Bangladesh seeks more skilled jobs for workers in Singapore

Dhaka: Bangladesh is seeking to expand employment opportunities for its workers in Singapore, particularly in skilled sectors such as information technology, data analysis, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and elderly caregiving.

Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaed Islam made the call during an interaction with Bangladeshi businesspeople, professionals and migrant workers in Singapore on August 10, read a press release.

The event, organized by the Bangladesh Business Chamber of Singapore, focused on expanding skilled employment, improving migration governance, and strengthening economic ties between Bangladesh and Singapore.

Participants identified elderly caregiving as a promising area for the future employment of Bangladeshi workers in Singapore and suggested that a bilateral agreement could facilitate cooperation in the sector.

They also called for diversification of Bangladesh's overseas employment market, reducing dependence on traditional sectors such as construction and logistics and exploring opportunities in Singapore's growing service sectors.

Bangladeshi professionals attending the event said Singapore offers significant opportunities for skilled foreign workers, particularly in IT, data analysis, cybersecurity, and AI.

Responding to the proposals, State Minister Shama Obaed said the government was reviewing opportunities in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector and continuing discussions with relevant ministries and stakeholders to expand employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers.

She also assured participants that the government was working to make the recruitment process more transparent to reduce exploitation and high migration costs faced by aspiring workers.

The participants said exploitation by some recruiting agencies was contributing to the high cost of migration to Singapore. They proposed engaging former migrant workers as trainers at training centers in Bangladesh and introducing affordable training courses for work permit holders in Singapore.

The state minister said the government had also created a separate wing in the Foreign Ministry to coordinate with government and private-sector stakeholders on manpower migration, trade, and investment issues.

The participants further suggested expanding cooperation in training and skills development to better prepare Bangladeshi workers for Singapore's changing labor market.

The meeting also discussed investment, trade, and other areas of bilateral economic cooperation. Shama Obaed said Singapore's position as a global business hub could help Bangladesh attract investment and generate employment.

The state minister urged the participants to submit their proposals in writing so that the government could take appropriate measures with relevant ministries and agencies.

She reaffirmed the government's commitment to expanding opportunities for Bangladeshi workers abroad while improving the recruitment process and protecting migrant workers from exploitation.