Monday, 10 April 2017

A major reason for Layoug (ལས་གཡོག) in Bhutan



“A major reason for unemployment in Bhutan is due to jobseekers applying for multiple job or better jobs even when they are already employed.”
To what extend do you agree with the above statement? Outline the cause of unemployment in Bhutan? Discuss solutions to the unemployment problem in Bhutan.

Reality of globalization hits the charm of everyone everywhere and alas! The ripple effects has caught a tiny Himalayan kingdom amidst spiraling proportion of unemployment. The shift in the paradigm of development activities since 1960’s had steadfastly nourished the socioeconomic development of a country by noble principle Gross National Happiness, yet many remain insatiate as income progenitor runs out of individuals reach.

Better said than done for those who take it things lightly in blabbing Bhutan as small country with least people shouldn’t face this problem at so early phase. If you have axe to grind the cause and vision to chalk out solutions than there won’t be any statement left for you to say “A major reason for unemployment in Bhutan is due to jobseekers applying for multiple job or better jobs even when they are already employed.”

The epic world changing scenario has provided many opportunities but hardly with distinctive guarantee. Youth unemployment is major crisis Bhutan is facing today. "In the past when people left school they went to work on the land, but today people seem more and more eager to come to the capital Thimpu and other towns in the kingdom to find more lucrative employment." Finance Minister Yeshi Zimba, 2002. “It had been concluded that the major economic challenges is to provide employment for under 20 age groups comprising 40%” (BBC, 2002) back then. Youths are the cream of our nations and are future drivers of our country. They possess energy, talent and potential which can assist for the overall production pool of our nation and productive economic ventures if only utilized in a better and rightly manner.

The Constitution of Bhutan under article 9 states “the State shall endeavor to promote those circumstances that would enable the citizens to secure an adequate livelihood.” Accordingly any government coming to power prioritizes this issue to be pinned down but seldom see’s any improvement. They address the nation as their prime emphasis would be to tackle this consequences and pledge of 100% employment which still lingers in the mind of hopeless jobless citizens with rare opportunity, jobs nowhere to be seen in the market.  

The spectacular raising employment problem shaking the country today has awakened many Bhutanese from deep slumber of assurance to worrisome. They start the day with bright smile because they are confided with hopes but it’s just matter of time to see same face shattered without a bit of glow when they return from job market. This is rather opium that contaminates society with social issues than stepping stone towards contributing force and prosperity of our nation. As per the findings UNDP (2016) comprehended Bhutan’s current youth unemployment rate stands at 9.4 per cent which is coupled with growing use of drugs and alcohol. Moreover, inadequacies in skills and education have been found to add to such problems.

Should we get hold onto root cause, there comes voluminous to be taken into considerations. When law of the land firmly declares 60% of total landmark under forest cover than many industrial private, national and international companies, corporates cannot thrive upon limited resources. Their absence means limited vacancies. Annually escalation of graduates, post graduates competing for limited slots when RCSC’s objective is compact and efficient government. Bhutan being land locked country with poor technology never had a chance to employ its people to join navy, air force, atomic energy and space force etc.
Bhutanese education system cannot produce student who all are compatible for scientific and technological sectors. They fail to provide diversity in lessons taught in classes. Did you ever wonder how many Indian teachers are currently deployed in various schools and how many of foreign expatriate’s labor are working in various construction sites.  When Bhutanese look for lucrative and dignified jobs and remain busy roaming in search of job, these people are earning good amount.

The best moment to feed baby is just before they cry and earlier is better to solve unemployment and is worth annihilating afore it turn out so rampant. “Since 2006-2015 unemployment rate averaged 2.56 percentage when highest was in 2010 with 4 percentage and lowest observed in 2013 with 2.1 percentage. In 2015 the rate slightly came down to 2.6 from 2.9 of 2014,” (TRADING ECONOMICS, 2016).

As medication at right times cures illness so is mitigating this issues at this time is never late. In doing so government should provide supporting environment via framing appropriate policy, legislation and strategies. PM Tshering Tobgay said “The Jobs Plan is in the pipeline,” after stating the plan on a new project called the Jobs Plan to identify correct job opportunities for youth in the country during a talk to students at the Gaeddu College of Business Studies on November 2. (Kuensel, 2016). Private sectors need support especially in the areas having potential of creating more jobs. For this Lyonchen highlighted “Bhutan ranked 73rd in ease of doing business this year, while it ranked as 71st in 2015. And we are improving,” “It means our economy is getting better and better, which means the private sector is also getting better.” Lyonchoen said on that same day.

Government should also negotiate with the firms like hydro-power projects to recruit many Bhutanese labors as possible. There should be support and encouragement for budding entrepreneurs and support youths to take up vocational educations and gain skills for employability. Most crucial out of all is to ensure free, just, fair and transparent recruitment either in private or government sectors. Equity and justice should prevail throughout the policies and make it easy processing procedure for everyone’s convenience.

Rather than struggling to get genetically modified vegetables that foods the country’s vegetable market today, its everyone’s duty to give serious thought and try to produce more and nutritious vegetables from our own fallow lands. Youth should be fairly smart enough to come up with more creative ideas and start their own business. Don’t always wait to get employed in white collar but be ready to take even blue collar jobs to gain experience in several field. Never let urban areas overflow with constant rural migrations. Provide better and equal opportunity even in rural areas so as to reduce economic disparities.

Problem with Bhutanese employment is “I can't get a job because I don't have experience, I don't have experience because I can't get a job” is very much right in many ways. Leaders should keep in touch with youths to stay update with their problems in particular and overall job conditions prevailing in the country to boost economic development by sorting out the problems at fastest race.










1 comment:

  1. Why unemployment is considered as macroeconomic issues of Bhutan

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