Japan to recruit Bangladesh workers under new agreement Japan will start recruiting Bangladesh workers from April 1, 2027, as part of an employment skills development agreement signed by the two countries on October 17, 2026. The agreement will begin to operate for five years, with an automatic extension of five years. It aims to expand employment opportunities, develop worker skills and strengthen protections for Bangladeshi workers in Japan. The move follows a hiring target of 100,000 workers announced in May 2025 to help deal with Japan's labor shortage.