With more than 100,000 factories, China is the world’s largest exporter of textile and apparel products and employs more than 10 million people. Due to increasing labor costs and trade agreements, many Chinese clothing manufacturers are moving to Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar. This leaves millions of jobs at stake. Increasing the know-how and value addition in China is therefore highly relevant to maintain China’s competitiveness.
Union AG has set up a modern training center in Qingdao, China, where a two-year training program for at least 10 apprentices from different companies has been offered in technical drawing and punching. The project has introduced the dual education system of Switzerland into the embroidery industry of China. All instructions at the training center have been kept in Chinese. The training has educated the trainees in theoretical knowledge and taught them practical skills. Upon successful completion of the training, they have been issued a graduation certificate. The training places were available free of charge and have been available only to 30% for Union AG apprentices and 70% for external persons.
In scope of the project, Union AG has cooperated with the Qingdao University and its “Department of Apparel Engineering’, to transfer know-how to an even broader audience of students.
