25 April, 2008 - As the day gives way to dusk, Kunzang Thinley’s mood starts to take on the colour of the darkening sky.
It’s time for him to head back to his sister’s place, something that he resents doing with each passing day.
The thought of his brother-in-law’s bitter looks and resentful attitude makes him feel miserable. He just hates the idea of being seen as useless and an additional burden on his sister’s family of five, which includes two school-going children.
Several months ago, his sister’s family in Thimphu had welcomed Kunzang Thinley to stay with them while he sought admission to college. But the welcome soon turned sour, as Kunzang Thinley’s stay lengthened into months.
“I expected at least to qualify for the Gedu college,” he said, sharing his experience with Kuensel. That never happened. Then he began applying for jobs announced in the media. He hasn’t received any response so far.
Every sunrise brings some rays of hope, as he visit offices, though quite often he ends up in a bar playing snooker with friends. Some of his friends, including some degree holders, do not go home for days.
Between 2003 and 2007, the unemployment rate in the country rose from 1.8 percent to 3.7 percent. In 2007, there were more than 10,600 unemployed people. This trend of rising unemployment is expected to continue for some time.
“The already heaving public sector and the small and underdeveloped private sector can only absorb so many,” said the labour and human resources secretary, Dasho Dr Sonam Tenzin, adding that the main reason for this growing problem was youth’s high expectation of better desk jobs against what the market has to offer.
“Almost everybody wants to become an officer,” the secretary said. “Their attitudes need to change if we are to build a better labour force in the country.”
The other cause for exacerbating the already growing unemployment problem, ministry officials point out, was rural-urban migration. The current education system, they say was not favouring these youth either who after schooling find themselves least equipped for the job market.
“Our education system has to improve and be geared more towards giving students the necessary tools, so that they are prepared for any kind of work,” the secretary said.
The four departments in the ministry are working closely to create and promote employment and ensure quality services. It has also adopted strategies to create employment, improve the working environment and ensure labour welfare with strong regulations from the ministry.
“Our strategy for gainful employment and reduction of unemployment is multi-pronged, the impacts of which will not be visible instantly,” said the secretary.
Some ministry officials opined that there was a gap between human resource planning and labour market information.
In the tenth plan, the ministry will build eight vocational training institutes and two zorig chusum institutes. “These institutes will offer different courses, including specialisation of skills required in the labour market,” said the director of employment, Karma Tshering, who in the course of the interview received a call from the labour minister about three youth looking for jobs. “We’re still looking for a suitable opportunity, la,” he answered, keeping his voice low, and answering several other queries, that took over five minutes. “We’re proposing many things to the new government to address the issues,” he said, after the conversation.
The ministry would also hold a dzongkhag- and sector-wise jobs fair, so that the job seekers need not travel to Thimphu for jobs. The last three job fairs employed more than 500 jobs seekers in the private and corporate sectors.
The ministry also has a proposal to start a pre-employment engagement programme, and restart the system of national service for graduates before their employment. “The students will go to rural places and work there,” he said. “They’ll be given grades, which will help them in interviews for jobs and trainings,” the official said. “We will ensure that the youth do not go wasted, by taking care of them until they find jobs,” a senior labour official said.
The apprentice training program (ATP) started in 2000, initially for class ten students, has started recruiting class XII completed students for the past two years. It has so far employed about 790 students, who directly join companies and acquire the skills for the job. “The programme is doing well. Interested students have to register with department through on line registration or through their offices,” said the program officer, Tandin Dorji.
The ministry has 12 new programmes awaiting endorsement by the new government to address employment issues.
“It’s tragic irony that so many of our youth are unemployed while, at the same time, we have more than 37,000 expatriates working here,” said Dasho Sonam Tenzin. In the next five years, ministry officials estimate 8,000 educated youth to be without jobs.
Ministry officials will meet with private sector and corporations to collect information on vacancies and review past job fairs to prepare for the one coming later in May this year.
No comments:
Post a Comment