UN $2.5 million jobs program for textile manufacturers who survived the earthquake

The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) aims to employ 3,500 people with a new program of 2.5 million dollars for the textile and related sectors in the regions affected by the earthquakes on February 6 .

According to the information received, UNDP is implementing several programs in the places affected by the earthquakes in Kahramanmaraş.

In this context, a new initiative was launched with a budget of 2.5 million dollars to employ 3,500 people in the textile and related sectors in the region and to integrate women and other disadvantaged groups into the labor market.

OBJECTIVE ALLEVIATE THE ACUTE LABOR DEFICIT

The programme, funded by Sweden and started with additional contributions from South Korea and Finland, aims to cover the severe labor shortage caused by the migration of skilled workers from the south and south-east of Turkey to other provinces following the earthquakes. .

In the short term, UNDP aims to provide on-the-job training to 500 new garment workers in the earthquake zone, to provide more general life skills and psychosocial support to 3,000 garment workers and their families.

In this context, it is planned to establish an Occupational Mental Health Center in Hatay. Collaboration with employers is envisaged to ensure that they meet “decent work” standards.

In addition, it is intended to expand the professional training program to employ at least 3,000 more people in the textile sector in the future.

Launching a specific support program for the needs of handmade shoe makers in Hatay is also among the goals.

INDUSTRIALS ARE HARD TO FIND WORKERS

The UNDP Resident Representative in Turkey, Louisa Vinton, made an evaluation of the programme.

Stating that the February 6 earthquakes changed assumptions, Vinton said industrialists in the disaster area were having difficulty finding workers.

“The solution we want to implement with our private sector partners is to expand vocational training as much as possible to include women and other underrepresented groups in the workforce,” Vinton said.

İlker Karataş, board member of Istanbul Garment and Garment Exporters Association (İHKİB) Educational Foundation, stated that the initiative launched within the scope of the partnership established with UNDP is based on the creation of decent and sustainable job opportunities in the Turkish Garment and Textile Sector for people made unemployed due to the earthquake, including refugees. .

Karataş said: “This project and similar initiatives will speed up the recovery of industrial sectors, including textiles and ready-made clothing, which are vital in supporting the ability of traumatized and frail people to get back on their feet after the earthquake.” (AA)