Apparel Online Bangladesh Magazine August Issue 2018 | Page 18

BANGLADESH INSIGHT
TO ADVERTISE GOING TO A GOOD EVENT?
Contact Rani Mahendru
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Bangladesh’s
expat connection!
As per an unpublished report, there are
34,340 expatriates holding top positions in
RMG factories and remitting around US
$ 2.36 billion in salary and allowances.
I
s the Bangladesh RMG sector
dependent on expats? Viewed in the
light of the recent media reports, one
is but forced to accept the sector’s
reliance on foreign expertise still!
An unpublished study of Dhaka
University and The Centre of
Excellence of BGMEA reportedly
estimates that there are 34,340
expatriates holding top positions in
RMG factories, who are remitting
around US $ 2.36 billion in salary
and allowances. Leave aside the
ones employed in numerous buying
entities and not yet accounted for. A
lot of these expats are from countries
like India, Sri Lanka, Turkey, etc.
In the last few months, Apparel
Online spoke to industry insiders to
get an insight on this issue, and one
“The industry has
been suffering a
massive shortage
of qualified and
skilled manpower.
That’s why the
Government has
decided to create
fashion designing
and merchandising
departments in
private and public
universities.”
♫ – Prof. Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi Khan
thing that came out strong is that,
it is the scarcity of quality human
resources which has increased the
country’s dependence on foreigners.
Growing at a breakneck speed,
Bangladesh’s readymade garment
industry (the second biggest apparel
exporter globally), is yet to effectively
deal with the demand-supply scenario,
especially in the middle-management.
Given the present dearth of skilled
manpower (25 per cent according to
some reports), garment manufacturers
are left with little choice which leads
to overdependence on the expatriates.
As per the Directorate of Textile (DoT)
report published in 2015, apparel
sector has been facing a shortage of
about 0.11 million skilled manpower,
from floor to executive level, which
could well touch an astounding
1,82,000 by 2021, if adequate steps are
not taken.
“The industry has been suffering a
massive shortage of qualified and
skilled manpower. That’s why the
Government has decided to create
fashion designing and merchandising
departments in private and public
universities. But it will take time to
fill this gap, considering the huge
demand. May be another 4-5 years,”
opined Prof. Dr. Engr. Ayub Nabi
Khan, Pro-Vice Chancellor of
BGMEA University of Fashion and
Technology (BUFT).
Hit by the quality manpower crisis,
some organisations are even
planning their very own training
facilities. Chorka Textile Limited is
one such name. “Any investor can
get new and upgraded machines, but
what about the operators?” quizzed
Eleash Mridha, Managing Director
of Chorka Textile Limited, as he
continued, “A lot of people are hiring
technical experts from Sri Lanka and
other countries. However, they are
expensive; expats are also not long-
term solution.”
According to Syed Diganta Munir,
Director of UH Trendz Limited
(a buying house planning to foray
into garment manufacturing), “In
Bangladesh, lower-skill level training
institutes are numerous, but those
for middle-level are handful.”
However, given the increased focus
on manpower development, things
might change for better in the
coming days, Munir feels. “In the last
four-five years, a number of good
institutes from overseas have opened
their branches here, including from
India, which is very encouraging,”
observed an alumnus of National
Institute of Fashion Technology
(NIFT) from India.
“Bangladesh garment industry has
been struggling to find the right
people for mid-managerial jobs.
When BGMEA founded BUFT in
2000, I was involved with it. I worked
there for 7 years and know how
difficult it was to identify the right
area to work on. After spending
7 years in BUFT, I realised mid-
level management is the core
crisis Bangladesh industry has
been facing,” explained Sheikh
Md. Nizam Uddin, Principal of
College of Fashion Technology &
Management (CFTM), who has
started his institute focusing on
developing the middle-management.
The industry seems to have little
option currently which is why it is
handing out fat pay cheques to the
foreign professionals. Considering
the existing scenario, it would take
some time to develop the local talent
pool. Till then, expats would continue
to be in demand, or so it seems.
18 Apparel Online Bangladesh | August 2018 | www.apparelresources.com