Friday, 02/Jan/2026
Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC)
MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION
ON
THE TECHNICAL INTERN TRAINING PROGRAM
BETWEEN
THE MINISTRY OF EXPATRIATES' WELFARE & OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT OF BANGLADESH
AND
THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LABOR AND WELFARE OF JAPAN
The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment of Bangladesh (hereinafter referred to as "MEWOE") and the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as "the Ministry of Japan") shared the view that the purpose of the Technical Intern Training Program is to transfer technical skills, techniques and knowledge (hereinafter referred to as "technical skills, etc.") to Bangladesh, to contribute to the human resource development by which the development of the economy of Bangladesh would be led and thus to promote international cooperation. Based on this view, MEWOE and the Ministry of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as "both Ministries") have decided as follows in order to adequately advance the Technical Intern Training Program:
(Purpose)
1. The purpose of this Memorandum is to transfer technical skills, etc. from Japan to Bangladesh appropriately and smoothly through the Technical Intern Training Program by setting out the commitments between both Ministries to send and accept technical intern trainees and thus to promote international cooperation.
(Commitments of the Ministry of Japan)
2. The Ministry of Japan, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, if considered appropriate, will carry out the following commitments related to the acceptance of technical intern trainees from Bangladesh in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of Japan:
(1) When the Ministry of Japan receives the information from MEWOE on a sending organization that intends to send technical intern trainees to Japan (hereinafter referred to as "Sending Organization") and has been approved by MEWOE to meet Sending Organization's Approving Standards described in Attachment 1 (hereinafter respectively referred to as "Approved Sending Organization" and "Approving Standards"), to make such information publicly available in Japan;
(2) To accept only those technical intern trainees of Bangladesh who are sent by Approved Sending Organizations after the commencement of cooperation under this
Memorandum. However, the Ministry of Japan may not accept technical intern trainees of Bangladesh in case that a technical intern training plan related to the technical intern trainee is not approved and so forth, even if they are sent from Approved Sending Organizations;
(3) To substitute an approval to a Sending Organization by MEWOE for the letter of recommendation for the Sending Organization by MEWOE after the commencement of cooperation under this Memorandum, provided that MEWOE completes procedures for the approval of Sending Organizations and provides the Ministry of Japan with a full list of Approved Sending Organizations;
(4) When the Ministry of Japan receives from MEWOE the information on the revocation of an approval of Approved Sending Organizations, to make such information publicly available in Japan;
(5) To provide necessary information when the Ministry of Japan receives inquiries from MEWOE pertaining to issues such as the status of implementation of the Technical Intern Training Program, any revisions of the Program, or any additions of the occupations covered by the Program;
(6) To provide MEWOE with a list of licensed Japanese supervising organizations;
(7) To notify the results to MEWOE, when the Ministry of Japan takes administrative measures against a supervising organization by revoking the license, issuing an order for suspension of operation or issuing an order for improvement, or administrative measures against an implementing organization by revoking accreditation of a technical intern training plan or issuing an order for improvement in accordance with Article 15, Article 16, Article 36 or Article 37, including the case of violations of Article 46 to 49 of the Act on Proper Technical Intern Training and Protection of Technical Intern Trainees (herein after referred to as "Act");
(8) To establish a system to transfer technical intern trainees to other implementing organizations in case of revocation of license of a supervising organization, discontinuation of business by an implementing organization or infringement of human rights by a supervising organization or an implementing organization; and
(9) When the Ministry of Japan finds that a Bangladeshi Approved Sending Organization has exercised activities inconsistent with Act, to inform MEWOE of such activities for the purpose of cooperating with MEWOE in taking appropriate action on such activities.
(Commitments of MEWOE)
3. MEWOE, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of Bangladesh, will carry out the following commitments with regard to sending technical intern trainees:
(2) To examine whether or not Sending Organizations meet Approving Standards, and to give approvals when Sending Organizations are considered to meet Approving Standards;
(3) To make the names and other information of Approved Sending Organizations in Bangladesh publicly available when the approvals set out in the previous paragraph are given. To provide the Ministry of Japan with the information on Approved Sending Organizations in the form specified in Attachment 2, and to continue issuing the letter of recommendation for Sending Organizations which MEWOE considers appropriate to send technical intern trainees to Japan until MEWOE provides Ministry of Japan with a full list of Approved Sending Organizations;
(4) When MEWOE is informed by the Ministry of Japan that an Approved Sending Organization seems to have exercised activities inconsistent with Approving Standards or other improper activities, to conduct investigations over the Approved Sending Organization in question, to provide necessary guidance and supervision, and then to report the results to the Ministry of Japan;
(5) To provide guidance to Approved Sending Organizations in Bangladesh in order to select and send technical intern trainees in an appropriate manner, to revoke an approval when MEWOE considers that an Approved Sending Organization no longer meets Approving Standards, and to notify the results to the Ministry of Japan;
(6) To cooperate on follow-up surveys conducted by the Ministry of Japan concerning the situation of utilization of acquired technical skills, etc. after the technical intern trainees return to Bangladesh, by, in particular, providing guidance to Approved Sending Organizations in order to obtain accurate feedbacks as many as possible from those former technical intern trainees; and
(7) To provide the Ministry of Japan with information required, when MEWOE receives inquiries from the Ministry of Japan pertaining to guidance and supervision records exercised over Approved Sending Organizations, records related to approval of Sending Organizations, matters related to the types of job categories in demand for technical transfer in Bangladesh and so forth.
(Designation of Contact Points)
4 Both Ministries will designate respectively the following contact points related to communications and coordination between both countries in order to effectively implement the activities under this Memorandum.
(1) For Bangladesh, MEWOE. MEWOE may delegate a part of the work related to this Memorandum to the Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan.
(2) For Japan, the International Affairs Department of the Organization for Technical
Intern Training. For modification and supplementation of this Memorandum and desire to terminate the cooperation under this Memorandum, the Entry and Status Division of the Immigration Bureau, the Ministry of Justice and the Office of Counselor for Overseas Human Resources Development, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
(Settlement of Issues)
5 Both Ministries will consult with respect to the implementation of activities under this Memorandum or issues arising in relation to the implementation, including occurrences of technical intern trainees' disappearances and deportations of illegally staying technical intern trainees, and will settle such issues amicably and in close cooperation, through diplomatic channels as deemed appropriate, with each country's relevant ministries and agencies.
(Implementation within the scope of laws and regulations)
6 Cooperation under this Memorandum will be conducted within the scope of the laws and regulations in force in each country. Either of Ministries will not disclose confidential information obtained from the other Ministry through cooperation and exchange of information within the framework of this Memorandum without the written consent from the other Ministry.
(Consultation)
7 Representatives of both Ministries will consult from time to time, as necessary.
Both Ministries will consult through diplomatic channels as deemed appropriate.
(Others)
8 This Memorandum was signed in Tokyo, Japan, on 29 January 2018. The cooperation under this Memorandum will commence on the date of its signature. With the commencement of this Memorandum, the cooperation between both Ministries on the Technical Intern Training Program will be conducted under this Memorandum.
The cooperation under this Memorandum will continue for a period of five years from the date of its signature and will be extended automatically for additional five years unless there is a written notice by either Ministry not to desire to extend it sixty days in advance of the termination date. In case that either Ministry wishes to terminate the cooperation based on this Memorandum before the end of the five-year period mentioned above, the cooperation may be terminated by a written notice to the other Ministry indicating such intent, not later than ninety days before the desired termination date.
The contents of this Memorandum will be modified or supplemented as necessary with
written consent from both Ministries.
This Memorandum is made in English.
FOR THE MINISTRY OF FOR THE MINISTRY OF
EXPATRIATES' WELFARE & JUSTICE OF JAPAN
OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT OF
BANGLADESH
黑川弘務
FOR THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS OF JAPAN
相里孝一
FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH,
LABOR AND WELFARE OF JAPAN
宮野甚一
Approving Standards for Sending Organizations
1. A Sending Organization must meet all of the following standards.
(1) To appropriately select and send to Japan only those who are motivated to engage in technical intern training with the understanding of the objectives of the Technical Intern Training Program and to contribute to the economic development of Bangladesh by making use of the achievement through the technical intern training after returning to Bangladesh.
(2) To clearly specify the calculating criteria of commissions and any other fees to be collected from 'technical intern trainees and/or technical intern trainee candidates' (hereinafter referred to as "trainees and candidates") and make the criteria publicly available, and to explain the details of such commissions and other fees to trainees and candidates in order to obtain their understanding sufficiently.
(3) To provide the technical intern trainees who returned to Bangladesh after completing the technical intern training with necessary support, such as finding occupations in order for them to appropriately utilize the acquired technical skills, etc..
(4) With respect to the appropriate implementation of the Technical Intern Training Program as well as the protection of technical intern trainees, to respond the requests from the Minister of Justice of Japan, the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan or the Organization for Technical Intern Training. Such requests include cooperation on follow-up surveys on the technical intern trainees who returned to Bangladesh after completing the technical intern training.
(5) As for Sending Organization and its board members, if they had been sentenced to imprisonment or more severe penalty in Japan or in Bangladesh, at least five years have elapsed after the penalty had been completed or the penalty had been exempted from the execution.
(6) To carry out any projects in accordance with the laws and regulations of Bangladesh.
(7) As for Sending Organization and its board members, to have never conducted any of the following acts within the preceding five years:
(a) In connection with technical intern training, managing money or other
properties of trainees and candidates, their relatives or other persons concerned, regardless of any reasons such as collecting deposits or any other purposes;
(b) Concluding any contracts that impose monetary penalties or that expect undue transfer of money or other properties, for the violation of the contracts in relation to technical intern training;
(c) Human rights infringements against trainees and candidates such as assaults, intimidations, and restrictions of freedom; and
(d) With regards to the procedures of the Technical Intern Training Program as well as the immigration program in Japan, to use or provide forged, altered or false documents, pictures or drawings with the intention of obtaining permissions fraudulently.
(8) In coordinating applications for technical intern training to Japanese supervising organizations, to confirm that trainees and candidates, their relatives or other persons concerned have never been involved in the acts set out in (a) and (b) of (7).
(9) Acknowledging the importance of addressing disappearance of technical intern trainees, to cooperate with Japanese supervising organizations and to make efforts in order to prevent technical intern trainees from disappearing.
(10) To have other necessary capacities to appropriately coordinate applications for technical intern training to Japanese supervising organizations.
2. In terms of approving Sending Organization in Bangladesh, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment will commence the procedure from 1st February 2018 and provide a full list of Approved Sending Organizations for the Ministry of Japan by 1st April 2018. The Ministry of Japan will accept only those trainees who are sent by Bangladeshi Approved Sending Organizations on the list from 1st September 2018.
Date:
Outline of Approved Sending Organization
Name of Organization: ……………………………………………………….
Name of Representative: ……………………………………………………..
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………
TEL………………………………… FAX: …………………………………………………
Email: …………………………………………………………………………
URL: ……………………………………………………….
Date of establishment: …………………………………………………..
Date of approval (Duration):…………………………………….. (Valid until: ………………..
Type of industry and main business: ………………………………………………
Capital: ………………………………………………………….. Yearly sales figure (the most recent year): …………………………………………………………..
Number of full-time employees (the number of employees involved in sending work): ……………………………………………..
Name of person in charge of training: …………………………… (position)
(Address) …………………………………………………………………………………….
(TEL)………………………………………………… (FAX) ……………………………..
(Email) …………………………………………………………………………..
Contact point in Japan
(Name): ……………………………………………………………………..
(Name of representative (In the case of a company/organization)): …………………………
(Address) ……………………………………………………………………………..
(TEL)…………………………………………….. (FAX) …………………………………..
(Email) ………………………………………………………………………..………………
MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION
BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF EXPATRIATES' WELFARE & OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
BANGLADESH
AND
THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LABOUR AND WELFARE AND THE NATIONAL POLICE AGENCY OF JAPAN
ON
A BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATION PARTNERSHIP FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM PERTAINING TO FOREIGN HUMAN RESOURCES WITH THE STATUS OF RESIDENCE
OF
"SPECIFIED SKILLED WORKER"
The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment of the People's Republic of Bangladesh (hereinafter referred to as "MEWOE") and the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the National Police Agency of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Ministries and Agencies of Japan") share the view to enhance mutual benefits through the cooperation between the two countries on sending and accepting specified skilled workers in the operation of the system of acceptance (hereinafter referred to as "the system") of human resources possessing certain expertise and skills, who have been granted the status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker" by the Government of Japan (hereinafter referred to as "specified skilled workers"). Based on this view, MEWOE and the Ministries and Agencies of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Ministries and Agencies of Both Countries") have decided to cooperate as follows:
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Memorandum of Cooperation is, while protecting specified skilled workers through the smooth and proper promotion of sending and accepting specified skilled workers to Japan from Bangladesh. by means of establishing a basic framework for
information partnership, to ensure smooth and proper sending and accepting specified skilled workers (in particular the elimination of malicious intermediary organizations) and to resolve the problems of sending and accepting and of residing in Japan of specified skilled workers, as well as to enhance the mutual benefits of both countries through cooperation for proper operation of the system.
2. Contact point
In order to effectively implement the cooperation under this Memorandum of Cooperation, the Ministries and Agencies of Both Countries will designate respectively the following contact points for both countries.
(1) For Bangladesh:
Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment
(2) For Japan:
Residency Management Division, Residency Management and Support Department, Immigration Services Agency
3. Framework of cooperation
Cooperation under this Memorandum of Cooperation will be conducted within the scope of the laws and regulations in force in each country. The ministries and agencies or ministry of one country will not disclose the confidential information of the ministries and agencies or ministry of the other country, obtained through cooperation and information-sharing within the framework of this Memorandum of Cooperation, without written consent of the ministries and agencies or ministry of the other country.
4. Basic framework for information partnership
(1) Information-sharing. The Ministries and Agencies of Both Countries will promptly share necessary or useful information in order to ensure smooth and proper sending and accepting specified skilled workers and to resolve the problems of sending and accepting and of residing in Japan of specified skilled workers. This information includes information on the acts of intermediary organizations (including both individuals and corporations) in both countries involved in recruitment and job
seeking relating to specified skilled workers and on those that fall under the following:
(a) Managing money or other properties of specified skilled workers or candidates of specified skilled workers (hereinafter referred to as "specified skilled workers and candidates"), their relatives or any person concerned, regardless of any reason such as the collection of a deposit or any other purposes;
(b) Concluding any contracts that impose monetary penalties or that expect undue transfer of money or other properties, for the violation of the contracts:
(c) Human rights infringements against specified skilled workers and candidates such as assaults, intimidation and restrictions of their freedom;
(d) Using or providing forged, altered or false documents, pictures or drawings, with the intention of obtaining permissions, visas or other certificates fraudulently in relation to the immigration control or visa procedures of Japan; or
(e) Collecting fees or other expenses from specified skilled workers and candidates without indicating the calculation basis of the expense, and making them understand the amount and breakdown of the expense.
(2) Consultations for correction of problems and other issues
The Ministries and Agencies of Both Countries will consult periodically or from time to time to achieve the purpose set forth in 1 of this Memorandum of Cooperation, and will make efforts to correct problems that require improvement for proper operation of the system. The main subjects of the consultations will be as follows:
(a) Issues related to implementation and changes of the policies of both countries concerning the system;
(b) Issues related to ensuring the appropriateness of intermediary organizations for specified skilled workers (including ways of necessary corrective measures);
(c) Issues related to corrective measures for the various examinations pertaining to sending and accepting specified skilled workers and for improper accepting organizations in
Japan, or organizations engaging in support for foreign human resources with the status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker (i)", (which means support for their work life, daily life and social life enabling specified skilled workers with "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" to engage in their activities under the status of residence stably and smoothly) and for the improper sending organizations in Bangladesh;
(d) Issues related to proper implementation of skill exams and tests to measure Japanese language proficiency of specified skilled workers (hereinafter referred to collectively as "exams and tests");
(e) Issues related to residence management of specified skilled workers in Japan; and
(f) Issues related to proper operation of the system and other related systems pertaining to immigration or labor of both countries other than the issues specified in (a) to (e) above.
5. Cooperation in the exams and tests
The Ministries and Agencies of Japan and the ministries in charge of accepting specified skilled workers (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Relevant Ministries and Agencies of Japan") will properly conduct the exams and tests. If MEWOE and the ministry related to the exams and tests (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Relevant Ministries of Bangladesh") are requested by the Relevant Ministries and Agencies of Japan to cooperate in the implementation of the exams and tests and related business pertaining to Japanese language education, or in other business related to the tests to measure Japanese language proficiency which Relevant Ministries and Agencies of Japan involve, Relevant Ministries of Bangladesh will comply with the request to the extent possible.
In addition, if the Relevant Ministries and Agencies of Japan and the Relevant Ministries of Bangladesh obtain information, in relation to the exams and tests, about proxy test-taking, the forgery or alteration of documents certifying passing of the exams and tests or other wrongful acts, they will share the information promptly in accordance with the framework set out in 4 (1) in this Memorandum of Cooperation.
6. Others
If the Ministries and Agencies of Japan deem that human resources to make up for the labor shortage in Japan have been secured through the acceptance of specified skilled workers in each field, they may temporarily suspend the acceptance of specified skilled workers in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations relating to immigration of Japan. In such a case, the Ministries and Agencies of Japan will appropriately deal with the issues on residence of the specified skilled workers from Bangladesh and their dependent spouses or children (provided that the status of residence of specified skilled workers is "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)") (hereinafter referred to as "spouse or children") in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations concerning immigration of Japan, taking into account the status of the employment contract between specified skilled workers and the organization accepting them, the operational situation and living conditions, etc. If these specified skilled workers and their spouse or children are not permitted to reside in Japan, MEWOE will make efforts to take the necessary procedures together with the Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan, such as the issuance of temporary passports, on request of the Ministries and Agencies of Japan, in order to ensure their smooth return to Bangladesh.
7. Review of the framework and others
Based on a review of the system pertaining to specified skilled workers to be implemented two years after its commencement, the framework of cooperation between the two countries under this Memorandum of Cooperation will be reviewed as necessary. The contents of this Memorandum of Cooperation will be modified or supplemented as necessary with written consent of both countries.
8. Language and others
This Memorandum of Cooperation was signed in duplicate in English at Tokyo, on August 27th, 2019.
The cooperation under this Memorandum of Cooperation will commence on the date of its signature.
For the Ministry of Expatriates For the Ministry of Justice of Welfare & Overseas Employment Japan of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
佐木聖子
For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
水馬老一
For the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
小林洋司
For the National Police Agency of Japan
田中勝
ON
THE TECHNICAL INTERN TRAINING PROGRAM
BETWEEN
THE MINISTRY OF EXPATRIATES' WELFARE & OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT OF BANGLADESH
AND
THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LABOR AND WELFARE OF JAPAN
The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment of Bangladesh (hereinafter referred to as "MEWOE") and the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as "the Ministry of Japan") shared the view that the purpose of the Technical Intern Training Program is to transfer technical skills, techniques and knowledge (hereinafter referred to as "technical skills, etc.") to Bangladesh, to contribute to the human resource development by which the development of the economy of Bangladesh would be led and thus to promote international cooperation. Based on this view, MEWOE and the Ministry of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as "both Ministries") have decided as follows in order to adequately advance the Technical Intern Training Program:
(Purpose)
1. The purpose of this Memorandum is to transfer technical skills, etc. from Japan to Bangladesh appropriately and smoothly through the Technical Intern Training Program by setting out the commitments between both Ministries to send and accept technical intern trainees and thus to promote international cooperation.
(Commitments of the Ministry of Japan)
2. The Ministry of Japan, in cooperation with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, if considered appropriate, will carry out the following commitments related to the acceptance of technical intern trainees from Bangladesh in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of Japan:
(1) When the Ministry of Japan receives the information from MEWOE on a sending organization that intends to send technical intern trainees to Japan (hereinafter referred to as "Sending Organization") and has been approved by MEWOE to meet Sending Organization's Approving Standards described in Attachment 1 (hereinafter respectively referred to as "Approved Sending Organization" and "Approving Standards"), to make such information publicly available in Japan;
(2) To accept only those technical intern trainees of Bangladesh who are sent by Approved Sending Organizations after the commencement of cooperation under this
Memorandum. However, the Ministry of Japan may not accept technical intern trainees of Bangladesh in case that a technical intern training plan related to the technical intern trainee is not approved and so forth, even if they are sent from Approved Sending Organizations;
(3) To substitute an approval to a Sending Organization by MEWOE for the letter of recommendation for the Sending Organization by MEWOE after the commencement of cooperation under this Memorandum, provided that MEWOE completes procedures for the approval of Sending Organizations and provides the Ministry of Japan with a full list of Approved Sending Organizations;
(4) When the Ministry of Japan receives from MEWOE the information on the revocation of an approval of Approved Sending Organizations, to make such information publicly available in Japan;
(5) To provide necessary information when the Ministry of Japan receives inquiries from MEWOE pertaining to issues such as the status of implementation of the Technical Intern Training Program, any revisions of the Program, or any additions of the occupations covered by the Program;
(6) To provide MEWOE with a list of licensed Japanese supervising organizations;
(7) To notify the results to MEWOE, when the Ministry of Japan takes administrative measures against a supervising organization by revoking the license, issuing an order for suspension of operation or issuing an order for improvement, or administrative measures against an implementing organization by revoking accreditation of a technical intern training plan or issuing an order for improvement in accordance with Article 15, Article 16, Article 36 or Article 37, including the case of violations of Article 46 to 49 of the Act on Proper Technical Intern Training and Protection of Technical Intern Trainees (herein after referred to as "Act");
(8) To establish a system to transfer technical intern trainees to other implementing organizations in case of revocation of license of a supervising organization, discontinuation of business by an implementing organization or infringement of human rights by a supervising organization or an implementing organization; and
(9) When the Ministry of Japan finds that a Bangladeshi Approved Sending Organization has exercised activities inconsistent with Act, to inform MEWOE of such activities for the purpose of cooperating with MEWOE in taking appropriate action on such activities.
(Commitments of MEWOE)
3. MEWOE, in accordance with the relevant laws and regulations of Bangladesh, will carry out the following commitments with regard to sending technical intern trainees:
- To ensure that the recommendation, which is made by a public authority, on a Sending organization that is considered to have the ability to properly coordinate the applications of the technical intern trainees for the supervising-organization-type of
(2) To examine whether or not Sending Organizations meet Approving Standards, and to give approvals when Sending Organizations are considered to meet Approving Standards;
(3) To make the names and other information of Approved Sending Organizations in Bangladesh publicly available when the approvals set out in the previous paragraph are given. To provide the Ministry of Japan with the information on Approved Sending Organizations in the form specified in Attachment 2, and to continue issuing the letter of recommendation for Sending Organizations which MEWOE considers appropriate to send technical intern trainees to Japan until MEWOE provides Ministry of Japan with a full list of Approved Sending Organizations;
(4) When MEWOE is informed by the Ministry of Japan that an Approved Sending Organization seems to have exercised activities inconsistent with Approving Standards or other improper activities, to conduct investigations over the Approved Sending Organization in question, to provide necessary guidance and supervision, and then to report the results to the Ministry of Japan;
(5) To provide guidance to Approved Sending Organizations in Bangladesh in order to select and send technical intern trainees in an appropriate manner, to revoke an approval when MEWOE considers that an Approved Sending Organization no longer meets Approving Standards, and to notify the results to the Ministry of Japan;
(6) To cooperate on follow-up surveys conducted by the Ministry of Japan concerning the situation of utilization of acquired technical skills, etc. after the technical intern trainees return to Bangladesh, by, in particular, providing guidance to Approved Sending Organizations in order to obtain accurate feedbacks as many as possible from those former technical intern trainees; and
(7) To provide the Ministry of Japan with information required, when MEWOE receives inquiries from the Ministry of Japan pertaining to guidance and supervision records exercised over Approved Sending Organizations, records related to approval of Sending Organizations, matters related to the types of job categories in demand for technical transfer in Bangladesh and so forth.
(Designation of Contact Points)
4 Both Ministries will designate respectively the following contact points related to communications and coordination between both countries in order to effectively implement the activities under this Memorandum.
(1) For Bangladesh, MEWOE. MEWOE may delegate a part of the work related to this Memorandum to the Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan.
(2) For Japan, the International Affairs Department of the Organization for Technical
Intern Training. For modification and supplementation of this Memorandum and desire to terminate the cooperation under this Memorandum, the Entry and Status Division of the Immigration Bureau, the Ministry of Justice and the Office of Counselor for Overseas Human Resources Development, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
(Settlement of Issues)
5 Both Ministries will consult with respect to the implementation of activities under this Memorandum or issues arising in relation to the implementation, including occurrences of technical intern trainees' disappearances and deportations of illegally staying technical intern trainees, and will settle such issues amicably and in close cooperation, through diplomatic channels as deemed appropriate, with each country's relevant ministries and agencies.
(Implementation within the scope of laws and regulations)
6 Cooperation under this Memorandum will be conducted within the scope of the laws and regulations in force in each country. Either of Ministries will not disclose confidential information obtained from the other Ministry through cooperation and exchange of information within the framework of this Memorandum without the written consent from the other Ministry.
(Consultation)
7 Representatives of both Ministries will consult from time to time, as necessary.
Both Ministries will consult through diplomatic channels as deemed appropriate.
(Others)
8 This Memorandum was signed in Tokyo, Japan, on 29 January 2018. The cooperation under this Memorandum will commence on the date of its signature. With the commencement of this Memorandum, the cooperation between both Ministries on the Technical Intern Training Program will be conducted under this Memorandum.
The cooperation under this Memorandum will continue for a period of five years from the date of its signature and will be extended automatically for additional five years unless there is a written notice by either Ministry not to desire to extend it sixty days in advance of the termination date. In case that either Ministry wishes to terminate the cooperation based on this Memorandum before the end of the five-year period mentioned above, the cooperation may be terminated by a written notice to the other Ministry indicating such intent, not later than ninety days before the desired termination date.
The contents of this Memorandum will be modified or supplemented as necessary with
written consent from both Ministries.
This Memorandum is made in English.
FOR THE MINISTRY OF FOR THE MINISTRY OF
EXPATRIATES' WELFARE & JUSTICE OF JAPAN
OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT OF
BANGLADESH
黑川弘務
FOR THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN
AFFAIRS OF JAPAN
相里孝一
FOR THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH,
LABOR AND WELFARE OF JAPAN
宮野甚一
Approving Standards for Sending Organizations
1. A Sending Organization must meet all of the following standards.
(1) To appropriately select and send to Japan only those who are motivated to engage in technical intern training with the understanding of the objectives of the Technical Intern Training Program and to contribute to the economic development of Bangladesh by making use of the achievement through the technical intern training after returning to Bangladesh.
(2) To clearly specify the calculating criteria of commissions and any other fees to be collected from 'technical intern trainees and/or technical intern trainee candidates' (hereinafter referred to as "trainees and candidates") and make the criteria publicly available, and to explain the details of such commissions and other fees to trainees and candidates in order to obtain their understanding sufficiently.
(3) To provide the technical intern trainees who returned to Bangladesh after completing the technical intern training with necessary support, such as finding occupations in order for them to appropriately utilize the acquired technical skills, etc..
(4) With respect to the appropriate implementation of the Technical Intern Training Program as well as the protection of technical intern trainees, to respond the requests from the Minister of Justice of Japan, the Minister of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan or the Organization for Technical Intern Training. Such requests include cooperation on follow-up surveys on the technical intern trainees who returned to Bangladesh after completing the technical intern training.
(5) As for Sending Organization and its board members, if they had been sentenced to imprisonment or more severe penalty in Japan or in Bangladesh, at least five years have elapsed after the penalty had been completed or the penalty had been exempted from the execution.
(6) To carry out any projects in accordance with the laws and regulations of Bangladesh.
(7) As for Sending Organization and its board members, to have never conducted any of the following acts within the preceding five years:
(a) In connection with technical intern training, managing money or other
properties of trainees and candidates, their relatives or other persons concerned, regardless of any reasons such as collecting deposits or any other purposes;
(b) Concluding any contracts that impose monetary penalties or that expect undue transfer of money or other properties, for the violation of the contracts in relation to technical intern training;
(c) Human rights infringements against trainees and candidates such as assaults, intimidations, and restrictions of freedom; and
(d) With regards to the procedures of the Technical Intern Training Program as well as the immigration program in Japan, to use or provide forged, altered or false documents, pictures or drawings with the intention of obtaining permissions fraudulently.
(8) In coordinating applications for technical intern training to Japanese supervising organizations, to confirm that trainees and candidates, their relatives or other persons concerned have never been involved in the acts set out in (a) and (b) of (7).
(9) Acknowledging the importance of addressing disappearance of technical intern trainees, to cooperate with Japanese supervising organizations and to make efforts in order to prevent technical intern trainees from disappearing.
(10) To have other necessary capacities to appropriately coordinate applications for technical intern training to Japanese supervising organizations.
2. In terms of approving Sending Organization in Bangladesh, the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment will commence the procedure from 1st February 2018 and provide a full list of Approved Sending Organizations for the Ministry of Japan by 1st April 2018. The Ministry of Japan will accept only those trainees who are sent by Bangladeshi Approved Sending Organizations on the list from 1st September 2018.
Date:
Outline of Approved Sending Organization
Name of Organization: ……………………………………………………….
Name of Representative: ……………………………………………………..
Address: ……………………………………………………………………………………
TEL………………………………… FAX: …………………………………………………
Email: …………………………………………………………………………
URL: ……………………………………………………….
Date of establishment: …………………………………………………..
Date of approval (Duration):…………………………………….. (Valid until: ………………..
Type of industry and main business: ………………………………………………
Capital: ………………………………………………………….. Yearly sales figure (the most recent year): …………………………………………………………..
Number of full-time employees (the number of employees involved in sending work): ……………………………………………..
Name of person in charge of training: …………………………… (position)
(Address) …………………………………………………………………………………….
(TEL)………………………………………………… (FAX) ……………………………..
(Email) …………………………………………………………………………..
Contact point in Japan
(Name): ……………………………………………………………………..
(Name of representative (In the case of a company/organization)): …………………………
(Address) ……………………………………………………………………………..
(TEL)…………………………………………….. (FAX) …………………………………..
(Email) ………………………………………………………………………..………………
MEMORANDUM OF COOPERATION
BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF EXPATRIATES' WELFARE & OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF
BANGLADESH
AND
THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE, THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LABOUR AND WELFARE AND THE NATIONAL POLICE AGENCY OF JAPAN
ON
A BASIC FRAMEWORK FOR INFORMATION PARTNERSHIP FOR PROPER OPERATION OF THE SYSTEM PERTAINING TO FOREIGN HUMAN RESOURCES WITH THE STATUS OF RESIDENCE
OF
"SPECIFIED SKILLED WORKER"
The Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment of the People's Republic of Bangladesh (hereinafter referred to as "MEWOE") and the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and the National Police Agency of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Ministries and Agencies of Japan") share the view to enhance mutual benefits through the cooperation between the two countries on sending and accepting specified skilled workers in the operation of the system of acceptance (hereinafter referred to as "the system") of human resources possessing certain expertise and skills, who have been granted the status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker" by the Government of Japan (hereinafter referred to as "specified skilled workers"). Based on this view, MEWOE and the Ministries and Agencies of Japan (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Ministries and Agencies of Both Countries") have decided to cooperate as follows:
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Memorandum of Cooperation is, while protecting specified skilled workers through the smooth and proper promotion of sending and accepting specified skilled workers to Japan from Bangladesh. by means of establishing a basic framework for
information partnership, to ensure smooth and proper sending and accepting specified skilled workers (in particular the elimination of malicious intermediary organizations) and to resolve the problems of sending and accepting and of residing in Japan of specified skilled workers, as well as to enhance the mutual benefits of both countries through cooperation for proper operation of the system.
2. Contact point
In order to effectively implement the cooperation under this Memorandum of Cooperation, the Ministries and Agencies of Both Countries will designate respectively the following contact points for both countries.
(1) For Bangladesh:
Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare & Overseas Employment
(2) For Japan:
Residency Management Division, Residency Management and Support Department, Immigration Services Agency
3. Framework of cooperation
Cooperation under this Memorandum of Cooperation will be conducted within the scope of the laws and regulations in force in each country. The ministries and agencies or ministry of one country will not disclose the confidential information of the ministries and agencies or ministry of the other country, obtained through cooperation and information-sharing within the framework of this Memorandum of Cooperation, without written consent of the ministries and agencies or ministry of the other country.
4. Basic framework for information partnership
(1) Information-sharing. The Ministries and Agencies of Both Countries will promptly share necessary or useful information in order to ensure smooth and proper sending and accepting specified skilled workers and to resolve the problems of sending and accepting and of residing in Japan of specified skilled workers. This information includes information on the acts of intermediary organizations (including both individuals and corporations) in both countries involved in recruitment and job
seeking relating to specified skilled workers and on those that fall under the following:
(a) Managing money or other properties of specified skilled workers or candidates of specified skilled workers (hereinafter referred to as "specified skilled workers and candidates"), their relatives or any person concerned, regardless of any reason such as the collection of a deposit or any other purposes;
(b) Concluding any contracts that impose monetary penalties or that expect undue transfer of money or other properties, for the violation of the contracts:
(c) Human rights infringements against specified skilled workers and candidates such as assaults, intimidation and restrictions of their freedom;
(d) Using or providing forged, altered or false documents, pictures or drawings, with the intention of obtaining permissions, visas or other certificates fraudulently in relation to the immigration control or visa procedures of Japan; or
(e) Collecting fees or other expenses from specified skilled workers and candidates without indicating the calculation basis of the expense, and making them understand the amount and breakdown of the expense.
(2) Consultations for correction of problems and other issues
The Ministries and Agencies of Both Countries will consult periodically or from time to time to achieve the purpose set forth in 1 of this Memorandum of Cooperation, and will make efforts to correct problems that require improvement for proper operation of the system. The main subjects of the consultations will be as follows:
(a) Issues related to implementation and changes of the policies of both countries concerning the system;
(b) Issues related to ensuring the appropriateness of intermediary organizations for specified skilled workers (including ways of necessary corrective measures);
(c) Issues related to corrective measures for the various examinations pertaining to sending and accepting specified skilled workers and for improper accepting organizations in
Japan, or organizations engaging in support for foreign human resources with the status of residence of "Specified Skilled Worker (i)", (which means support for their work life, daily life and social life enabling specified skilled workers with "Specified Skilled Worker (i)" to engage in their activities under the status of residence stably and smoothly) and for the improper sending organizations in Bangladesh;
(d) Issues related to proper implementation of skill exams and tests to measure Japanese language proficiency of specified skilled workers (hereinafter referred to collectively as "exams and tests");
(e) Issues related to residence management of specified skilled workers in Japan; and
(f) Issues related to proper operation of the system and other related systems pertaining to immigration or labor of both countries other than the issues specified in (a) to (e) above.
5. Cooperation in the exams and tests
The Ministries and Agencies of Japan and the ministries in charge of accepting specified skilled workers (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Relevant Ministries and Agencies of Japan") will properly conduct the exams and tests. If MEWOE and the ministry related to the exams and tests (hereinafter referred to collectively as "Relevant Ministries of Bangladesh") are requested by the Relevant Ministries and Agencies of Japan to cooperate in the implementation of the exams and tests and related business pertaining to Japanese language education, or in other business related to the tests to measure Japanese language proficiency which Relevant Ministries and Agencies of Japan involve, Relevant Ministries of Bangladesh will comply with the request to the extent possible.
In addition, if the Relevant Ministries and Agencies of Japan and the Relevant Ministries of Bangladesh obtain information, in relation to the exams and tests, about proxy test-taking, the forgery or alteration of documents certifying passing of the exams and tests or other wrongful acts, they will share the information promptly in accordance with the framework set out in 4 (1) in this Memorandum of Cooperation.
6. Others
If the Ministries and Agencies of Japan deem that human resources to make up for the labor shortage in Japan have been secured through the acceptance of specified skilled workers in each field, they may temporarily suspend the acceptance of specified skilled workers in accordance with the provisions of the laws and regulations relating to immigration of Japan. In such a case, the Ministries and Agencies of Japan will appropriately deal with the issues on residence of the specified skilled workers from Bangladesh and their dependent spouses or children (provided that the status of residence of specified skilled workers is "Specified Skilled Worker (ii)") (hereinafter referred to as "spouse or children") in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations concerning immigration of Japan, taking into account the status of the employment contract between specified skilled workers and the organization accepting them, the operational situation and living conditions, etc. If these specified skilled workers and their spouse or children are not permitted to reside in Japan, MEWOE will make efforts to take the necessary procedures together with the Embassy of Bangladesh in Japan, such as the issuance of temporary passports, on request of the Ministries and Agencies of Japan, in order to ensure their smooth return to Bangladesh.
7. Review of the framework and others
Based on a review of the system pertaining to specified skilled workers to be implemented two years after its commencement, the framework of cooperation between the two countries under this Memorandum of Cooperation will be reviewed as necessary. The contents of this Memorandum of Cooperation will be modified or supplemented as necessary with written consent of both countries.
8. Language and others
This Memorandum of Cooperation was signed in duplicate in English at Tokyo, on August 27th, 2019.
The cooperation under this Memorandum of Cooperation will commence on the date of its signature.
For the Ministry of Expatriates For the Ministry of Justice of Welfare & Overseas Employment Japan of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
佐木聖子
For the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
水馬老一
For the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan
小林洋司
For the National Police Agency of Japan
田中勝
