The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Shafiul Islam at a seminar on Saturday said that the readymade garment factories of the country were facing acute crisis of skilled manpower.Dhaka University’s Industrial Relations and Labour Studies organised the seminar on ‘Social Compliance in RMG Sector of Bangladesh’ where textile entrepreneur Mohiuddin said that without expert manpower the industry would never go ahead.As chief guest of the inaugural session of the seminar managing director of Onus Group Mohiduddin urged the Dhaka University authorities to create need-based expert people.Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice-president (finance) Mohammed Nasir said RMG factories have to pay $4 billion every year to the foreign nationals particularly Indians, Sri Lankans and Chinese, who is working currently in Bangladeshi factories.He further said as the educational institutions of the country failed to provide technical people they were forced to hire foreign nationals with high salaries.DU Industrial Relations and Labour Studies programme coordinator professor Golam Rabbani chaired the programme, where he said, ‘We teach students theoretical knowledge but they need practical knowledge, in this backdrop, RMG owners should create scope of internship in their factories.DU Institute of Social Welfare and Research director professor Tania Rahman, Bangladesh Leather Manufacture and Exporters Association president Shibbir Mahmud, Sonali Group managing director Ali Hossain Shisir, among others, spoke at the programme.
