Skilled workforce in apparel sector a boon for Lanka - Collyer

The Sri Lankan apparel sector is forging a head with well skilled workers, said Consultant of International Apparel Training Consultancies Paul Collyer.

'When compared to other countries, local workers can read instructions easily and are much knowledgeable than others. I conducted a training programme in Morocco but it was very difficult to make them understand about certain aspects on the manufacturing process. In Sri Lanka the situation is different as workers absorb instructions like a sponge at the training', Collyer said.

However he said that Sri Lanka could not gain maximum benefits through this skilled manpower due to bad managing practices adopted by the local apparel sector. This is a major barrier for apparel sector workers in reaching maximum potential.

Supervisers and managers should adopt effective practices to gain maximum output from their workers. Sri Lanka has huge market potential in the world market. Sri Lanka could compete with countries like China targeting quality through well organised manufacturing process and reducing product cost; he said.

Collyer, a former consultant of Clothing and Allied product Industry Training Board in London has conducted several training programmes for the apparel sector since 2000 with the Export Development Board EDB.

A Senior official of the EDB said that the EDB has organised 18 training programmes with spending Rs 5 million since 2000 and have trained nearly 300 employees in the apparel sector.

Training will be provided for supervisers, managers and workers under two training programmes "training the trainer" and "product balancing". This year also the EDB organised the programme. Many small-scale companies lack investment on training programmes for their employees but large companies heavily invest on training.

Although the EDB organised several training programmes for small-scale companies with necessary funds most of them refuse to participate. They are saying that participation of their staff members can affect their daily manufacturing process, she said.

Total earnings from the apparel sector recorded was USD 1.7 billion in 2005. It was USD 2.6 billion in the previous year. The apparel sector contributed nearly 48% to the GDP in last year.

AS