Italy has expressed interest in hiring more manpower from Bangladesh particularly for its hospitality and agriculture sectors.

The interest was expressed when three Italian ministers met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit at the headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in the Italian capital city on Monday.

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Three Italian ministers are Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio.

During the meeting, the ministers told the Bangladesh premier that Italy would hire more workers through legal ways for its hospitality and agriculture sectors, said Bangladesh foreign minister AK Abdul Momen while briefing reporters about the meeting on Monday.

However, they are worried about many illegal workers as Italian voters are raising questions over them. So, they said illegal workers should be discouraged.m, said Momen.

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He quoted PM Hasina as telling the Italian ministers that Bangladesh also wants to discourage illegal workers.

Noting that both documented and undocumented workers are contributing to the economies of both Italy and Bangladesh, she asked the Italian government to legalise the undocumented Bangladeshi workers who are well-mannered and skilled.

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“They (Italy) are very happy that the government of Bangladesh would be supportive for the migration of workers in legal ways,” said Momen.