Survey launched to address shortage in skilled textile technologists

The government has launched a survey project to address the issue of an acute shortage of skilled textile technologists and skilled manpower in the textile and RMG sub-sectors.
The project titled 'Survey of Textile Sector, Update Database/MIS and Assess the Requirement of Textile Technologist of Different Levels' will be conducted to ascertain the number of textile technologists and skilled manpower currently employed.
The Department of Textiles under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute is implementing the project. The Ministry concerned has appointed M I Chowdhury and Company, a management-consulting firm, to conduct the survey.
Talking to The Daily Star, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company Mohammad Iqbal Chowdhury said he has already started working on the project since June.
He said the consulting firm would suggest the government take measures to fulfill the need for more textile technologists and skilled manpower in the textile and RMG sub-sectors.
"I hope the work can be completed within December of the year, although it was scheduled to be completed earlier," he said. The cost of the total project is Tk 45 lakh, he added.
"We will submit the assessed findings of the survey to the ministry concerned after the completion of the work,” he said.
At present, the total demand for the number of technologists and skilled manpower cannot be met in the woven and knitwear sub-sectors as there is a shortage of nearly 50 percent of skilled manpower, said Fakhrul Hasan Murad, the chairman of the Department of Textile Engineering at Southeast University.
Deputy Director of the Department of Textiles Motiur Rahman said the project was scheduled to be completed by September this year, but the progress that has been made so far is not satisfactory. It may take more time to complete the project.
reefat@thedailystar.net