Montenegro may Recruit 50,000 Bangladeshi Workers Annually

At a glance
- Montenegrin lawmaker Gordan Stojovic said Montenegro needs more than 50,000 workers annually and responded positively to recruiting Bangladeshi workers through government to government arrangements.

• Tourism, construction, hospitality and medical care were identified as potential sectors for Bangladeshi workers.
• Bangladesh and Montenegro discussed streamlining work permits and labour mobility arrangements.
• Montenegro said it could import more Bangladeshi products beyond ready made garments, including pharmaceuticals, leather goods, ceramics and jute products.
• The two sides also discussed investment, with Montenegro showing interest in renewable energy and tourism cooperation.

Context

The proposal came during Stojovic’s meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam in Dhaka. Shama said Bangladesh is working to expand legal migration opportunities for skilled workers and highlighted its pool of IT professionals, engineers, construction workers and healthcare personnel.
Bangladesh is also pursuing new labour markets including Thailand, Japan and South Korea while working to reopen Malaysia. Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur agreed in June to review their labour migration agreement and prepare an updated framework for recruitment.

Why It Matters

Montenegro would give Bangladesh another potential destination as the government tries to diversify overseas employment. Its stated need for more than 50,000 workers a year is particularly notable because it includes sectors such as construction, hospitality and medical care where Bangladesh already has a large workforce.

The focus on government to government recruitment also fits Bangladesh’s effort to make labour migration more structured, an issue that has become particularly important in its negotiations with Malaysia.

What We Think

The 50,000 figure is still a proposal, not a recruitment agreement. The two sides will now have to proceed with the technicalities of this proposal such as work permit and labour mobility arrangements to make it possible.

If that happens, Montenegro would become another potential market in Bangladesh’s push to expand legal overseas employment beyond its traditional destinations.