Baku, October 1, 2025
Bangladesh has called on Azerbaijan to bring in more of its workers, raising questions about labor market needs and migration policy in the country.
According to the Dhaka-based daily New Age, the proposal was voiced by Sakhawat Hossain, Bangladesh’s adviser on labor and employment, during a meeting in Baku with Anar Aliyev, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Labor and Social Protection. Hossain urged Azerbaijan to attract more skilled professionals from Bangladesh, while highlighting cooperation in worker welfare, labor protection, and simplified visa procedures. He also stressed the importance of expanding technical collaboration in special economic zones.
Legal Framework in Azerbaijan
Commenting on the issue to Minval.Az, Kamala Mammadova, a member of the Public Committee under the State Migration Service, said that foreign nationals can work in Azerbaijan if they comply with existing labor migration laws.
“Work permits and individual work authorizations are mandatory. Companies must apply to the Ministry of Labor, and permits are issued within the annual quota,” she explained.
The quota, set each year based on domestic labor market needs, prioritizes Azerbaijani citizens. Only if there are vacancies that locals cannot fill may foreign specialists be hired. Certain categories, such as IT professionals, employees of industrial parks, and professors involved in large international projects, are exempt from permit requirements.
Rising Presence of Foreign Workers
Official data show that thousands of foreigners receive work permits annually, with most coming from Turkey, Russia, India, China, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, and the Philippines. They are employed mainly in construction, engineering, services, and IT. Turkey remains the top source both in numbers and sectoral participation.
Observers note that as Azerbaijan’s economy grows and foreign investment expands, demand for specialized foreign labor has also increased — especially in technically complex projects requiring skills not readily available in the local workforce.
Expert Skepticism
Still, not everyone is convinced Azerbaijan needs Bangladeshi workers. Sahib Mammadov, head of the League for the Defense of Labor Rights of Citizens, told Yeni Musavat that Azerbaijan has a surplus labor force:
“We are not a country that traditionally accepts migrant workers. On the contrary, our citizens go abroad in search of jobs. Supply exceeds demand here, and unemployment remains high due to demographic factors.”
Mammadov acknowledged gaps in some professions – including skilled construction workers, engineers, agronomists, zootecnicians, and IT specialists – but stressed that Azerbaijan’s own workforce remains underutilized.
“Bangladesh is a poor country with a huge population, so naturally it seeks to export labor. But Azerbaijan is not a large market. Our legislation does not allow permits for unskilled laborers, only qualified specialists,” he said, adding that he was uncertain which positions Bangladeshis are currently filling in Azerbaijan.
Balancing Needs and Policy
For now, officials maintain that citizens’ employment takes priority over foreign recruitment. Yet with major infrastructure projects ongoing and shortages in specific technical fields, the debate is far from settled.
Bangladesh, like many labor-exporting countries, is keen to secure opportunities for its workers abroad – while Azerbaijani experts remain cautious about opening the door too wide.
