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Job seekers often search desperately for work, while employers struggle to find them. The unemployed persons often do not know where they are best suited to work, while the employers face serious difficulties in selecting the right persons to meet their needs.
To address this long-standing problem, the government has been planning to establish the “Department of Employment” under the Ministry of Labour and Employment – the first of its kind in the country – mirroring similar bodies that exist under different names in many countries, according to sources at the ministry.
An “Employment Exchange Centre” is also planned to be set up under the department, said the sources.
Through its office in each district, the department will carry out online registration of job seekers by recording details such as educational qualifications, experience and skills and collect employers’ requirements, by category, from both government and private-sector employers.
The Employment Exchange Centre will then facilitate the information exchange between job seekers and employers, who will subsequently make employment decisions based on demand and qualifications.
According to the sources, the proposed department will also arrange career counselling and training for job seekers, both at the centres and through existing government skill development and training institutes, to prepare them for jobs in line with market demand.
In this regard, the ministry has held several meetings with the leaders of business platforms – Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association
(BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and others, and government stakeholders on the matter, and a draft outlining the planned department and its activities has already been prepared, the sources said.
At its most recent internal coordination meeting, held on 24 August, the ministry directed that the process of establishing the “Department of Employment” be expedited, according to the minutes of the meeting.
“During the meeting, the joint secretary (Employment) reported that a third round of consultative meetings – involving national experts and relevant stakeholders – had been held. Based on the recommendations received, work is currently underway to establish the department and set up employment exchange centres under its purview,” the minutes state.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior ministry official told the Daily Sun that before the department is established, the ministry will run a pilot programme in a selected district to test the planned activities, which is expected to begin within the next two months.
“If the pilot programme proves successful, the process of establishing the department will begin,” the official said.
Proposed functions
The proposed functions of the department include effectively implementing the National Employment Policy and Strategy; assessing labour market demand and developing relevant training curricula in coordination with industry; running apprenticeship programmes to boost skills and job creation; and monitoring labour market trends to shape employment policy.
Other planned initiatives include launching an integrated national online job portal powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and big data; publishing regular employment reports; identifying region-specific job prospects in agriculture, fisheries, poultry farming and small industries; and forming a National Career Guidance Council to connect employers with job seekers.
The department’s scope also covers analysing gaps between labour supply and demand; conducting labour market surveys to guide policy; building a worker database across the formal and informal sectors; and offering upskilling and reskilling support for the unemployed, returning migrant workers and those seeking a career change.
Additionally, the plan includes providing career services through online, offline and front-desk channels; supporting start-ups and fresh graduates through partnerships with academia; ensuring inclusive employment policies for persons with disabilities, women and the third gender; organising job fairs and free job-search assistance; and regulating outsourcing companies to maintain discipline in employment management.
Requesting not to be named, an officer of the ministry told the Daily Sun that they will add a new proposal to the draft under which job seekers will be paid allowances by the government during their counselling and training to encourage them.