Training
A ray of hope for workers
Refayet Ullah Mirdha

BKMEA's Rangpur Training Institute has trained Ferdousi Begum well. She now works in a factory, Southern Knitwear Ltd in Gazipur, as a quality controller.
Upon completion of a month-long training session from the institute at the Begum Rokeya Smriti Kendra, Payrabond in Mithapukur, Rangpur, Ferdousi got her first job as an entry-level operator with a salary of Tk 2,000.
She has been on the job for a year and draws about Tk 6,000 a month. Such a jump in salary was only possible because of her acquired expertise.
Prior to joining the workforce, she faced a sorry life with dim prospect for the future. She used to live in a remote village in Mithapukur, which is immensely affected by Monga, a near-famine situation.
Ferdousi approached the BKMEA Training Institute with a dream of freeing her family from hunger. She now brings joy to her family by being able to meet their basic needs.
She is now more confident and believes she will be able to earn more in the future by gradually increasing her skills.
Hundreds of success stories stem from the efforts of the training institute.
Atikur Rahman and his wife Lily Begum are from Burigong in Rangpur. They also completed a training session at the institute and are currently employed by Knit Zone Fashion Ltd in Savar.
They began work in May last year with Atikur drawing Tk 1,740 and Lily drawing Tk 1,720 per month, in the knitting section of the factory. Last July, Atikur's salary rose to Tk 6,810 and Lily began to receive Tk 6,330, as the factory follows a "piece-rate".
Before this job, they were dependent upon the little they could earn from a small piece of land they owned.
The institute aims to create a platform for these people in remote areas to gain confidence and contribute to the national economy.
The success stories give evidence that the capacity of the workers in the RMG sector is increasing. Often, international buyers complain about low worker productivity, despite years of phenomenal growth in the sector.
Their performance over the years has increased manifold even though they had no formal education or know-how on operating machinery.
Women in the workforce are the driver of the RMG sector, the highest export-earning sector of the country. Industry insiders say women are easily trainable and adopt all instructions religiously. The garment sector employs three million people.
Still, the sector runs a 25 percent shortage of skilled workers and another 25 percent shortage of mid-level officials.
Recently, both Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) have taken the initiative to train workers to fulfil the labour requirements of the 4,740 garment factories.
Of the total factories, 40 percent are knitwear and the remaining are woven garment factories in the fiscal year 2007-08, according to BKMEA statistics.
The BKMEA started its "training tnstitute” in March 2008, equipped with high quality training resources to educate workers and maximise their potentials.
The BKMEA establishes this training centre to support the underprivileged communities of the country, especially the Monga-prone people, with jobs, under its own initiative.
BKMEA deems that this training institute will help reduce poverty and unemployment in the northern region and bring people into the mainstream economy as a skilled labour force.
Since inception, nine batches have been completed and all trainees are now employed. Each batch consists of 85 trainees, 70 percent of whom are women. BKMEA arranges jobs and accommodation for the women trainees in Dhaka.
The trainees are from rural areas and unknowing about city life. BKMEA takes responsibility to ensure a smooth transition and quick adaptation to the mega city.
Trainees take training in sewing, cutting, sweater linking, quality control and basic knowledge on labour rights, work safety measures, their duties and responsibilities and healthcare.
BKMEA provides accommodation in the institution's dormitory and serves daily meals, free of cost.
The trainees are awarded a certificate after successful completion of the course.
Applicants must be eighth graders and be above 18 years of age to be eligible to apply. But HSC and even graduate-level students are signing up for this session too.
BKMEA set up the institute at a cost of Tk 50 lakh.
BKMEA wishes to bring a positive change to the knitwear sector and will continue its development initiatives until demand for skilled employees is met, BKMEA President Fazlul Hoque said.
Hoque said he plans to increase the number of trainees to 200 for each batch, introduce basic English and Bangla reading and writing programmes, and inaugurate five new training institutes in the north and in Narayanganj, Rajshahi, Mirpur, Gazipur and Savar.