Jobs: Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has said that employment rates are falling.

Speaking during the meet the press on Thursday, he said that people have been slamming the government that there are not enough employment opportunities for people.

“Yes, that’s why we are concerned. That’s why we have promised full employment,” said the Prime Minister.

However, he said that achieving full employment in one or two years is simply not possible. “But unemployment rate is falling.”

The idea of the government, he said, is to achieve full employment and the government will continue to promote employment opportunities.

The Prime Minister also said that there are many reasons for growing unemployment, one of which is the reluctance of youth to take up the jobs that are available.

“The entire cabinet is involved [in job creation],” he said, adding that the government is giving the unemployment issue importance. It is imperative that the economy to improve as economy generates employment.

The Prime Minister said that employment prospects and challenges will be highlighted in the State of the Nation report in the current session of Parliament. “Just because that the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) is saying that we are not discussing it in parliament doesn’t mean that we are not doing anything.”

The DNT said that the government has failed to frame a long-term employment policy, without which there is a danger of government disrupting and changing the path of development strategies. The party said that the government’s employment programmes are short-sighted and will only bring temporary relief for a few well-connected individuals.

The Prime Minister said that some of the legislations the government is putting forward are particularly aimed for the good of the economy.  And for those who are looking for overseas employment, Prime Minister said the government is trying its best to ensure that the labour agents are honest. But he also cautioned the applicants to be very careful.

For those who have fallen prey to unscrupulous practices of consultants, he said that the government will do its best to bring the perpetrators to justice.

According to a recent report prepared by the Ministry Labour and Human Resources is lagging behind in employing young people in the country. The report says that while unemployment of 2.9 percent is low by international standards, the country’s youth unemployment stands at 9.6 percent, which is by much higher than the national average.

By MB Subba

 

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