The three-year Uniqlo project will equip job-ready skills to enable vulnerable young people—especially women—to move from dangerous and unpredictable employment in the unofficial sector.
Targeting job seekers from Delhi’s impoverished areas, the Job Orientated Vocational Training Centre targets 18 to 29 year olds. School dropouts, children of migrant workers, those living in poverty, or those with restricted access to employment or vocational training possibilities take first priority.
This project aims to have equipped 2,700 young people with technical skills and professional world insights by December 2027.
To provide program participants with practical experience, Uniqlo is also thinking about running internships at its shops and facilities.
Situated in Dwarka, New Delhi, the new skill centre project will centre on teaching sewing machine operation, retail services, and nursing practical skills.
Comprising 45 to 60 days, the curriculum will also cover gender equality, digital and financial literacy, multicultural awareness, and workplace communication—soft skills development.
The initiative also aims to assist Indian young people with job placements and later follow-ups.
Inspired by our LifeWear philosophy of making everyone’s life better, Kenji Inoue, chief operating officer and finance officer of Uniqlo India, said: “We hope this vocational training project will have a life-changing, beneficial impact for thousands of young Indian people. Uniqlo’s new project marks our long-term dedication to the Indian community; it is basic for us always to help society in every nation and region in which we operate.
“Education is an integral part of individual and society development and, working with Plan International, we look forward to offer chances to empower young people.”
Uniqlo’s parent business, Fast Retailing, paid 120m yen ($0.80m) for the initiative.
The effort is funded by Uniqlo’s 2022 PEACE FOR ALL campaign. All earnings from charitable T-shirt sales are directed by this campaign towards foreign NGOs carrying out global developmental projects.
Executive director Mohammed Asif of Plan International (India Chapter) said: “With the launch of the new Saksham [Skill] Centre, Plan, alongside Uniqlo, will be creating opportunities for young women and men to gain market-oriented skills, secure sustainable livelihoods, and become active contributors to nation building.
“This project fits our dedication to labour and economic progress, gender equality, and high-quality education. We thank our partner Uniqlo for helping us to realise our ambition.
By interacting directly with the young people of the centre through mentoring and knowledge-sharing events targeted at improving their professional and personal competencies, Uniqlo staff will further enhance this project.
By means of these combined initiatives, Uniqlo hopes to create a long-lasting good influence on the life of young people and support a more inclusive and vibrant society.
Uniqlo debuted its first store in India in October 2019; today, the brand boasts 15 outlets there.
Strong demand in the US and Europe for Uniqlo’s “multifunctional wardrobe basics” drove a rise in operational profit achieved by Fast Retailing, the parent business in its first quarter of fiscal year 2025.
