SICIP-BGMEA Holds Seminar on Employment Challenges and the Future of the Industry at Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology with Senior RMG Professionals. Students and teachers exchange knowledge with senior professionals from the RMG sector.
The ready-made garment industry (RMG) sector is very important in the economy of Bangladesh. A large part of the country’s export income comes from this sector and the employment of millions of people is also associated with this industry. However, with time, the nature of work, demands and challenges in this sector are changing. The use of technology, global competition, the need for sustainable production and the lack of skilled manpower have all created a new reality. In this context, an important meeting titled ‘Employment Challenges and the Future of the Industry’ was held at Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology. Senior professionals from the RMG sector exchanged views with students and teachers at the meeting.
The main objective of this meeting was to present the real picture of the industry to the students and to make them aware of the kind of preparation needed for employment. The speakers said that now it is not easy to get a job just by doing good results. A student should have practical skills, ability to use technology, communication skills, punctuality and a problem-solving mindset. Because in the workplace, not only theoretical knowledge, but also the ability to work in real situations is very important.
The meeting also discussed the current changes in the RMG sector. The speakers said that once this industry was seen as only a labor-intensive sector. But now the use of technology has increased in various areas such as production, quality control, merchandising, supply chain and design. The use of artificial intelligence, digital systems and information technology is making the industry more modern. As a result, students will have to be technology-friendly and acquire new skills to survive in future employment.
The discussion also revealed that the RMG sector is now not limited to just garment production. It has also added topics like fashion design, branding, international marketing, quality control, environmentally friendly production, research and innovation. Therefore, the scope of work for students has also expanded much more than before. Some can work in production management, some in merchandising, some in design or quality control—that is, the scope of opportunities is very wide.
Speakers at the meeting particularly emphasized increasing coordination between academia and industry. According to them, if the university-level curriculum is more realistic according to the needs of the industry, then students will face fewer problems when they go to the workplace. For this, there is a need to increase activities such as internships, workshops, career counseling, visits to industrial institutions and guest lectures. In this, students will be able to gain practical experience outside the book.
Professionals participating in the event said that in getting a job, not only GPA, but also personality, sense of responsibility, leadership qualities, polite behavior and teamwork mentality are important. When working in the industry, one has to make decisions under pressure, work according to time and coordinate with different departments. Therefore, students need to practice these qualities from their university life.
Optimism was also expressed at the meeting about the future of Bangladesh’s RMG sector. The speakers said that despite various global challenges, Bangladesh’s garment industry still maintains an important position in the international market. However, to survive in the competition, more emphasis should be placed on quality, time, innovation and sustainable production. Currently, international buyers are not only giving importance to the price of the product, but also to the quality of the product, environmentally friendly production and a safe working environment for workers.
