Bangladeshis workers have adaptation capacity to cope up with foreign culture, they can do any job abroad, experts say. However, Japanese authorities have excluded Bangladeshis from its list of manpower recruiting countries’ as what Japan terms- ‘Bangladeshi workers don’t have manners.’ Japan also termed it as a major problem.
Appropriate behaviors, culture, language and manners of Bangladeshi workers and lack of proper knowledge at specific sectors will be the major barriers and challenge to working in Japan, they said. They ascertained that it will be tough for Bangladeshi people to adjust to the Japanese culture and daily lifestyle.
On August 29, Bangladesh got an opportunity to recruit and send skilled workers in 14 different categories in Japan as the ninth country. While talking to Bangladesh Post, Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar said, “Bangladesh government is eager to create job opportunities abroad for skilled Bangladeshi workers and the government is working to that end.”
He added, “Telecommunication Ministry has undertaken the endeavor to train skilled workers especially in the categories of ICT, telecommunication, construction and others to send them to Japan.” The Minister also said, “The Bangladeshi workers will get the opportunity to work there but if they are not skilled enough they won’t be able to survive there. The proficiency in Japanese language will play a big role in it.”
Dr Father Tapan Camilus De Rozario, Chairman of the World Religion and Culture department of University of Dhaka, told Bangladesh Post, “Every country has its own culture. It is very natural that a foreigner would initially face problems in adjusting to cultures of the host nation. Manner is the most important part of any culture. It is not only Japan, the foreign language problem arises everywhere.”
Professor De Rozario Marks said, “It is really tough for Bangladeshi people to adjust to the Japanese culture. It is obvious to adapt to the foreign culture. But Bangladeshis are well known for their adaptability capacities. So it may take a while before they familiarize and adjust to the host culture. In fact, there is no work that Bangladeshis cannot do.”
Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Rownaq Jahan said, “Learning manner would not be a major problem for Bangladeshis, they will overcome over time.” Benazir Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) while sharing his views told this correspondent, “We have noticed from previous trends that workers seeking jobs abroad can pick up and learn Japanese cultures, language and behaviors within eight months. However, it is very unfortunate that we lack formal institute where job seekers can prepare and learn such culture before going to Japan and other countries.”
Japan is looking for skilled workers in 14 categories so Bangladesh can get the benefits of this by creating skilled labor force through effective trainings. Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with other ministries are working diligently to fulfill that.
An official of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, unwilling to disclose his name told Bangladesh Post, “The position of Bangladesh had dropped and gone weaker internationally due to the inefficiency of the previous governments. The present government is working to come out of the crisis and will export skilled manpower overseas.”
Agekke Group Executive President Ayumu Takahashi said that Japan needs more than 3 lakh 40 thousand workers as care workers, building cleaning management, in machine parts and tool industry, automobile repair industry, aviation industry, hotel management, agriculture, fisheries, food and beverage and food services industry.
These workers will be selected from 9 different countries by 9 licensed Japanese organizations. Currently, Bangladesh is not included in the list, but the Japanese government is taking urgent steps to include Bangladesh in it.
