European workshop on tanning sector urges investment in training
The first European workshop on training needs in the tanning sector was held on March 26-27. The event was organised by COTANCE (European Confederation of National Associations of Tanners and Dressers) and ETUF: TCL (European Trade Union Federation: Textile, Clothing and Leather). At the European Union (EU) level, the two organisations are "social partners" and as such are supported and funded by the European Commission. The workshop was arranged in Turin by the Italian national members, UNIC (Unione Nazionale Industria Conciaria) and FEMCA - CISL.
Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the leather-training centre Giacinto Baldracco, the workshop brought together enterprises, workers’ representatives, training institutions, students and young people to look at training needs. The European tanning sector directly employs around 53,000 workers, and 40% of production is exported. However, there are very few training sectors. In Italy, for example, only 80 graduates a year leave the four training centres for tanning technicians.
Gustavo Gonzalez-Quijano, secretary general of COTANCE, said that the training situation was unsatisfactory and insisted on the need to invest in the strategic resource represented by human resources. He also added that it is necessary to promote the sector’s capacities to attract the young generation by also looking to the enlargement of the EU to the East and, if needed, to have professional insertion structures for the tanning sector at a pan-European level.
