November 01 is the National Youth Day of Bangladesh. The theme of National Youth Day 2014 is "Fighting Youth for Digital Bangladesh". We will observe that day with various initiatives. But what is the ultimate goal..? and What remains neglected in Youth Development..? Around one third of the population of the country, namely 45 million people, is youth between the ages of 18 and 35. At present, almost 43% of total productive manpower of Bangladesh is unemployed. In of them Youths are major portions. Unemployment problem has become a great concern all over the world. But nowhere in the world is this problem as acute as in Bangladesh. Unemployment means the state of being without any work both for the educated and uneducated for earning one’s livelihood.
Bangladesh is currently facing a paradoxical economic situation. With the steady improvement and development of the country’s economy, many have become optimistic about the ‘bright future’ of the Bangladeshi youth. Unfortunately, the reality is not quite as fascinating. Around one third of the population of the country, namely 45 million people. Only a small fraction of this group is able to enjoy a ‘prosperous life’. This means that less than 10 percent of the youth population of Bangladesh is able to afford a decent apartment to rent, sufficiently provide for their families, receive good education, afford a good nutritious diet, and have time for leisure and travel.
Many young people that have set out with visions to start their own businesses have been disappointed and discouraged by the high levels of corruption.Young entrepreneurs are often powerless when competing against large businesses that are able to leverage their position with the authorities through bribes and incentives. Banks refuse to provide loans to start-ups and new entrepreneurs as they require at least three years of experience as a company before they fund a project. However, unless they get the capital to start their business, how can they get the needed experience?
With the lack of venture capitalists in the country, acquiring start-up capital has become a serious issue. Therefore, the highly educated youth in the larger cities, the ones that often have the most innovative and promising business ideas, do not have the opportunity to launch materialize their dreams. They often become discouraged and find employment that does not fit their aspirations and potential. Unless a young person comes from a well-off family, the chances of launching a successful business or being employed at a high-paying position are very slim. Prosperous jobs are reserved for graduates of expensive private or foreign universities which very few in Bangladesh can afford. Opportunities and prospects for youth coming from lower- and middle-income families are significantly limited. Due to this dire reality some Bangladeshi youth have resorted to illicit activities and crime in order to be able to survive and support their families.
Another significant issue regarding youth employment in Bangladesh are the low salaries. Small and medium scale organizations do not usually pay their young employees more than $120 per month. It often takes more than 10 years of service for them to rise to levels where they can earn between $300 to $500. Even most government officials start their careers with jobs that pay less than $250 a month.
Furthermore, working conditions remain dire in Bangladesh. Employers take advantage of the high degree of unemployment and demand for jobs, not only by paying very low salaries but also forcing their employees to work overtime in appalling conditions. One of the most problematic industries is the ready-made garments (RMG) sector where employees work overtime and are physically maltreated, insulted and underpaid, often resembling slave-like practices.
Many youth prefer to work as temporary workers, open small shops for daily produce, become sales representatives of larger companies working on commission or establish small businesses such as selling newspaper at newsstands. These are all people who desperately need a steady job and a reasonable income. The development of the IT sector has led to the creation of many small subsistence jobs. For example, many young people open small cyber cafés, computer training institutes or even shops where people have their documents typed and printed. Tens of thousands of such establishments have sprung up all over the nation saving many youth from the brink of disaster. Providing private tutor classes and teaching at coaching-centers or small unofficial private evening schools also helps hundreds of thousands of youths to survive all across the country.
There is a dire need for the creation of proper businesses and jobs to help the youth of this struggling nation. However, none of these are means that can be considered as reliable and long term means of subsistence. There is a dire need for the creation of proper businesses and jobs to help the youth of this struggling nation. The dilemma faced by aid agencies, government programs and NGO’s working to improve youth unemployment is whether they should create many low paying jobs to reduce the number of unemployed youth or create fewer, high paying, and more prosperous work opportunities.
So, Unemployment is a great curse to a nation. We cannot expect the development of our country leaving its millions of the people unemployment to survive as a boastful nation. We should make all out efforts to get rid of this curse..
References:
http://www.youthpolicy.org/peacebuilding/2014/06/youth-unemployme
http://www.assignmentpoint.com/arts/sociology/unemployment-problem-in-bangladesh.html
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/bangladesh/unemployment-rate
http://bd.bdtalks.com/unemployment-problem-in-bangladesh/
www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?
Bangladesh is currently facing a paradoxical economic situation. With the steady improvement and development of the country’s economy, many have become optimistic about the ‘bright future’ of the Bangladeshi youth. Unfortunately, the reality is not quite as fascinating. Around one third of the population of the country, namely 45 million people. Only a small fraction of this group is able to enjoy a ‘prosperous life’. This means that less than 10 percent of the youth population of Bangladesh is able to afford a decent apartment to rent, sufficiently provide for their families, receive good education, afford a good nutritious diet, and have time for leisure and travel.Many young people that have set out with visions to start their own businesses have been disappointed and discouraged by the high levels of corruption.Young entrepreneurs are often powerless when competing against large businesses that are able to leverage their position with the authorities through bribes and incentives. Banks refuse to provide loans to start-ups and new entrepreneurs as they require at least three years of experience as a company before they fund a project. However, unless they get the capital to start their business, how can they get the needed experience?
With the lack of venture capitalists in the country, acquiring start-up capital has become a serious issue. Therefore, the highly educated youth in the larger cities, the ones that often have the most innovative and promising business ideas, do not have the opportunity to launch materialize their dreams. They often become discouraged and find employment that does not fit their aspirations and potential. Unless a young person comes from a well-off family, the chances of launching a successful business or being employed at a high-paying position are very slim. Prosperous jobs are reserved for graduates of expensive private or foreign universities which very few in Bangladesh can afford. Opportunities and prospects for youth coming from lower- and middle-income families are significantly limited. Due to this dire reality some Bangladeshi youth have resorted to illicit activities and crime in order to be able to survive and support their families.
Another significant issue regarding youth employment in Bangladesh are the low salaries. Small and medium scale organizations do not usually pay their young employees more than $120 per month. It often takes more than 10 years of service for them to rise to levels where they can earn between $300 to $500. Even most government officials start their careers with jobs that pay less than $250 a month.
Furthermore, working conditions remain dire in Bangladesh. Employers take advantage of the high degree of unemployment and demand for jobs, not only by paying very low salaries but also forcing their employees to work overtime in appalling conditions. One of the most problematic industries is the ready-made garments (RMG) sector where employees work overtime and are physically maltreated, insulted and underpaid, often resembling slave-like practices.
Many youth prefer to work as temporary workers, open small shops for daily produce, become sales representatives of larger companies working on commission or establish small businesses such as selling newspaper at newsstands. These are all people who desperately need a steady job and a reasonable income. The development of the IT sector has led to the creation of many small subsistence jobs. For example, many young people open small cyber cafés, computer training institutes or even shops where people have their documents typed and printed. Tens of thousands of such establishments have sprung up all over the nation saving many youth from the brink of disaster. Providing private tutor classes and teaching at coaching-centers or small unofficial private evening schools also helps hundreds of thousands of youths to survive all across the country.
There is a dire need for the creation of proper businesses and jobs to help the youth of this struggling nation. However, none of these are means that can be considered as reliable and long term means of subsistence. There is a dire need for the creation of proper businesses and jobs to help the youth of this struggling nation. The dilemma faced by aid agencies, government programs and NGO’s working to improve youth unemployment is whether they should create many low paying jobs to reduce the number of unemployed youth or create fewer, high paying, and more prosperous work opportunities.
So, Unemployment is a great curse to a nation. We cannot expect the development of our country leaving its millions of the people unemployment to survive as a boastful nation. We should make all out efforts to get rid of this curse..
References:
http://www.youthpolicy.org/peacebuilding/2014/06/youth-unemployme
http://www.assignmentpoint.com/arts/sociology/unemployment-problem-in-bangladesh.html
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/bangladesh/unemployment-rate
http://bd.bdtalks.com/unemployment-problem-in-bangladesh/
www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/search_index.php?
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