Industries in Economic Zones (EZs) across the country will require about 0.26 million junior, about 7.03 thousand mid-level and 4.65 thousand senior employees in the next five years, reports BSS.
"Considering the fact, it is forecasted that the industries will face problems to recruit about 22.33 thousand junior, about 628 mid-level and 400 senior employees due to lack of training," said a study of the Access to Information (a2i) programme.
The study titled "A Journey Towards Development Country: Sustainable Employment Opportunities and Skills Demand in Economic Zones" observed that to overcome the challenges, about 24 training centers will be required for the employees of the industries.
"Among these training centers, 22 centers are needed for developing junior level of employees, one training center for mid-level and senior level each. These training centres can develop around 24,000 skilled employees per year," the study said.
Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and a2i unveiled the result of the study at a function at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in the city on Thursday.
Principal Coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Affairs in the Prime Minister's Office M Abul Kalam Azad attended the function as the chief guest while BEZA Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman Kazi M Aminul Islam were present as special guests. a2i Project Director Kabir Bin Anwar, presided over the function.
Head of the Result Management of a2i Dr Ramiz Uddin made a powerpoint presentation on the study findings.
Abul Kalam Azad called for developing technical education across the country through popularizing and modernising the polytechnic institutes for meeting the demand of skilled manpower.
The study suggested BEZA take initiatives to improve procuring, preparing, repairing, maintaining, marketing and exporting capabilities of the industries and said it is possible by developing skills on a regular basis.
"Keraniganj area can be the best place for establishing plastic EZ with having the advantages for carrying the raw materials and the other products using the river route," it added.
The study suggested the government to make easy the land acquisition process and industrial loan process and enhance institutional capacity of specialized training centers as most of the industries prefer recruiting trained employees.
"The national and international investors will be motivated to invest in EZs if they find suitable places and lands to invest in the EZs across the country," the study observed.
The government should apply the laws strictly to have the Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) for the industries to avoid the negative impacts on water, environment and ecology during production, it added.
The government should enhance its institutional capacity in order to support the industries by providing the technical support in testifying the standard of the products, the study said.
"Sufficient financial support by the banks could be ensured," it added.
A2i conducted the study on 102 industries under five districts. Of the industries, 75 percent are in Dhaka district as most of the industries are located in this area.
About 15 types of industries were taken under the study among which the main products were frozen foods (15 per cent), plastic products (14 per cent) and garment items (13 per cent).
A2i found that about 74 per cent of the employees were male while the rest 26 percent female in those industries.
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