Over a period of time, young graduates in certain parts of the country have been staging protests demanding government jobs. Whilst empathizing with them, any prudent citizen will know these young people need to be encouraged to look for lucrative opportunities that are widely available in the private sector.
The general reluctance to join the private sector; to go into business or to become an entrepreneur can be mainly attributed to the fear of the unknown. We need to recognize that these youth have gone through tough times in their past. Yet, they ought to be encouraged and motivated to look at the private sector as one of the best options they have at hand, since private sector has the answers they are looking for in terms of economic and social prosperity.
Vehicle of change
It is only natural that youth clamour for secure government jobs with perks and privileges. All over the world youth want it that way. Unfortunately, only a limited number could be accommodated in government job openings on a yearly basis, since the government sector is already filled to the brim and overstaffed.
Therefore, policy reforms should to be initiated to redirect youth toward the ample openings that are available in the private sector. For example, the rapid development in the informal business sector and SMEs, hold unique opportunities for our youth to acquire necessary skills and knowledge for a comfortable living.
Life might not that be cozy in the informal business sector. Yet, if they stay on track regardless of the circumstances, then they will eventually realize their dreams and aspirations by having access to enhanced income levels.
High accountability
Fighting for one’s rights is understandable but it should also focus on responsibilities. It is saddening to see youth wasting away their life’s precious moments on the roads staging protests.
At present, on average, every month there are more than ten protests, bringing a lot of disruption and heartache to the public.
It has been said that many of these protests bring much confusion to society. Our nation is personality driven, whereas, we should be driven by mission.
Behavioural changes
Youth agitation could be attributed to the fact that they are unable to see wealth being filtered down to communities. They perceive that wealth is circulating only within a small percentage of the elite society.
The present administration, by implementing inclusive market systems is addressing these issues so that the benefits of development activities could be shared with all sections of the population, particularly the middle class. It is important that the private sector and the growing informal business sector should be well positioned in the minds of youth. The issues that give rise to negative perceptions should be addressed systematically. For example, the stigma associated with women working in the hospitality and tourism industry need to be sensitively addressed.
For this, the institutional capacity of the informal sector and SMEs should be built. Appropriate policy reforms should be introduced especially with regard to human resources management, work safety and meeting the health and family requirements, especially of women workers.
For instance, women employees should be assigned baby care lounges to take care of their infants. Employees should be taught how to strike work-life balance, manage stress levels and lead a healthy life-style.
Further, behavioural changing activities should be carried out at grass root level to change the perception of youth about private sector jobs. Research confirms that word of mouth campaign is the best way to achieve behavioural changes in the minds of youth.
Value creation
Our youth are intelligent and we are certainly proud of them. Parents, teachers and mentors should take the responsibility of encouraging youth to channel their youthful energy and creativity in positive ways.
Our youth need to be taught not only to think about themselves but also about others.
Things cannot always evolve only around their needs, goals and desires. They need to be encouraged to create opportunities for themselves as well as for those who do not have such opportunities.
They should be shown that by getting into business, by joining the private sector or by becoming social entrepreneurs, they could not only lead a fulfilling life but also fund their own aspirations and even take care of others.
The writer is a HRD practitioner.