The Project:
Gen-Prom is an initiative of UNDP (Unite Nations Development Programme) to enhance the skill level of garments and sewing industry workers and promote gender so that this important backbone industry of Pakistan can survive the tough challenges of global competition. On one hand, there is a high level of unemployment in Pakistan and on the other hand, this vital industry is hungry for skilled and efficient work force.

The labor ratio of textile industry of Pakistan is highly skewed towards males and this is very different from the competing nations of the global textile business. Gen-Prom project aims at building capacity of sewing factories to be able to train work force in an organized manner with state of the art curriculum and trained Master Trainers. The project provides training to unskilled workers in the area of cutting, stitching, finishing, packing, quality assurance, and quality control, as per the needs of companies participating in the project. In addition to this, consulting guidelines are given to companies to improve their processes and bring them in line with international standards.

For this purpose, the project has hired the world renowned consultant for garment manufacturing training; Kurt Salon Associates (KSA) who is providing curriculum and training under the project.

Government College University Faisalabad is the implementing partner forvz this project for the province of Punjab. The project duration is 5 years and UNDP is investing US$ 5.0 million for this cause.

The Training:
The training is conducted in rounds of 14 weeks each. For every round, the project selects three factories based on suitability of interested companies. Each Company that participates in the project first hires about 8 Master Trainers. The Master Trainers for the Project can be fresh graduates with no prior experience of sewing industry. However, there is an entry test for qualifying for the training. These Master Trainers are employees of the participating company and are on their payroll from the start of the training.

 In the first 4 weeks, the Master trainers of all selected factories are taught a crash course in a centralized location. This course is 8 hours daily with 4 hours of theory and 4 hours for practical. At the end of the 4 weeks training, these Master Trainers are trained enough to sew a "Quality Pass" garment by themselves.

After successfully qualifying the 4 weeks course, the Master Trainers go to their respective factories where they will establish a training unit in guidance from the Gen-Prom Consultants and hire a batch of fresh Metric pass candidates and train them in supervision of the project consultants. The operator recruitment is also based on certain tests that ensure that the candidate would be a successful and efficient operator. The operator training lasts for 10 weeks after which the operators are handed over to production line. The training of Master trainers also gets completed when the first batch of operators graduate for the production line.

The intervention of Gen-Prom project ends at this point and the team of Master Trainers then continue with the recruitment and training of the next batch and the process of worker's training gets internalized with the company.

Operator Training:
The operator training consists of Paper sew exercises, Fabric sew exercises, mock production runs and stamina build up exercises. An unskilled operator starts producing actual production generally form the 5th week of training after which the focus is on building stamina and maintaining quality. Operators are also trained on machine maintenance and discipline.

Merchandiser's Training:
Under this training, the existing merchandisers of the participating companies can take a special training course designed to polish the professional skills of merchandisers and amplify their understanding about concepts regarding the garment manufacturing process. In addition to this, if a company wishes to add new merchandisers to its team, fresh incumbents (preferably females) can be added to the MTs training Programme that has been mentioned above. The work load of this training course will be about 6 hours per week which is manageable for merchandisers already working in organizations.

Consulting Guidelines:
The consultant of Gen-Prom, KSA Technopak, as part of package, provides consulting guidelines to participating companies in any one of the four following areas (according to the choice of the company):

1. Business Process Mapping
2. Industrial Engineering
3. Cutting Room Management
4. Sewing Room Management
5. Quality Control / Assurance

The responsibility of implementation of guidelines lies with the management of the participating company yet experience has shown that companies have made significant cost savings and efficiency improvements by implementation of these guidelines.

SMOT Programme of Ministry of Textile:
Ministry of Textiles has launched its second phase of Stitching Machine Operator Training Programme (SMOT II). Under this Programme, Ministry is supporting companies for training of operators. Ministry provides 50% of the salaries of the Master Trainers and a part of the stipend given to trainee operators. Gen-Prom project is fully recognized and supported by the Ministry for its content and quality of delivery. All companies signed up for Gen-Prom project can take this facility from the Ministry of Textile for SMOT Programme.

Responsibilities of Participating Companies:
The companies opting for training are required to first recruit Master Trainers who qualify the test for training. After the first 4 weeks of training, the company is required to establish a training unit in the factory premises which would be well equipped with:

1. Machinery according to the training needs of cutting, stitching, finishing packing, Quality assurance, and quality control etc along with accessories including but not limited to tables, lights, thread clippers, dust bin & etc.
2. Strength of 30 to 50 adult Metric pass workers who qualify entry test for becoming operator in sewing industry. Out of this, ratio of women would preferably be 80%.
3. Material including fabric, thread, scissors, paper and other items required.
4. Man power comprising of one mechanic, one cutter, two helpers and other coordinating staff equipped with the required tools to work efficiently and carrying skills up to the standards.

The company will also facilitate training consultants during training sessions at factory training unit with.

1. Office along with utilities.
2. Transport for pick & Drop.
3. Essential Food.
4. Co-ordination of other employees.

There is a nominal fee of Rs. 300,000/- for this service. This fee is deposited with the implementing partner of the project to ensure its sustainability after the end of UNDP intervention. This fee is a very small fraction of the consulting fee paid to KSA.