Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, met Singapore's Minister of State for Manpower, Dinesh Vasu Dash, in Singapore on August 11, 2026. The talks covered skilled manpower development, vocational training, and — most relevant to workers already in the pipeline or considering Singapore — recruitment costs and migrant worker welfare, according to a Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release.
A target price on recruitment
Dash raised concern over the costs and fees Bangladeshi workers pay to reach jobs in Singapore. In response, Shama said the Bangladesh government is determined to reduce recruitment costs and regulate recruiting agencies, and separately confirmed the government's working target of capping total overseas migration costs at Tk 300,000. She proposed that Bangladesh and Singapore jointly monitor recruiting agencies, intermediaries, and travel agents to make the process more transparent and accountable.
Nothing announced at this meeting is a binding cap or a new law yet. A joint monitoring mechanism and the Tk 300,000 cost target are declared government intentions, not something a recruiting agent can be held to today. Treat this as a direction of travel, not a current legal limit — verify any cost quote against Bangladesh's Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) before paying an agent.
A possible new pathway for nurses
Shama pointed to the potential of Bangladeshi women in care and nursing work and proposed that Singapore consider training Bangladeshi nurses to work there as caregivers for the elderly, alongside cooperation between major public hospitals in both countries. This is an early-stage proposal raised at a bilateral meeting, not an open programme — there is no application process yet, and no confirmed timeline for one.
Worker protection commitments already in motion
- Singapore briefed Bangladesh on its efforts to upgrade migrant worker dormitories and enforce stricter housing standards.
- Dash confirmed Singapore had arranged prompt re-employment and compensation for roughly 200 Bangladeshi workers who lost their jobs after three employers went bankrupt.
- Dash encouraged migrant workers to report unpaid wages directly to Singapore's Ministry of Manpower (MOM) so it can act and arrange compensation.
- Shama said Bangladesh is also focused on improving workers' language proficiency before departure.
If you're recruiting for Singapore through an agent, this meeting gives you a benchmark to push back with: Bangladesh's own government target is a total migration cost around Tk 300,000, and it says it wants to crack down on agents who charge more. If you're already working in Singapore and haven't been paid, MOM's channels — not just your employer or agent — are where to report it. The nursing-to-caregiver idea is worth watching for future updates, but there is nothing to apply for yet. This is a summary of a diplomatic meeting, not an announced policy, and it is not immigration advice.
