Tokyo. Controversy has arisen after the news of calling one lakh laborers from Bangladesh in Japan went viral on social media. It was being claimed that the Government of Japan will provide employment to one lakh workers from Bangladesh every year and five lakh Bangladeshis will reach Japan in the next five years. As the matter escalated, the Japanese government clarified that these reports were wrong. Japan's Foreign Ministry clarified that no such agreement was reached in the summit talks between Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman on October 27.
This clarification of the Japanese government has come at a time when talks are going on between the two countries to increase economic cooperation, trade, investment and employment opportunities.
What is the matter of calling one lakh Bangladeshi labourers?
In fact, for the last few days it was being claimed on social media that Japan has agreed to accept one lakh workers from Bangladesh every year. Some posts also said that five lakh Bangladeshi workers would reach Japan in the next five years.
These claims were presented by linking them to the recent high-level meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries. After this this news became a topic of discussion on social media.
However, Japan's Foreign Ministry rejected these claims outright. Toshihiro Kitamura, the ministry's press secretary and director general of press and public diplomacy, clarified on social media on October 29 that the Japanese government has not taken any decision to accept one lakh workers from Bangladesh.
He said that no such agreement was reached even in the Japan-Bangladesh summit held on October 27.
What was decided in the meeting of the two Prime Ministers?
A summit was held between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tariq Rahman in Tokyo on October 27. After this, a joint statement was issued by both the countries.
According to the official release of the Japanese government, issues like strengthening bilateral relations, increasing economic cooperation, encouraging trade and investment and regional security were discussed in the meeting.
During this, Japan expressed the possibility of private investment of about one trillion yen by Japanese companies in Bangladesh in the next five years. This was estimated to create approximately two lakh employment opportunities in Bangladesh.
The two countries also agreed to take forward the Bay of Bengal Industrial Development Zone (BIG-B) initiative under the new strategic cooperation framework. Apart from this, emphasis was laid on early implementation of Japan-Bangladesh Economic Partnership Agreement and promotion of trade and investment.
There is a big difference between investment and calling workers
The most important thing in this whole controversy is that Japan had expressed the possibility of investing in Bangladesh and creating employment there. This does not mean that the Japanese government has decided to invite one lakh laborers from Bangladesh to their country. Data related to investment and employment were misrepresented on social media.
After all, where did the figure of one lakh workers come from?
The figure of one lakh workers is not entirely new. During a human resources seminar held in Tokyo in May 2025, Japanese business representatives mentioned a plan to provide work opportunities to at least one lakh Bangladeshi workers in Japan over the next five years.
During this period, there were also reports of signing of two MoUs between employment agencies of Bangladesh and Japanese organizations.
However, a plan by Japanese business representatives to provide employment opportunities and an official commitment by the Japanese government to accept a certain number of foreign workers are two different things.
After the meeting of the Prime Ministers of the two countries in October, old data started being circulated on social media linking it to the new agreement. The latest clarification from the Japanese government has come after this controversy.
Why does Japan need foreign workers?
Japan has been facing the problem of shortage of manpower for a long time. Due to increasing aging population in the country and decreasing number of people in the working age group, there is a need for employees in many industries and service sectors.
To fulfill this shortage, Japan uses various arrangements to provide employment to foreign workers. These also include the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) system for foreign workers with specific skills.
Under this arrangement, eligible foreign workers get employment opportunities in designated areas in Japan. In such a situation, it is possible to increase Japan's economic and employment cooperation with Bangladesh, but there has been no new agreement to call one lakh workers at the government level.