Perennial unemployment problem

BY: Hari Prasad Paudel

Nepal currently faces the problem of unsatisfying job scenario and unemployment. With the high aspirations of the young generation running miles ahead of the country's ground reality, the number of youths going for overseas employment has increased significantly.

According to Nepal Economic Survey report 2016-17, more than 186,166 youths flew for foreign employment by obtaining a work permit in the first eight months of the last fiscal year. However, of the labor force going for foreign employment, only 24.5 percent have been trained workers.

To be cognizant, still, more than 1,600 youths fly for foreign employment every day due to lack of employment opportunities, and low remuneration in the Nepalese labor market. Moreover, the increased aspiration of the youths is one of the factors for the outbound trend. Hence, the government needs to be serious about creating job opportunities in the country by developing infrastructure, commercializing agriculture, promoting tourism, among others. Moreover, the government should focus on technical education and skill development training to the youths to stop youths from foreign employment. Imparting vocational training will encourage Nepalese youth to start their own enterprise in the country.

Thousands of youths opting for an international job market have been facing a series of troubles due to lack of training and skills. Hence, these untrained youths are compelled to involve themselves in 3Ds -- namely 'dirty, dangerous, and difficult' nature of work.

In Nepal, several thousand aspirants vie for a few thousand job opportunities in the government and semi-government organizations. In fact, EPS-TOPIK is another attractive employment opportunity, and of course a better working destination abroad. Youths undergo stiff competition as more than ten folds aspirants competes to get selected. This has been an example of what can be dubbed as a 'managed foreign employment exercise' in Nepal. According to the recent World Bank Report, 32 percent of the country's working-age population is either unemployed or voluntarily inactive. Demand-based education, skill-based education, coordination between stakeholders and improved private emplacement can only address this problem.

The need for demand-based education

The country has been witnessing an increased number of educated, yet unemployed youths. One of the major reasons for the unemployment is due to the existing education system that emphasizes theoretical aspects rather than technical. There has been a crunch of skilled manpower due to the lack of agreement between demand and supply. Therefore, to eradicate this problem, it is high time that the concerned authorities and stakeholders introduced more vocational and technical subjects to meet the current need of the job market. For instance, the introduction of a subject like mountaineering has contributed a lot. People's perception towards technical and vocational education should be changed at the earliest.

Making foreign employment prestigious and safe

According to a government report, around 6000 Nepalese migrant workers have lost their lives in the last nine years due to the pathetic working condition and diet. Even as basic training and orientation are mandatory before their departure, this has become a mere formality since many of the workers do not take it seriously, and as a result, they end up in a trouble. To make the foreign employment more prestigious and safe, the workers should get proper training. The Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT) has recently introduced skill test system, which provides skilled manpower a globally valid degree.

The necessity of coordination among training providers

Over a dozen organizations in the country have been investing a huge amount of money on technical and vocational education. Unfortunately, the result is not satisfactory due to the lack of coordination between these organizations since they prefer to organize the training individually and do not even coordinate in the pre-training and post-training activities like, need analysis, curriculum development, conducting training, and observation and evaluation. This has not only affected the quality of the training but has also imbalanced the access.

Responsible and strong private sector

A major portion of the job opportunity is provided by the private sectors worldwide. In Nepal's context, several private companies fail to provide a job contract, pay-hike, and regular promotions. Like in other countries, in Nepal, private jobs are considered as insecure. The private sectors' inability to adopt systematized recruitment is reactive to the employers themselves and has discouraged the talented youths in the private sector. So, the employment system of the private sector should be improved instantly to attract smart generations.

Besides, the current bureaucratic system and provisions for the entrepreneurs are not attractive. There is a tedious process in each sector for the beginners and, small and cottage industries. Until and unless the government implements the provisions to support youths and entrepreneurs, the investment-friendly environment and remarkable employment opportunity remain a far cry.