Plenty of factory jobs, no takers
BOI chairman says ‘no response from MPs’ :
By Chandani Jayatilleke
JOBS: Young Sri Lankans prefer to work as trishaw drivers
PICTURES BY SHAN
RUPASSARA |
Young Sri Lankans shun taking skilled and non-skilled jobs with a
monthly pay of around Rs. 30,000-35,000 in factories struggling to fill
vacancies, but appear to prefer to work as trishow drivers instead.
The jobs offered by Board of Investment (BOI) companies with several
opportunities for further training and personal growth and a steady
income are ignored by the youth as well as the politicians.
Chairman, Board of Investment, Upul Jayasuriya’s call to recommend
youth for 25,000 jobs at BOI companies, from the 225 legislators has not
met with the desired response.
“I have written to each and every MP personally requesting them to
nominate suitable young people from their electorates for these jobs
several months ago. But none has responded so far,” Jayasuriya told the
media last week.
There are 12 trade zones under the BOI at present. About 15% of the
BOI companies - that is 300 – are within these trade zones while the
rest of the companies are in outside the trade zones.
The vacancies at BOI companies have been published through the media
and spoken about in many a forum. “Yet the response is insignificant,”
he said.
“This is a serious issue. We need all types of labour, from skilled
to semi-skilled in 15 different job categories. “Our youth are not
geared to take up jobs as technicians, welders, machine operators and
construction workers.
They want convenient ways such as hiring three-wheelers or finding
government jobs even if it is not a productive way to contribute to the
economy,” he said. Statistics show that a million three wheelers are on
the roads at present.
A senior economic analyst said the youth mindset should be changed
and youth should be trained from their school-level education to get
into the labour force.
“We need to impart skills training and teach them how to work and
earn in a factory atmosphere.
The entire world needs lakhs of welders, pipe fitters and
construction workers
If our youth are to find foreign employment they should have some
basic training. Three-wheelers are not the ultimate profession for
them,” he said.
“If you take mega projects such as Megapolis which hopes to create
several lakhs of jobs, how are we going to find people?,” he queried.
According to the Statistics Department, the number of unemployed
people is estimated at 349,686 during the first quarter of this year.
The unemployment rate for the first quarter this year was 4.2 percent.
The overall unemployment rate for females was 6.1 percent and for
males 3.1 percent.
The youth unemployment rate (15–24 years) in the first quarter this
year was 21.5 percent - the highest unemployment rate among all age
groups. Unemployment rates for males and females are 19.0 and 25.9. |