Skill Development Training for Unemployed

A three-month skill development training on garments for the unemployed youths has at a training center of a local organization at Nashratpur under Sadar upazila in the district Gaibandha on Sunday.

Gana Unnayan Kendra (GUK) has arranged it under Reducing Poor by Skills Development on Garments project funded by Shiree/eep in partnership with GoB and DFID.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) M. Shahidul Islam formally inaugurated the training course at noon as the chief guest and Sadar Upazila parishad chairman Abdur Rashid Sarker was present as the special guest.

With M. Abdus Salam, executive chief of GUK in the chair, the inaugural session was also addressed, among others, by UNO Ashib Ahsan and president of Gaibandha Chamber of Commerce and Industry Shahjada Anwarul Quadir.

The speakers thanked the GUK for arranging such the training for the unemployed youths of the upazila in a bid to help them solve their unemployment problems through turning them into skilled manpower.

Initially, a total of 40 youths are taking part in the training in the first batch.

Talking to the BSS, executive chief of GUK Abdus Salam said a total of 1140 youths including women of Kamarjani, Mollarchar, Gidari, Malibari, Ghagoa and Boalil unions of the upazila would be imparted training on garments in phases under the project.

Getting jobs in different garments industries with handsome salaries after their successful training has also been ensured for them, he also said.

News Source: BSS, Tue, 17/05/2011

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BGMEA to Employ Workers Returning from Libya

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged the garments owners to arrange more extra-official innovative programmes for the workers in order to further strengthen workers-owners relationship, reports UNB.

She gave the call when the newly elected Board of Directors of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) led by its President M Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin met her at her office Thursday noon.

The BGMEA leaders said they are planning to train up the Bangladeshi workers returning from war-torn Libya and provide them with jobs in their garments industries.

The BGMEA leaders expressed her gratitude to the Prime Minister for her initiatives to keep the garments sector vibrant even during the recent economic recession.

The leaders appreciated her for solving problems over Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) facilities.

In reply, the Prime Minister said since assuming power, the government is taking various steps to further develop the socio-economic sectors.

Principal Secretary M A Karim, PM's Office Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman and PM's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad were present, among others.

Source: The Financial Express, Fri, 29/04/2011

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Tk 35.55cr scheme to create jobs for 21,600 handloom weavers

Bangladesh Handloom Board (BHB) has taken a Taka 35.55 crore project for establishing a Fashion Design and Training Institute and a Basic Centre for the Development of Handloom Fabrics in the country.

BHB chairman Mostafa Kamal Haider told BSS that the government has taken the plan to increase skill and productivity of handloom weavers and ensure them of jobs to regain the century-old glory of handloom industry.

He said under the project which will be implemented in three years a total of 21,600 handloom workers would be given jobs by innovating modern designs for handlooms and textile products catering to the demand of the market and customers.

Japan Debt Cancellation Fund (JDCF) will give Taka 35 crore while the remaining Taka 0.55 crore would come from the government.

Under the project, a fashion design and training institute will be established at the city's Mirpur apart from three training sub-centers in loom-intensive Belkuchi (Sirajganj), Kalihati (Tangail) and Kumarkhali (Kushtia).

Chief (Planning and Implementation) of the BHB S. Mostafa Kamal said the main objective of the project is to boost the level of skill of handloom workers alongside developing new designs to survive in the competitive world.

Citing untold agonies of handloom workers, he said they are deprived of fair price for their produce from display centres of traditional clothes being set up in the city as the handloom workers don't have any idea about modern design.

Experts express disappointment over absence of initiative to set up industrial units to sustain the growth of the potential handloom like readymade garment and knitwear sectors, considered main attraction for foreign investors.

According to the last handloom census, there are now 5, 05,556 looms in a total of 1, 83, 512 units in the country. Out of them, 3, 13, 245 looms have remained operative while 1, 92,311 looms are out of order.

-BSS, Fri, 05/11/2010

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