DHAKA, June 2, 2025 (BSS) - Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed today proposed an allocation of TK 438 crore for the Ministry of Labour and Employment for fiscal year (FY) 2025-2026, which is TK 92 crore higher than the allocation in the revised budget in FY 2024-2025.

The finance adviser in his budget speech said the government is working to develop a pool of skilled youth and create self-employment opportunities by utilizing their immense energy and potential. 

“The ‘Tarunyer Utshob (Youth Festival) 2025’ has been celebrated with huge enthusiasm around the theme 'Let's change the country, change the world'. To create self-employment, the ceiling of youth loan given to trained youths across the country has been increased to a maximum of TK 2, 00,000. The loan ceiling for successful young entrepreneurs has been increased to TK 5,00,000. Besides, I propose to create a new fund of TK 100 crore for the young entrepreneurs. This is the first time that  such a fund is going to be created,” he said.

Dr Salehuddin also said a project has been undertaken to create employment opportunities by providing training and credit facilities to nine lakh youths by December 2028. 

“Self-employment generating projects have also been undertaken for the family members of the injured and martyrs of the July Mass Uprising. From January 2025, freelancing training activities have been started for 28,800 educated and job-seeking youths in 48 districts of the country,” the adviser stated.
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed also said the young people of the country are ready to meet the demand of the domestic and global market; steps have been taken to provide world-class technical training certificates by developing a technical training curriculum. 
“Besides, activities are underway to establish linkage between industries, training institutes and academia to ensure job placement through demand assessment, curriculum development based on that demand and providing education/training according to the curriculum. To continue the growing trend of developing skilled human resources, a special program is being implemented to connect export-oriented and small and medium industries with global high value chains and increase their competitiveness. Through this program about 2,20,000 people will be trained in different professions,” he further said.

The finance adviser also said the present government is working for the welfare of the existing workers alongside creating new employment opportunities and to ensure continued productivity by resolving labour unrest in the industrial sector, about TK 651.37 crore has been disbursed to various industries after August 5, 2024. 

“Considering the prevailing high inflation, the annual increment rate of wage has been enhanced from five to nine percent for the industrial sector from December 2024. Minimum wage has been announced in tanneries, soaps and cosmetics, cold storage and tailoring industries. Over the next three fiscal years, the minimum wage will be set or revised for 15 additional industrial sectors,” he added.