Why Bangladesh migration to Europe drops 52% in 2024

Infograph: TBS

Highlights:

• Bangladeshi worker recruitment in Europe dropped by 52% recently
• Many workers flee Balkans, damaging trust with European employers
• Skilled worker shortage and visa limits hinder EU access
• Lack of local embassies complicates visa processing for workers
• Europe sends high remittance despite hosting fewer Bangladeshi workers

Recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in Europe dropped by 52% last year compared to the previous year as many workers reportedly abandoned their jobs in the Balkans and non-Schengen countries to move to Schengen nations, according to sector insiders.

Despite rising labour demand across Europe, employers – especially in Romania, Poland, Malta, Bosnia, Croatia, and Albania – are becoming increasingly reluctant to hire from Bangladesh, they say.

Industry experts also point out that a shortage of skilled workers in Bangladesh, coupled with visa restrictions for EU-bound migrants, is limiting the country's access to the European labour market – despite its steady growth over the past five years.

On 23 January, the Bangladesh embassy in The Hague informed the foreign ministry that Croatian authorities had raised concerns about Bangladeshi workers using Croatian work permits to move to other Schengen countries. The country is now considering suspending work permits for Bangladeshi workers.

Recruiters warn that if the situation persists, Bangladesh risks losing its already limited foothold in the European labour market.

The development comes as Bangladesh looks to expand into new labour markets amid growing concerns over declining opportunities in key destinations in the Middle East and East Asia such as the UAE, Oman, Bahrain, and Malaysia.

Sharmin Afroz Shumi, chairman of Infinity HCM Ltd, which sends workers to Europe, told TBS that many Bangladeshi workers tend to flee to other countries after arriving in places like Romania and Bosnia.

"In just two and a half years, we sent 2,000 workers to Romania, but a significant portion of them fled to other nations," she said.

"This has damaged the reputation of Bangladeshi workers, making it increasingly difficult to secure future contracts with employers in these countries," she added.

She expressed concern about the bleak future facing Bangladeshi workers in Europe if the current situation continues.

Shumi said her company has started recruiting workers from countries like India, Kyrgyzstan, and Nepal.

According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET), after steady growth from 2020 to 2023, recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in Europe dropped sharply in 2024, falling to 22,271 from 46,455 the previous year.

Croatian work permits used to flee to Schengen countries

In 2024, Croatia issued 12,400 work permits to Bangladeshi workers, but 8,000 of them never arrived in the country. Of those who did, only about half are currently employed there.

This trend of unauthorised migration has drawn criticism from the European Union, leading to pressure on Croatia to take corrective action.

Despite favourable working conditions in Croatia, many Bangladeshi workers are using the country as a gateway to illegally enter other Schengen states, such as Germany and France.

Rifat Mahmood, a European migration consultant, told TBS that Croatia has issued around 50,000 job offers since January. However, Bangladesh has not received any whereas both India and Nepal have secured a significant number.

Speaking about the challenges faced by Bangladeshi workers in Balkan states, he said, "Cultural barriers such as food and language are major obstacles for Bangladeshis in those countries. Even employers there are often not proficient in English. For several reasons, employers are also losing interest in hiring our workers."

As a solution, he said, "Holding deposit money from outgoing workers hasn't worked well. Even after depositing money, workers are still fleeing from their destinations. We are not finding any immediate solution."

Skilled worker shortage hinders access to European labour market

Over the past five years, Bangladesh has sent more than 42 lakh workers abroad. However, only 2.33% of them found employment in European countries, according to the BMET.

Industry experts attribute this low figure primarily to a shortage of skilled workers in Bangladesh. Additionally, visa restrictions for EU-bound workers further complicate the migration process.

With legal migration pathways still largely underutilised, thousands of Bangladeshis have resorted to risky and irregular routes in pursuit of their European aspirations, they say.

As Europe grapples with growing labour and skill shortages due to demographic shifts, migration experts believe Bangladesh could help meet some of this demand – provided it addresses the skills gap and streamlines the migration process.

European employers – particularly in the Balkans and non-Schengen countries – remain interested in hiring Bangladeshi workers, but the demand is increasingly focused on specialised skilled labour, despite some ongoing need for low-skilled roles like construction and loading/unloading.

"We have a shortage of skilled workers in key sectors," said Sharmin Afroz Shumi.

Experts suggest that the government should focus on identifying markets in Europe, such as Serbia and Bosnia, where demand for workers is still strong. Additionally, easing visa procedures for these regions could help boost legal migration from Bangladesh to Europe.

With a strategic approach, Bangladesh can better position itself as a key labour provider to Europe, while minimising irregular migration and improving the livelihoods of its workers abroad.

Between 2020 and 2024, Bangladesh sent workers to 182 countries, with 42 European nations hiring Bangladeshi workers, according to the 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.

Absence of embassies in Dhaka

One of the main hurdles in sending workers to European countries is the lack of embassies or visa centres in Dhaka for many destinations, making the visa application process costly and complicated for recruitment agencies.

While countries like Austria, Sweden and Denmark are opening visa centres, the process remains difficult for workers heading to Balkan and non-Schengen countries, according to leaders of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (Baira).

As a result, many Bangladeshi workers have had to travel to India for visa processing, which has become increasingly difficult in recent months as India has restricted visa issuance to Bangladeshis following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government on 5 August last year.

High remittance despite low recruitment

Although European countries host a relatively small number of Bangladeshi workers, they generate more remittances than many of the traditional Middle Eastern destinations.

In the current fiscal year, at least nine of the top 30 remittance-sending countries to Bangladesh are from Europe.

The UK is the top remittance source from Europe – and fourth overall – sending $1.77 billion as of February in FY25. The country hosts around 700,000 Bangladeshis, according to unofficial estimates.

Italy ranks second among European countries (eighth overall), contributing $1.02 billion in remittances during the same period.

A senior BMET official told TBS that the technical certifications from Bangladeshi institutions are not widely recognised in Europe.

"We need to collaborate with EU countries to develop a skilled workforce that meets their standards," he said.