Experts call for conducive business environment

Experts at a webinar on Thursday called for building a business environment conducive to decent jobs for the youth in the country.

They also recommended business leaders and development partners respond to national needs and make themselves more available for socio-economic efforts aimed at youth development.

They said private and public investments in new and existing sectors have to be regulated by the government so that labour-intensive jobs demanding hard skills ensure decent wages for the youth. The recommendations came from a virtual programme jointly organised by the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) and ActionAid Bangladesh titled ‘Sectoral Action Plan for Youth Sensitive Budgeting’.

Presenting key-note papers, SANEM Senior Research Associate Eshrat Sharmin recommended adopting a youth-focused, comprehensive and long-term action plan for education and health; enabling institutions for effective implementation and monitoring; investment in research; and skills development programmes under formal education.

Planning Minister MA Mannan emphasised a proper environment for the youth in terms of physical, cultural, and work environment.

“We need to rethink our rush towards higher education. The youth need to carefully consider and take up subjects that are in demand in the labour market, which will help reduce unemployed educated youth,” he said.

SANEM Executive Director Dr Selim Raihan emphasised the importance of proper utilisation of demographic dividends in policy-making.

ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabir said the narrative of the sectoral action plan has to be sent to relevant ministries, on why we should work with the youth and how we should include them, or else this would become a tick-box exercise.

“We need to instil confidence in the youth that not everyone needs to be doctors or engineers, instead they could also become innovators and entrepreneurs. Higher education is important, however, if it leads to higher unemployment, we are creating a problem, especially in the post-Covid era,” Kabir added.