They've said they will consider this."

The Italian minister said, "For us, migration is not a problem. It is actually an honour to have these people. However, the problem lies in the way that the migrants try to access these pathways. Our goal is to transform what is called illegal migration into legal migration." 

"In order to do so, we need to take many actions, such as curbing human trafficking and encouraging legal pathways for these people to access our country," he added. 

He said, "The collaboration we have established over the years can only be renewed and relaunched, and that has to enhance further the relationship between the people of Bangladesh and the people of Italy, as well as the two governments."

"We are more than honoured to host the biggest Bangladeshi community in the entire European Union. They are perfectly integrated, and they are hardworking and dedicated people. We can only appreciate that," he added. 

Additionally, Bangladesh requested faster visa processing, more scholarships for students, and the removal of Bangladesh from Italy's high-risk country list for migration.

Between 2020 and 2024, Bangladesh sent workers to 182 countries, with 42 European nations hiring Bangladeshi workers, according to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).

Among these, Italy was the top destination, hiring 26,333 workers legally, followed by Romania, the UK, Croatia, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Cyprus, Albania, and Russia.

Italy hired over 8,000 workers from Bangladesh last year. The country hires seasonal workers from Bangladesh in the agriculture sector.

Meanwhile, a joint press statement, released today, said that for Bangladesh, this MoU reflects the government's commitment to expanding labour markets abroad, securing remittance inflows, and uplifting the lives of people through legal migration pathways.

For Italy, it offers a solution to the challenges of labour shortages while promoting safe, orderly, and regular migration, it said.

"This MoU will also help address irregular migration jointly and more effectively, including in line with the provisions of the 'Standard Operating Procedures for the Identification and Return of Persons without an Authorization to Stay' signed between Bangladesh and the EU in 2017," read the statement.