Japan’s foreign ministry dismisses reports of accepting 100,000 Bangladeshi workers

Japan’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday rubbished reports that the country had agreed to accept 100,000 workers from Bangladesh.

Kitamura Toshihiro, Japan’s foreign press secretary, said recent online posts suggesting that Tokyo had agreed to take in 100,000 Bangladeshi workers were false.

In a post on X, Kitamura wrote, “no such fact exists, including within the discussions during the Japan-Bangladesh Summit Meeting on Oct. 27”.

It is to be noted that the two countries signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Employment Skills Development (ESDP-MOC) on October 17.

Under the agreement, the protection of Bangladeshi workers will be ensured, cooperation between the two countries in sending and receiving workers will be strengthened, and opportunities for skills development through employment will be created.

Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury said the agreement would create opportunities for skills development, higher wages and long-term residence in Japan for Bangladeshi workers, while ensuring their maximum protection.

He said that under the agreement, Bangladeshi workers would receive legal protection equivalent to that of local Japanese workers, and equal opportunities for men and women in the workplace would be ensured.

The figure of 100,000 circulating on social media has not, however, been officially verified by either side.

Its emergence has sparked criticism in Japan, particularly in conservative circles.