Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) is going to initiate two more technical training centres (TTCs) under a Char Livelihood Project (CLP) from July 16 to meet the increasing demand for skilled manpower in the apparel sector.
'We are going to set up the two new TTCs in Mymensingh and Natore districts aiming to ensure skilled garment workers for the sector,' BGMEA President Anwar-ul-Alam Chowdhury told the FE Sunday.
BGMEA already established five TTCs last year in Gaibandha, Kurigram, Nilphamari, Bogra and Lalmonirhat to train garment workers and supply skilled manpower for the garment factories in the capital city.
'People of these districts, especially those who are looking for jobs in the apparel sector at home and abroad will now be able to get training on garment manufacturing activities free of cost from the centres in their respective areas,' the BGMEA president said.
According to the BGMEA, more than 2.6 million (26 lakh) skilled garment workers are needed in the country's highest export earning sector.
The country exported apparel products worth $8.577 billion (857.7 crore) in the July-April period of the current fiscal, nearly $279 million higher than the figure of the same period of last fiscal, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).
'Some 2.0 million skilled and semi-skilled workers are now working in the apparel sector, which means the sector has a shortage of 25 per cent workers,' the BGMEA chief said.
'The government should take steps to establish more training centres to ensure skilled manpower for the sector as it is the country's highest foreign currency earning sector,' he added.
The people seeking jobs in this sector will get a hassle-free service from the CLPs and the centres will ensure better training and their jobs in garment factories of the BGMEA members, Mr. Chowdhury mentioned.
'Our existing five TTCs are now training around 600 workers every month. We are hopeful we will be able to groom more than 700 skilled workers from two CLPs and five TTCs every month,' the BGMEA president added.
The trade body also has a plan to introduce database for the garment workers from August next that will contain detailed information about workers.
The number of members of BGMEA and Bangladesh Textile Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BTMEA) is now 3,300.
