“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.
