Youth Employment Strategy
ILO, Prime Minister’s Youth Programme and Punjab government to develop Youth Employment Strategy
The Government of Punjab in collaboration with Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and ILO held a Provincial Consultative workshop on the “Youth Employment Framework”. This is part of a series of consultations across the country aimed at devising consensus based strategies for youth employment and empowerment.
LAHORE (ILO News): Punjab is Pakistan’s largest province and has the highest youth population which translates into a higher unemployment rate (9.51%). This situation calls for a coherent and integrated Youth Employment Strategy to make visible impact. This was the conclusion of the Provincial Consultation on Youth Employment in Lahore on 18th October 2017.
The Government of Punjab in collaboration with Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and International Labour Organization (ILO) organized the second Provincial Consultative workshop on Youth Employment. The workshop, which is part of a series of national consultations, was attended by the Government departments from Punjab, United Nations’ agencies, Academia, Civil Society Organizations, Youth-led organizations and the youth representing Punjab.
Seven thematic areas relating to Youth Employment were discussed including:
In his welcome remarks, Mr Aamir Jan Secretary Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism Government of Punjab highlighted the importance of youth as an asset for development of the country and province. He called for the proper guidance of young women and men in developing their careers according to their skills, capabilities and aspirations. Mr Jan raised the concern that, if the nation failed to provide proper guidance to the youth of Pakistan then this asset could become a threat to the nation. He emphasized the need to develop a long term strategy for Youth Employment, based on international best practices that promotes career counselling and encourages entrepreneurship. He also said that the capacity building needs of the relevant stakeholders needed to be identified and fulfilled particularly for the government departments responsible for implementing youth employment strategies with the assured support of the Government of Punjab.
In his remarks, Mr Zahid Hussain Additional Secretary Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism department Government of Punjab shared the initiatives taken by the Punjab Government to promote youth employment that seek to include them in the development of the province. He said there was lot to be done to take full advantage of the energy and enthusiasm of young women and men in order to develop the nation. Mr Hussain also stated that the government was aware of the challenges faced by the youth and was fully committed to overcoming these challenges with the support of national and international development partners.
The ILO Senior Programme Officer-Mr Saad Gilani, in his presentation highlighted the major challenges of youth employment in Pakistan including underemployment, vulnerable employment and unproductive jobs that needed to be addressed. He emphasized on investing in developing policies and action plans for youth employment as well as the identification of new avenues for Youth Employment. Mr Gilani said that under Pakistan’s Decent Work Country Programme (2016-2020), ILO was providing technical and financial support to social partners (Employers, Workers and Government of Pakistan) to create an enabling decent working environment for youth and would continue its support in this regard. Mr Gilani appreciated the efforts of Government of Punjab in organizing the consultation on Youth Employment and assured ILO’s support in developing youth employment strategy.
Participants provided detailed feedback and inputs on the proposed Youth Employment Framework for Punjab and fully endorsed the process for its implementation.
In thanking the participants for their active engagement, Ms Gulalai Khan Head of Communications Planning and Development Department Government of Punjab assured participants that the Government of Punjab, with the support of relevant government departments and other stakeholders would take the agenda of youth employment and empowerment forward.
Similar consultations on Youth Employment Framework are also planned in other provinces and regions of the country in coming months. ILO’s collaboration with Prime Minister Youth Programme to formulate youth employment framework is an example of on-going efforts to create decent work opportunities for youth.
The Government of Punjab in collaboration with Prime Minister’s Youth Programme (PMYP) and International Labour Organization (ILO) organized the second Provincial Consultative workshop on Youth Employment. The workshop, which is part of a series of national consultations, was attended by the Government departments from Punjab, United Nations’ agencies, Academia, Civil Society Organizations, Youth-led organizations and the youth representing Punjab.
Seven thematic areas relating to Youth Employment were discussed including:
- Education and Training
- Employment opportunities at provincial level
- Youth Employment in Rural Value Chains
- Youth Employment in Mega Development Projects
- Overseas Employment of Youth
- Self-employment and Enterprise Development and
- Social Protection for unemployed Youth
In his welcome remarks, Mr Aamir Jan Secretary Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism Government of Punjab highlighted the importance of youth as an asset for development of the country and province. He called for the proper guidance of young women and men in developing their careers according to their skills, capabilities and aspirations. Mr Jan raised the concern that, if the nation failed to provide proper guidance to the youth of Pakistan then this asset could become a threat to the nation. He emphasized the need to develop a long term strategy for Youth Employment, based on international best practices that promotes career counselling and encourages entrepreneurship. He also said that the capacity building needs of the relevant stakeholders needed to be identified and fulfilled particularly for the government departments responsible for implementing youth employment strategies with the assured support of the Government of Punjab.
In his remarks, Mr Zahid Hussain Additional Secretary Youth Affairs, Sports, Archaeology and Tourism department Government of Punjab shared the initiatives taken by the Punjab Government to promote youth employment that seek to include them in the development of the province. He said there was lot to be done to take full advantage of the energy and enthusiasm of young women and men in order to develop the nation. Mr Hussain also stated that the government was aware of the challenges faced by the youth and was fully committed to overcoming these challenges with the support of national and international development partners.
The ILO Senior Programme Officer-Mr Saad Gilani, in his presentation highlighted the major challenges of youth employment in Pakistan including underemployment, vulnerable employment and unproductive jobs that needed to be addressed. He emphasized on investing in developing policies and action plans for youth employment as well as the identification of new avenues for Youth Employment. Mr Gilani said that under Pakistan’s Decent Work Country Programme (2016-2020), ILO was providing technical and financial support to social partners (Employers, Workers and Government of Pakistan) to create an enabling decent working environment for youth and would continue its support in this regard. Mr Gilani appreciated the efforts of Government of Punjab in organizing the consultation on Youth Employment and assured ILO’s support in developing youth employment strategy.
Participants provided detailed feedback and inputs on the proposed Youth Employment Framework for Punjab and fully endorsed the process for its implementation.
In thanking the participants for their active engagement, Ms Gulalai Khan Head of Communications Planning and Development Department Government of Punjab assured participants that the Government of Punjab, with the support of relevant government departments and other stakeholders would take the agenda of youth employment and empowerment forward.
Similar consultations on Youth Employment Framework are also planned in other provinces and regions of the country in coming months. ILO’s collaboration with Prime Minister Youth Programme to formulate youth employment framework is an example of on-going efforts to create decent work opportunities for youth.