The government has assured the focus on developing skilled manpower to facilitate job opportunities across the globe amid a significant reduction in the proposed allocation for the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Earlier, the ousted government, in its revised budget for FY2024-25, allocated Tk1,140 core, while it has been brought down to Tk855 crore in the proposed budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Besides, the proposed budget has not increased the 2.5% incentive stipulated on remittances sent by the expatriate workers.

“The Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment stood at probably the lowest position as per allocation in the last budget. A new government has taken charge and the expatriate workers have played a crucial role participating in the movement that confirmed the fall of the Awami League government, but the allocation has reduced further,” Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP) Chairman Shakirul Islam told the Daily Sun.

“This is sheer negligence towards the expatriate workers and an example of discrimination against them,” he added.

The migration expert also expressed frustration with the lack of initiative to ensure legal and financial protection for expatriate workers.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed, in his televised speech on the proposed budget for FY26, only spoke of his government’s commitment to continue supporting the existing 70 technical training centers (TTCs) at the district level as well as 40 TTCs at the upazila level along with building 50 new TTCs in additional 50 upazilas.

Besides, he said, the interim government has taken steps to provide world-class technical training certificates by developing a technical training curriculum to prepare young people to meet the demands of the domestic and global market.

“Activities are underway to establish linkages between industries, training institutes and academia to ensure job placement through demand assessment, curriculum development based on that demand and providing education/training according to the curriculum,” he said.

The adviser said that to continue the growing trend of developing skilled human resources, a special programme is being implemented to connect export-oriented and small and medium industries with global high-value chains and increase their competitiveness and train 2,20,000 people of different professions.

Stating that the government has spent Tk651.37 crore to ensure the continuation of productivity by resolving labour unrest in the industrial sector since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government, he said the annual increment rate of wage has been enhanced from 5% to 9% for the industrial sector from December 2024, considering the prevailing high inflation.