State Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Md Nurul Haque, on Tuesday called for expanded job opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in South Korea in separate meetings with two Korean organisations in Seoul, the ministry said.

The minister met representatives of the National Employment Service Association of Korea (NESA) and the Construction Association of Korea (CAK), according to a press release from the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

At the NESA meeting, Haque urged more work opportunities for Bangladeshi workers under South Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS). He also called for joint cooperation in seasonal employment, technical skills development, Korean language training, and vocational training, the ministry said.

Bangladesh is fully prepared to develop skilled, qualified, and trained manpower in line with the demands of the Korean labour market, Haque said, according to the release.

NESA representatives highlighted the contribution and potential of Bangladeshi workers in Korean language education, occupational training, and international development cooperation, the ministry said. Both sides discussed ensuring that workers receive practical Korean language skills and job-specific training before departure so they can adapt quickly to Korean workplaces.

In a separate meeting with the CAK, Haque called for Bangladeshi workers to be engaged in Korea’s construction sector and urged stronger networking with Korean construction firms, the release said. Noting Bangladeshi workers’ past experience in the international construction sector, he said the government was committed to maintaining the highest standards of technical training and occupational safety.

CAK and representatives of leading Korean construction companies stressed the importance of safety, effective communication, and specific technical knowledge in construction work, the ministry said. They acknowledged promising prospects for Bangladeshi workers who have practical Korean language skills and construction-related technical qualifications.

According to the ministry, both meetings reflected a shared commitment to stronger institutional cooperation, proper pre-departure preparation for workers, and the search for new employment opportunities. Haque instructed the relevant Korean offices and the Bangladesh Embassy in Seoul to keep in constant contact to implement the decisions quickly and effectively, it said.