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Japan Forward
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Forward
Bangladesh in Motion: Building New Bridges for a Shared Future
Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to Bangladesh's interim government, made an official visit to Japan from May 28 to 31. His visit was the first since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, after weeks of political unrest. In Tokyo, Yunus sought to build on his country's longstanding partnership with Japan through renewed state support and deeper economic and societal ties. PM Ishiba escorts CA Yunus past the honor guard during the welcome ceremony. (©Prime Minister's Office) During the four-day trip, the chief adviser held talks with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, senior officials, and business leaders. He secured a $1.06 billion budget assistance pledge, setting the stage for deeper bilateral cooperation. The financial package is earmarked for Bangladesh's economic reforms, climate resilience, railway modernization, and education. Beyond government-to-government dialogue, Yunus addressed one of Japan's most pressing challenges: labor shortages. With a rapidly aging population and a declining workforce, Bangladesh is emerging as a critical partner in supplying young, skilled labor to boost Japan's economy in the decades ahead. To support this effort, a human resources seminar was held on May 29 in Tokyo, drawing some 300 attendees. Organized by the Bangladeshi embassy, the event united state officials and recruitment agencies to promote the mobilization of Bangladeshi youth in Japan's labor market. Officials from Japan and Bangladesh sign a memorandum of understanding on May 29 (©Kenji Yoshida) In his speech, Yunus emphasized the value of people-to-people connections and called for closer collaboration in training and deploying competent workers. The chief adviser also praised his friend Miki Watanabe, chairman of the Japanese restaurant group Watami, expressing gratitude for his sustained backing of Bangladesh's development. Watanabe echoed the sentiment, pledging to act as a bridge between the two countries. On the sidelines, a new memorandum of understanding was signed between a Watami-affiliated company and the Bangladeshi government to establish a Japan Training Center in Bangladesh. Watanabe (left) and Yunus (right). (©Sankei by Yoshifuru Ogino) Scheduled to open in October, the center will offer Japanese language instruction and vocational training aligned with Japan's Technical Intern Training Program and Specified Skilled Worker program. Its goal is to prepare 3,000 Bangladeshi workers annually for placement in Japan. Several government-level memoranda were also signed to enhance labor mobility between the two nations. The focus on human resources complemented a series of other high-profile events. On Friday, Yunus spoke at a Japan External Trade Organization event where six memoranda of understanding were signed, spanning sectors such as energy, finance, and information technology. Earlier, the chief adviser participated in the 30th Nikkei Forum, where he held talks with former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. In their conversation, Yunus urged Mahathir to support Bangladesh's bid to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a long-held diplomatic objective for Dhaka. The latest visit marked strategic gains for both sides. For Tokyo, the progress affirmed Japan's growing expectations for South Asia to meet its demographic and economic challenges. In Dhaka, the visit signaled that despite domestic upheaval, momentum for reform and a positive relationship with Japan persists. The series of agreements is also expected to help ease pressure on the country's overpopulated workforce. Author: Kenji Yoshida
The Mainichi
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan eyes 17 eligible sectors under new foreign labor training plan
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's government on Tuesday proposed 17 industries for inclusion in a new program to replace the foreign trainee scheme, such as agriculture, food services and construction, which are struggling with labor shortages amid a graying population. The government also recommended adding three more sectors to the separate Specified Skilled Worker visa framework as many shift from the technical trainee system, often criticized for labor rights violations including long hours and low wages. After discussions at an expert panel on the draft, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's Cabinet is expected to approve a plan by December on which industries will be covered in both schemes and how many foreign workers will be accepted at most. The new "Employment for Skill Development" program is scheduled to launch in 2027, aiming to grapple with a shrinking workforce as the productive-age population has been sharply decreasing against a backdrop of a declining birthrate. The new system will encourage workers to transition to the more permanent Specified Skilled Worker visa after three years, in principle -- a landmark change in Japan's official stance on bringing in foreign employees. Holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa, created in 2019, have been allowed to work in 16 sectors so far. The draft proposes increasing the number of eligible industries to 19, with warehouse management, waste disposal and linen supply to be newly added. The Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa enables holders to spend five years in Japan, while the No. 2 visa offers unlimited renewals, opening the path to permanent residency and permitting workers to bring their spouses and children to the country.
Japan Today
16-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Japan considers expanding industries eligible for foreign skilled workers
Japan is considering expanding the scope of industries under the Specified Skilled Worker visa for foreigners to address a severe labor shortage at home, according to a draft presented to a ruling Liberal Democratic Party committee. The draft proposed increasing the number of eligible industries from 16 to 19, with warehouse management, waste disposal and linen supply to be newly included. Holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa, created in 2019, are allowed to work in 16 industries facing workforce challenges, such as construction, nursing care and agriculture, with many transferring from the technical trainee program. The Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa enables holders to spend five years in Japan, while the No. 2 visa offers unlimited renewals, opening the path to permanent residency and permitting workers to bring their spouses and children to the country. There were more than 280,000 holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa as of the end of 2024, according to the Immigration Services Agency. © KYODO
The Mainichi
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Mainichi
Japan mulls expanding industries eligible for foreign skilled workers
TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan is considering expanding the scope of industries under the Specified Skilled Worker visa for foreigners to address a severe labor shortage at home, a draft presented to a ruling Liberal Democratic Party committee showed Thursday. The draft proposed increasing the number of eligible industries from 16 to 19, with warehouse management, waste disposal and linen supply to be newly included. Holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa, created in 2019, are allowed to work in 16 industries facing workforce challenges, such as construction, nursing care and agriculture, with many transferring from the technical trainee program. The Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa enables holders to spend five years in Japan, while the No. 2 visa offers unlimited renewals, opening the path to permanent residency and permitting workers to bring their spouses and children to the country. There were more than 280,000 holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa as of the end of 2024, according to the Immigration Services Agency.
Kyodo News
15-05-2025
- Business
- Kyodo News
Japan mulls expanding industries eligible for foreign skilled workers
KYODO NEWS - 9 hours ago - 21:49 | Japan, All Japan is considering expanding the scope of industries under the Specified Skilled Worker visa for foreigners to address a severe labor shortage at home, a draft presented to a ruling Liberal Democratic Party committee showed Thursday. The draft proposed increasing the number of eligible industries from 16 to 19, with warehouse management, waste disposal and linen supply to be newly included. Holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa, created in 2019, are allowed to work in 16 industries facing workforce challenges, such as construction, nursing care and agriculture, with many transferring from the technical trainee program. The Specified Skilled Worker No. 1 visa enables holders to spend five years in Japan, while the No. 2 visa offers unlimited renewals, opening the path to permanent residency and permitting workers to bring their spouses and children to the country. There were more than 280,000 holders of the Specified Skilled Worker visa as of the end of 2024, according to the Immigration Services Agency. Related coverage: Japan OKs policy for replacement of troubled foreign trainee scheme Indonesian bus driver to be 1st to work under new Japan visa status No. of foreign workers in Japan hits new record of 2.3 million
