Supporting a Talent Partnership with Bangladesh

Bangladesh plays a crucial role in both the global and domestic labor markets, through the substantial remittances sent by over 7.4 million workers abroad as of 2021. Despite this, the country struggles to provide adequate employment opportunities for its youthful population, largely due to skills and training gaps. Complex recruitment processes and high migration costs further exacerbate vulnerabilities, particularly for women. Meanwhile, The European Union (EU) Member States (MS) facing labor shortages are actively seeking skilled workers through Talent Partnerships (TPs), focusing on skilling and skills recognition. Aligning Bangladesh's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programs with the EU market needs has the potential to enhance the profiles of Bangladeshi labor migrants, ensuring safe and regulated migration. Building on the groundwork laid by the Skills 21 project, the TP aims to integrate 3,000 migrant workers in the health, engineering, Information & Communication Technology (ICT), care, hospitality, construction, and agriculture sectors to align with EU priorities. The overall objective is to establish a legal and safe labor migration pathway between the EU and Bangladesh under the TP. This objective is operationalized through two outcomes: (1) An operational TP framework enhances labor mobility, improves information access, strengthens stakeholder dialogue, and pilots skills recognition, adhering to international labor standards and inclusivity in gender, human rights, and disabilities; and (2) Legal, institutional, and regulatory frameworks for regular migration and mobility between the EU and Bangladesh are improved, aligning with international labor standards and gender equality standards. Implemented as a technical cooperation project, the project is led by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in partnership with the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) through Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) and sponsored by the EU. The ILO Dhaka, led by the Country Director, implements the project with a team headed by a Chief Technical Adviser (CTA) and national officers. In addition, the ILO headquarter and regional offices further provides technical backstopping and collaboration support. The Project Steering Committee (PSC), chaired by the Secretary of MoEWOE and co-chaired by the EU, meets biannually for strategic leadership, work plan review, monitoring, evaluation, and progress assessment. The Project Monitoring and Coordination Committee (PMCC) meets quarterly to address technical issues and prepare for PSC meetings.

Project symbol

BGD/24/04/EUR

Admin unit

CO-Dhaka

Start date

01/07/2024

End date

30/06/2027

Total allocation

1920778

Total expenditure

Status

Active

664417

Development Partners

Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh

Country/Countries

Bangladesh

Outcomes

Outcome 3: Full and productive employment for just transitions