JITCO

On February 7, 2010, JITCO officials visited Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment (MEWOE) of Bangladesh and held an annual meeting with the Secretary In-Charge, Mr. Elias Ahmed.

JITCO explained that trainees' working condition would improve upon the enforcement of the revised Immigration Control Act in July 2010, which would qualify first-year trainees to be protected under Japanese labour-related laws. In addition, JITCO pointed out that the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), an entity under  MEWOE and the sole accredited sending organization, was not adequately active in making contacts with accepting organizations, and suggested that private sectors be accredited as sending organizations and that BMET instruct and supervise these newly selected sending organizations.

In response, Secretary Ahmed appreciated the improvement in technical interns' working conditions with the new regulations protecting them from two months after their entry into Japan. Secretary Ahmed also agreed to review the possibility of accrediting some new private employment agencies after determining selection standards.

On the previous day, JITCO officials paid a courtesy call on Overseas Employment Minister, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain. Minister Hossain stressed that the ministry would review the measures to increase participation in the training program including the possibility of accrediting new sending organizations from private employment agencies.

Minister Hossain (center left)