Japan has formally started the process of recruiting technical interns (TIs) from Bangladesh through private recruiting agencies, officials said.
To this end, both the countries have recently picked 11 agencies to send the interns to Japan, the world's third-largest economy.
The interns will work in construction and automobile sectors for a four-year term.
Even many are expected to work as caregivers in the country of the growing elderly population.
Recruiting agent Nuruzzaman of Global International said everything is in place and now they are waiting for a demand note from Japan.
"We're awaiting a demand note for TIs from the destination country," he told the FE.
Sending the TIs is a lengthy process as candidates will go through phases of examinations and training in Japanese language before their departure.
Mr Zaman, however, said they would send only right candidates for their sustainability in Japan which has been a major manpower market.
Many students are going to Japan and they are engaged in different types of jobs there, he said. "So, we hope to a large number of TIs there."
The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (MoEWOE) has formulated a policy guideline regarding the sending of technical interns to Japan.
Last year, the Japan International Training Cooperation Organisation (JITCO) and the MoEWOE signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) to this end.
As per the guideline, zero migration cost policy will be strictly followed for sending TIs from Bangladesh.
Recruiting agencies may get a minimum amount of money from each TI in commission and fee set by the ministry.
Information on such commissions and fees should be explained in details to the prospective TIs.
Under no circumstances should the senders make any monetary transactions with the TIs. Otherwise, they will be disqualified to ship further TIs there.
When contacted, Kazi Abed Hussain, MoEWOE deputy secretary (training-1), said they are keenly waiting for a demand note from Japan shortly.
The number of manpower to Japan will increase through this latest move, he hoped.
Mr Hussain said more than 200 recruiting agencies applied for permission of sending TIs to Japan.
After scrutiny by both the countries, a total of 11 recruiters were awarded the job of sending TIs.
The senders are strictly following the strategy of 'no malpractice' to hamper the potential market.
Mr Hussain said Bangladesh is likely to qualify as a source country of manpower for Japan. The government is trying to tap this opportunity.
"If we get the chance, we'll seize another opportunity to send a large number of skilled workers to the country," he added.
Japan needs a large workforce for construction and other economic activity.
A report of a global news agency recently showed that Japan has 161 jobs available against 100 jobseekers.
Meanwhile, migration experts are quick to welcome this government initiative, but they said the authorities should be wary of fraudulence that might blight the process.
Despite fixing zero migration cost, they said, private manpower recruiters reportedly exacted a hefty amount from overseas jobseekers much earlier.
After that, the entire process collapsed, they added.
This time, the process should be transparent as recruitment agencies will get involved with it.
In case of any accidents or exploitation, damages or compensations also should be mentioned in the guideline, the experts observed.
Currently, Bangladesh is sending TIs to Japan under another an MoC signed between the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) and International Manpower Development (IM) Japan two years ago.
Only state-run agencies can send technical interns to Japan under this deal.
A total of 35 TIs have so far gone to the East Asian country.
More than 70 others are in the process of going there under the MoC, according to the BMET data.
