WB-funded project trains up 3,180 unskilled labourers

Of the unskilled labour force, 26% were female, and 93% of the trainees have already secured jobs in  manufacturing sector. Moreover, rural and poor trainees receive food, travel and accommodation facilities at subsidised costs. Since 2010, STEP has been working to strengthen public and private polytechnic institutions to improve the quality of skills training, align curriculum with skills market demand and increase employability of the trainees. To improve job market opportunities for informal workers, STEP operationalised the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) programme in 2014 to assess and certify skill level of workers who have no prior formal training or qualifications. The RPL programme has assessed over 9,000 candidates and certified 7,533 as competent. In Bangladesh, rural people, especially young women,  often do not have access to industry-based skills trainings as the industries are mainly located in cities. To overcome the challenge, the Skills and Training Enhancement Project (STEP) in partnership with the Bangladesh Garments and Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has been providing skills training to rural people in training centres to improve livelihood opportunities since 2010. The project provided stipend support to 1,44,615 poor students, surpassing the project target. To promote female skills training and employability through technical and vocational education, the project has been providing stipend to all female diploma students since 2012. The female beneficiary share has increased from 10% to 27% while the female trainees supported courses reached 27% against the target of 20% between 2010 and 2016.