The Embassy of Italy in Dhaka hosted a public presentation titled “Language, Civic and Professional Training for Skilled Migration to Italy” at the Dhaka Regency Hotel and Resort, gathering senior government officials, diplomatic representatives, international organizations, and approximately 300 pre-departure trainees preparing for employment in Italy.
The event, held to highlight structured pathways for labor migration, featured Mahdi Amin, adviser to the prime minister and PMO spokesperson, as chief guest, alongside ASM Fazlur Rahman, joint secretary of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.
Key speakers included Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro, EU Delegation Ambassador Michael Miller, International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chief of Mission Laura Nicole Tomm-Bonde, and International Labour Organization (ILO) Head of Program Gunjan Dallakoti.
During the session, project overviews were delivered by Antonio Milo of “Frontiere Skills” and Massimiliano De Fusco of “Format.”
These private sector-led initiatives operate under Article 23 of the Italian Immigration Law and provide candidates with basic Italian language instruction, civic education, and sector-specific professional qualifications.
Each initiative undergoes evaluation and approval by an inter-ministerial committee led by Italy's Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.
Under the program guidelines, training is provided to prospective migrants free of charge, with all costs covered by the implementing private entities.
Organizers stressed that candidates apply individually through public announcements and that third-party agents or brokers are strictly prohibited. Any applicant found using an intermediary is automatically disqualified.
Addressing the assembly, Ambassador Alessandro highlighted the necessity of bilateral cooperation to promote safe, regular, and skills-based migration while combating irregular channels.
“There is a limit to the number of migrants that Italy can absorb. Article 23 projects are necessarily limited in numbers,” Ambassador Alessandro noted.
“If you don’t get selected, wait for better opportunities, or invest your future in your own country. Just don’t look for shortcuts that might put your money and life at risk.”
Mahdi Amin reaffirmed the Bangladeshi government's dedication to expanding transparent, skilled, and affordable overseas employment opportunities.
He expressed interest in scaling the pre-departure training model across additional sectors and foreign labor markets, while also emphasizing the value of third-language proficiency, including Italian.
Representatives from the EU, IOM, and ILO echoed these sentiments, pointing to international cooperation and skills development as essential tools for protecting migrant workers and fulfilling labor market demands.
The audience largely comprised trainees enrolled in Frontiere Skills’ “TASTE” program for the restaurant and hospitality sectors—currently taking classes at the Dhaka Regency—as well as textile sector students from Format’s “Tessere il Domani” project.
