The cross-party youth lawmakers have said that along with the creating job opportunities the government agencies should focus on promoting the culture of respecting the labour in order to help mitigate the unemployment problem facing the country.

 

They argued that while hundreds of youths leave home every day in search of jobs overseas, the country itself is suffering from human resource crunch in construction and agriculture sectors, among others.

 

Speaking at a consultation programme held by National Youth Council in the Capital on Thursday the newly elected representatives of the Federal Parliament asked the council to focus on technical and income-generating activities.

 

Putting her views at the programme, former Speaker Onasari Gharti argued the trend of flying to the Gulf and Middle East for low-paying jobs could be stopped if there is respect for every kind of labours or jobs.

 

“I have seen our youths cleaning toilets in the Gulf. I can assure they can earn as much if not more if they take up jobs in agriculture and other sectors here. It’s the culture of disrespecting labour that is responsible for youths’ drain,” she said.

 

The shortage of plumbers, cleaners, construction workers and labourers has been affecting our development and even the post-earthquake reconstruction projects, Gharti noted.

 

The consultation with the lawmakers under 40 was held as the council focuses on drafting its youth strategy.

 

Among 35,041 local representatives elected from the recently held local elections, 39.65 percent are youths. The youth representation in provincial assemblies stands at 23.63 percent, the House of Representatives (13.09 pc) and the National Assembly (6.77 pc).

 

Sharing his views at the programme, Secretary at Ministry of Youth and Sports Mahesh Prasad Dahal said Nepal imports tons of meat, vegetables and other agro products every year while much of country’s arable land remain barren for the want of workers. He advised the council focus on programmes aimed at ending such paradoxical situation through awareness campaigns in the society.

 

Records at the council suggest the youths account for 40.35 percent of the country’s total population, out of that 19.2 percent is unemployed. While 450,000 youths enter the labour market every year, most of them could not find suitable jobs resulting in a mass exodus to the Gulf or Middle East. “Our focus is to empower youth both politically and economically. If we arm them with skills they can create jobs for themselves. The lawmakers have a great role to play in this regard,” said Madhav Dhungel, vice-chairman of the council.