Bangladesh is following wrong track for employment: Dr. Hossain Zillur

Famed economist and former Adviser to a caretaker government Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman has commented that Bangladesh is following a wrong track for employment. For this reason job losses are happening far more than creating new jobs, Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman further said. He stated that shrinkage  in production sectors, dilemma in labour markets and lack of essential skills among youths are responsible for this phenomenon.

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman made the above remarks while addressing a seminar in the capital's Six Seasons Hotel at Gulshan on Sunday. The seminar was titled "Beyond Jobless Growth: Towards An Employment Centered Policy Framework for Bangladesh Through A Post Neoliberal Lens". Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung jointly organized this seminar.

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman told the audiences that during last one decade GDP growth in Bangladesh increased but compared to this scenario sufficient jobs could not be created. He voiced concern over the nosedive in jobs in small business enterprises and service sectors. Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman commented that depression among youths is getting all the more aggravated due to mounting unemployment. He underscored the fact that people belonging to the informal sector are facing a standstill in their earnings.

Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman cited uncertainty in overseas employment and volatile remittances as major reasons behind the slowing down of employment across Bangladesh. He remarked that sustainable development cannot be secured without expanding jobs for youths. Dr. Saima Haque Bidisha laid emphasis on targeted stimulus packages, rural investments and freelancing support for facilitating employment for job-seekers.

Financial analyst Dr. MA Razzaque presented the keynote paper at the event.