The workers will be given one-year training in 62 sub-sectors of industry, agriculture and construction and then employed in Japanese factories for two years.

Workers having at least a graduation degree, aged between 18 and 35 and employed in a local factory will be eligible for recruitment.

Sources at the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment mentioned that many workers went to Japan earlier through illegal channels and stayed there without valid documents. But Tokyo will now hire Bangladeshi workers and allow them to stay and work temporarily.

The Japanese government took this decision in August last year and a high-powered delegation from Japan International Training Cooperation (JITCO) paid a follow-up visit to Bangladesh from March 27 to 30 to finalise the matter.

The delegation proposed that Bangladeshi workers would be hired for training in 62 sub-sectors in textile, machinery, metal and food industries, agriculture and construction.

Led by JITCO senior vice-president Kagefuni Uero, the team made the proposals when it met State Minister for Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Mohammad Quamrul Islam and leaders of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI).

The FBCCI and Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry will work as selection bodies for the workers, sources said.

The Japanese team did not mention the number of workers to be recruited but government officials said the number might be around 1,000.

The main objective of the programme is to improve a worker's skill in a particular field so that he can train other workers after coming home.

Selected workers or factories employing them will bear the cost of their travel to Japan and they will get allowances as apprentice during the training period.

Earlier, China offered such opportunities to Bangladeshi workers.