‘Talent Partnership’ project launched to bridge skills gap, facilitate migration to EU

A new partnership project was launched on Wednesday aimed at addressing skills gaps, reducing migration costs, increasing opportunities for Bangladeshis, and providing skilled workers for the EU labour market.

The International Labour Organization (ILO), the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE), and the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) will implement the EU-funded €3.0 million, three-year-long ‘Talent Partnership’ project, according to a statement.

Focusing on safe and dignified legal pathways for migration to Europe from Bangladesh and reducing irregular migration, the project will support skills matching between EU member states' labour markets and Bangladesh to ensure workers have the right skills that meet EU standards.

Over 7.4 million Bangladeshis are migrant workers, remitting €2 billion each month, the statement added.

The training program aims to prepare 3,000 workers to meet the requirements needed for employment in the EU.

In addition, the project will strengthen the MoEWOE online job-matching platform, improving access to employment opportunities for skilled job seekers.

Acknowledging the importance of addressing challenges encountered by potential overseas workers, Dr. Asif Nazrul, Adviser for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, said, “This project will ensure the safety of workers while boosting remittance for Bangladesh.”

Tuomo Poutiainen, ILO Country Director, underscored the impact of the project on skill development, stating that it would facilitate ‘technical upskilling’ and ‘fair recruitment.’

Michael Miller, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, observed, “The EU-Bangladesh Talent Partnership has been designed to be transformative and win-win.”

“It will ensure safe and dignified migration, including the respect of human rights. In parallel to the creation of legal pathways for migration, we must ensure smooth returns and reintegration, step up work to end irregular migration and tackle the scourge of trafficking and exploitation.”

At the launch held in the city, stakeholders endorsed the core objectives and strategies of the project, underlining the need for sustained collaboration between both the public and private sectors in Bangladesh and EU member states to overcome current challenges and ensure the success of the Talent Partnership collaboration.