When skill shortage is seen a major constraint to steady growth of the country’s apparel industry, in-house training for skill development of garment employees and workers has become a panacea bringing in huge benefit to this sector. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in a recent article has observed that companies are gaining from the in-house training when the employees and workers are earning more as well. In the article, ILO also shared the experiences of employers and employees in reaping the benefits of the training. “The factory spends a significant amount to manage the training center, but the overall benefit is much higher than the management cost,” said Nasim Ahmed, Director of Knit Concern Group. The Knit Concern is one of the 10 companies which have launched in-house Enterprise Based Training (EBT) centres with support from the ILO Centre of Excellence. Also supported by Sweden and multinational clothing-retailer H&M, the activities of the EBT centres are being carried out in collaboration with Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and the Ministry of Education.Knit Concern, a major producer of high-quality knit apparel and lingerie, has been running an EBT center since 2015. The centre is well-equipped with a practice floor, including 120 machines and a classroom. Six full-time trainers, trained under the ILO Centre of Excellence project, work at the centre to provide training for about 100 people every month. “Workers spend nearly two years as helpers to learn basic operations, which can be learned during a few weeks of intense training”, said Ahmed. He said the EBT centre has helped increase production, eased pressure on the floor and utility services and ensured a healthy atmosphere besides making the skilled workers capable of earning more.Tania Akhter, an overlock sewing machine operator in Knit Concern, said that she completed a 60-day training course at the EBT centre that made her a skilled worker within a short period of time.”The EBT ensures that companies get employees with exactly the skills they need while giving workers the chance to both earn more as well as have their skills upgraded and recognised nationally,” ILO Bangladesh Country Director Srinivas Reddy said.
