Editorial
Skill shortage in RMG sector
Set up training institutes on an urgent basis
The ready-made garment industry sector accounts for 75 percent of the country's total exports, and in terms of earning foreign currency it ranks second. Ironically, while there is a surge of orders in the pipeline, there is acute shortage of skilled workers who ensure quality in every department including meeting the export deadlines. It is feared that if the shortage is not met soon the future growth of the sector and staying in the competitive world market will turn out to be a tough proposition. According to the report of two leading trade bodies of the country - Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Associations (BGMEA) - the sector is facing a 25 percent shortfall of skilled workforce at the moment and they fear that it may take several years for trained manpower to fill in the blank positions.
Studies reveal that the ready-made garment sector depends heavily on women workers who constitute 80 percent of the total employment figure, which is 2.4 million at present. But records show that after acquiring skill at work, many women leave the job at one point of time to raise a family. Similarly, skilled male workers are finding jobs abroad, undoubtedly at a much higher salary than what they get here. This fact is said to have forced many factories to hire skilled persons from various countries in the region.
In order to bolster the flourishing ready-made garment sector there can be no alternative to creating opportunities for the unemployed people to get skill-development training. And this would be possible if the private sector comes forward and sets up numerous training institutes having appropriate machinery and competent trainers. We also urge the government to encourage entrepreneurs by offering all sorts of assistance in setting up such institutes in every district town and even in some upazila headquarters. Needless to say that the trained workforce would get job opportunities abroad besides meeting the domestic demand. By all means, the sector has to be given full support to keep its reputation intact in the international business world.
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