Every day, we see advertisements on social media or television claiming that Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates are recruiting millions of workers from Bangladesh. In today's "global village," such messages travel fast, often unchecked, and create false hopes among aspiring migrant workers.The problem is that many of these workers are unaware of the official migration system or the proper application procedures. Without reliable information or guidance, they often turn to irregular and illegal channels, handing over their life savings to middlemen who promise them jobs abroad. Many do not understand the legal requirements, the employment conditions, or even the risks involved.
The consequences are severe. According to a 2024 report by RAMRU, of the 1,011,969 Bangladeshis who left for overseas employment, only 23.62 percentwere skilled workers. The majority54.23 percent migrated as unskilled laborers, leaving them highly vulnerable to exploitation and job loss. For those who manage to secure jobs initially, the reality is often harsh. A lack of technical skills or workplace readiness means many are dismissed within weeks, leaving them unemployed, in debt, and vulnerable. And when these workers fail, their families bear the brunt, struggling with unpaid loans, lost savings, and shattered expectations.
Yet, there is hope, Bangladesh has both government and non-government institutions that provide skill training, either free of cost or with very minimal admission fees for administrative purposes. These skills can be used to obtain jobs both at home and abroad. Training areas include IT skills (graphic designing, freelancing, basic computer operation, etc.), construction trades (plumbing, electrical work, masonry, wielding and etc.), caregiving services (nursing, housekeeping, etc.), as well as business, education, research, and many other sectors offered through Technical Training Centre's (TTCs). Interestingly, government TTCs also provide stipends for successful trainees and issue certificates upon course completion. These courses usually range from three to six months in duration. Currently, a total of 110 TTCs are operating across different districts and sub-districts of Bangladesh. However, a major question arises: how effective are these TTCs in supplying skilled laborers to the job markets of Bangladesh and abroad? Are they really making an impact on society?
Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP), in collaboration with Radboud University, the Netherlands, and European partners, is implementing a research project titled "Global Strategy for Skills, Migration, and Development (GS4S)" in the Khulna and Dhaka regions. Under this project, OKUP has interviewed more than 800 people across these regions. Their perspectives indicate that the success rate of skill training programs remains very low. Although thousands of student's complete courses at technical training centers (TTCs) each year, their skills often do not align with labor market demands. As a result, only a small number of skilled workers are able to migrate successfully despite the large number of trainees.Most participants struggle to achieve success primarily due to difficulties in finding suitable employment. Many skill training participants shared that they feel confident about finding jobs in Dhaka or abroad, but job opportunities are very limited, and the real job market scenario is inconsistent. Although TTC students are motivated, they find it more difficult to apply their skills in real job settings than during training. These unsuccessful experiences discourage them from continuing skill training programs and instead encourage migration to foreign countries without proper skills. As a result, they suffer in destination countries and fail to earn what they expected. Many then attempt to move to other continents, such as Europe, through illegal routes. In some cases, they are sent back home after losing all their money and assets, leaving their situation unchanged.
We also found that genuinely deserving students often cannot be admitted due to broker (Dalal) activities around district-level TTCs. Another major issue is that people living near district TTCs show high interest in enrolling mainly because of the stipend provided after course completion. In some cases, even female students who are neither capable nor interested in completing the training are admitted solely for financial reasons. We recommend making the admission process more rigorous to ensure that only genuinely motivated students are enrolled, drawing on the best practices of Dhaka-based TTCs. Since most district-level TTC students come from city corporation areas, authorities should increase outreach at the village level, where awareness of skill training programs remains very limited. They can arrange events at the union level to reach potential trainees directly.
TTCs often recruit former students as trainers; however,recruitment should ensure that they possess not only good academic results but also the actual skills and capacity to teach participants effectively. A large number of trainees from district-level TTCs reported that they lack confidence in finding jobs or starting businesses after training, while trainees from capital-based TTCs demonstrated higher confidence and motivation to start businesses. This indicates that training delivery methods and the relationship between trainers and students significantly influence trainee`s development. Thirdly, the equipment used in many training programs is outdated. Training instruments should be updated to match those currently used in developed countries. Our investigation found that many migrants can operate manual machinery, but face difficulties abroad where digital and automated machines are commonly used. New machines should be introduced as soon as possible and made accessible to all trainees. While many people focus only on settling abroad, skills can also be used to find jobs or start businesses within Bangladesh, and trainees should be informed about these opportunities.
Lastly, the current memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and bilateral agreements between TTCs and job providers in Bangladesh and abroad are not sufficient. Although trainees have skills, confidence, and certification, limited opportunities prevent them from applying these skills in jobs. Therefore, authorities should create more opportunities in collaboration with NGOs, private companies, foreign administrations, and relevant agencies to ensure employment for skilled individuals. Overall, skill training programs and skilled migration processes should be made more transparent and accessible, ensuring the supply of quality workers. In this way, Bangladesh can transform its population challenge into a skilled manpower-supplying country and earn remittancefor national development.
Md Mahmudul Hasan is a Researcher and Urmi Jahan Tanni is Research Manager at Ovibashi Karmi Unnayan Program (OKUP)
