EU launches first textile and leather training council
The EU has launched the first European Sector Council on Education Training and Employment, to provide more skills training and create more jobs in the textile, clothing and leather industries throughout the EU.
In line with the Europe 2020 growth strategy, the network will cover more than 27 countries and over 400 entities. The European Council on Education Training and Employment for Textile Clothing Leather (EU TCL Skills Council) will aim to improve the quality of the European labour force in the textile industry.
“We are committed through the ‘agenda for new skills and jobs’ flagship to support concrete actions that will equip workers with the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow,” said Jean-François Lebrun, head of employment and social affairs at the European Commission.
“We will support such an approach that is part of the answer to solving the important need for skilled people in innovative industrial sectors. We do hope and we count on the fact that the social partners and observatories will engage fully in making this tool a success.”
The EU TCL Skills Council is a collaboration between ETUF: TCL (The European Federation of Textile Clothing Leather and Footwear), Euratex (the European Apparel and Textile Confederation) and COTANCE (The European Confederation of Leather and Tanning). The initiative also receives financial support from the European Commission directorate general for employment and social affairs.
Luc Triangle of TCL, said: “The time has come for the European textile, clothing and leather industries to embrace change in the labour market and the opportunities in these industries to turn Europe into a socially sustainable, knowledge-based economy.”
Francesco Marchi, of Euratex, noted the presence of several European industry representatives interested in saving skills within the textile industry. “The commitment taken by key players of these industries in France, Belgium, United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, will encourage other member states to foster similar approaches and join a network that in the end should become self-supporting. The exchange of good practices and the networking effect should unlock the need for our numerous SMEs to find and help talented workers to improve their skills.”
A web portal has also been launched to provide regularly updated courses, lesson plans, activities and audiovisual resources that cover the textile, clothing and leather industries.
