The Western Cape CMT Business Chamber is currently offering a training programme for textile manufacturing workers.
“The Western Cape once enjoyed a flourishing textile industry prior to the 2008-2009 economic recession. Coupled with the outsourcing of textile manufacturing to China, this has significantly impacted the ability of local textile workers to obtain stable employment today and put food on the table for their families,” says Eben Chambers from the Western Cape CMT Business Chamber.
Chambers and Paul de Money along with his team have taken it upon themselves to upskill unemployed and underemployed textile manufacturing workers in the Western Cape.
“The training programme will include modules such as emotional intelligence, communication skills, costing, professionalism, technical training, and entrepreneurship skills.
“The aim is to upskill and empower the community in order to obtain meaningful and fair employment opportunities as well as create an attractive CMT environment for large-scale manufacturing houses. The programme will also have a strong coaching and mentorship focus, aiming to ensure CMTs and textile workings deliver high quality work. The networking and corporate partnership component of the programme will ensure a steady pipeline of work,” he says.
These courses are co-developed by a diverse group of industry professionals ranging from top bridal designers and CMT experts to learning designers, entrepreneurs and sociologists. The programme is run by Paul de Money, Eben Chambers, Elise Fernandez and Ashia Toorabally.
On Saturday 10 February, Western Cape CMT Business Chamber hosted their first workshop in Parow. It was well supported, and international designer Cindy Bam was also in attendance.
“We are calling on community members, private businesses and government organisations to form partnerships with the South African CMT Business Chamber to strengthen our offering to the community.”
Chambers urges any persons from the textile manufacturing industry to sign up for the workshops that will be held in central locations around Cape Town.
For further information contact Eben Chambers on 084 057 4481 or Elise Fernandez on 063 776 1517.
