Japanese apparel company Uniqlo has teamed up with Plan International, a humanitarian group, to open its first skill centre initiative in India. The project will teach sewing and retail service skills.
In order to assist disadvantaged young adults—particularly women—in leaving the hazardous and precarious jobs of the informal sector, Uniqlo’s three-year project will provide them with employable skills.
Job seekers from Delhi’s impoverished neighbourhoods between the ages of 18 and 29 are the focus of the Job Orientated Vocational Training Centre. School dropouts, migrant worker children, the poor, and those with restricted access to jobs or vocational training possibilities are given preference.
This program aims to provide 2,700 young people with technical skills and insights into the working world by December 2027.
In order to give program participants practical experience, Uniqlo is also thinking about providing internships at its locations and facilities. The new skill centre project, which will be situated in Dwarka, New Delhi, will concentrate on teaching hands-on skills in sewing machine operation, nursing, and retail services.
The 45–60 day program will also cover the development of soft skills, such as workplace communication, gender equality, multicultural awareness, and digital and financial literacy. The initiative also aims to assist young people in India with job placement and follow-up.
Inspired by Uniqlo’s LifeWear philosophy of improving everyone’s life, Kenji Inoue, chief financial officer and chief operating officer of Uniqlo India, stated that it is hoped that this vocational training project will positively and transform the lives of thousands of young Indians. “Contributing to society in every nation and area where we do business is essential to Uniqlo, and this new endeavour reflects our sustained dedication to the Indian community”, he added.
Uniqlo’s parent business, Fast Retailing, contributed 120 million yen (US $ 0.80 million) to the project’s funding. The program is funded by Uniqlo’s PEACE FOR ALL campaign, which was launched in 2022. Through this program, all proceeds from the sale of charity T-shirts are donated to global organisations that carry out development projects.
Mohammed Asif, executive director of Plan International (India Chapter), said through the opening of the new Saksham [Skill] Centre, Plan and Uniqlo will be giving young men and women the chance to acquire skills relevant to the market, establish stable careers, and actively participate in the development of their country.
