DHAKA (ILO News) - Investments in the care economy need to be doubled to avert a looming global care crisis, according to the ILO report "Care work and care jobs for the future of decent work" published in 2019. Comprehensive policies should address the rising need for care and tackle the huge disparity between women's and men's care responsibilities.

The ILO's EU funded Skills 21 project addressed this untapped area and supported the Bangladesh Technical Education Board (BTEB) to develop qualification packages, i.e. competency standards, learning materials, assessment tools, and started job-focused training in four (4) partner TVET institutes from September 2021.

Sheuli Akhter earlier used to work for Apollo Hospital as a caregiver without any training. After her marriage, she moved to Khulna for the sake of her husband's profession. Recently Sheuli came to know about the caregiving course offered by the Khulna Mahila Polytechnic Institute. Sheuli enrolled herself in the training to develop her career as a caregiver. She said 'To me, it is a noble profession. I worked as a caregiver without any certificate. I hope, after this training, I will be able to work in any hospital, and if I pursue the next levels, I can be a trainer as well."

Like Sheuli, 94 other local students recently enrolled in the NTVQF level-2 caregiving course at the Bangladesh Sweeden Polytechnic Institute Kaptai, Khulna Mahila Polytechnic Institute, Sylhet Technical School and College and the Institute of Marine Technology Bagerhat for the first time. The level 2 competency-based training is for people of all ages. Local employers have partnered with this initiative to provide on the job training and eventually to secure employment.

Dr Probir Khyang, Director of the Christian hospital, Chandraghona, ensured to provide on the job training to the students of the Bangladesh Sweeden Polytechnic Institute at the inaugural ceremony of the caregiving training at the Bangladesh Sweeden Polytechnic Institute Kaptai, Rangamati. He also discussed their requirements. Moreover, the local hospitals and clinics in the catchment areas of Khulna Mahila Polytechnic Institute, Sylhet Technical School and College and the Institute of Marine Technology Bagerhat also support providing on-the-job training and employment.

S M Shajahan, Deputy Director, Course Accreditation of BTEB, said, “The ILO has supported us in developing the competency standard and curriculum and developed our level-2. However, seeing the many job opportunities at home and abroad, we are now developing CS for other levels and creating assessors as well.” This course will be eventually launched in other Skills 21 partner institutes and other government institutes as well.