One of the greatest resources for Bangladesh has been its labour force, and that it is yet to be utilized to its full extent is a matter that demands immediate attention.
The abundance of working class people in the country has been in need of employment opportunities that fit the goals we have for our future, and a large part of the plan has been the migration of labour to nations that require such resources.
As per recently released Bureau of Manpower, Employment, and Training (BMET) data, the export of labour reached its highest peak in six years, with 1.1 million workers sent for overseas employment in the fiscal year 2022-23.
While an increase in the number of workers being exported is impressive, the fact that this has not garnered a rise in remittance. The data also suggests that unskilled workers from Bangladesh have a higher appeal in the global market than their skilled counterparts.
This is a worrisome trend, as higher demand for unskilled labour means lower salaries, and therefore lower income for the nation.
A lack of skills training facilities has evidently resulted in a larger portion of the workforce being deprived of the skills required for better employment opportunities, and has subsequently branded our country as one with a plethora of unskilled labour.
While it is good that, as things stand currently, we are able to meet the demands of the international employers, it is also crucial for our future as a nation to ensure that the workers we send out are equipped with all the knowledge and skills necessary for improved job opportunities, bringing in more remittance as a result.
Vocational training must be made mandatory for all in order to make our workers an instrumental component of the labour market.
At the end of the day, if we are to put our own workers to proper use, we must ensure that their training matches the standards we are aiming to achieve as a nation.
