Bangladesh expands international labour mobility efforts

Bangladesh is pursuing various international labour mobility agreements to export skilled manpower, though implementation varies by region.

In Greece, a bilateral agreement allows for up to 4,000 Bangladeshi workers to enter annually. However, Bangladesh Ambassador to Greece Nahida Rahman Shumona reported that fewer than 500 workers have arrived over the last two years. She cited visa-issuance processes as a primary obstacle, noting that applicants must currently travel to India to obtain Greek entry visas.

Meanwhile, Montenegro is exploring a government-to-government arrangement to recruit more than 50,000 skilled workers from Bangladesh each year. Montenegrin lawmaker Gordan Stojovic identified tourism, construction, hospitality, and medical care as key sectors for employment. Both nations expressed a commitment to streamlining work permit procedures and strengthening bilateral trade and parliamentary relations.