The World Bank has said that quality jobs is a must for prosperity in the country. Employment in quality jobs is needed for social development, read the bank's World Development Report 2013 released today. The bank has focused its report on jobs this year.

The report has mentioned that the development of the private sector simultaneously creates quality in the employment sector. It contributes to social development in the country, it said.

Small and cottage industries have a significant contribution in employment in the country. The sector has 93 per cent share in total employment. Agriculture sector has been providing jobs to 72 per cent people but its contribution to the economy is too small. “The agriculture sector has just 14 per cent contribution in income,“ said lead author of the report Jesko S Hentschel.

The bank has included three factors -movable employment, employment for development, and employment policies -in the report and has compared their roles in creating quality jobs. Similarly, the report has incorporated employment and livelihood, productivity and employment, and social solidarity while analysing changing employment challenges.

“Governments should not focus on quantity of employment. Jobs must create a better society and contribute to the economy,“ Hentschel said. According to him, a better job creates social solidarity, so governments must focus on building congenial environment for employment. Jobs contribute in poverty alleviation, he added.

The report has cautioned that employment created in developed and under developed countries cannot be compared. Quality of jobs depends on the environment of a particular country, it noted. According to the report, about 1.6 billion people have been working on wage or salary, while 1.5 billion are self-reliant. Gulf countries -Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates -have a majority of migrants (60 per cent) in their labour force.

Nepalis are largely dependent on foreign jobs. About 300,000 Nepalis have been joining foreign jobs every year since fiscal year 2008-09. Their major destinations are Malaysia and the Gulf countries. World Bank hopes that the private sector will play a major role in creating employment. “Private sector could lead the development process by creating jobs,“ said World Bank's country manager for Nepal Tahseen Sayed.
“Nepal should give priority in creating jobs because people have great expectations from the great political change.“

Former finance minister Madhukar SJB Rana has suggested commercialising agriculture sector for more jobs.

“Government should revise existing employment policy to create quality jobs.“ CEO at National Banking Training Institute Sanjib Subba suggested the government to be aware on changes in the ICT sector as the changes have been driving job markets around the globe.

Published on: 9 March 2013 | The Himalayan Times