Tasmiah Nuhiya Ahmed : Roughly half the world’s population still lives on the equivalent of about US$2 a day. And in too many places, having a job doesn’t guarantee the ability to escape from poverty. A continued lack of decent work opportunities, insufficient investments and under-consumption lead to an erosion of the basic social contract underlying democratic societies: that all must share in progress. Putting job creation at the heart of economic policy-making and development plans, will not only generate decent work opportunities but also more robust, inclusive and poverty-reducing growth.
It is a virtuous circle that is as good for the economy as it is for people and one that drives sustainable development. Employment growth since 2008 has averaged only 0.1% annually, compared with 0.9% between 2000 and 2007. Over 60 per cent of all workers lack any kind of employment contract. Fewer than 45 per cent of wage and salaried workers are employed on a full-time, permanent basis, and even that share is declining. By 2019, more than 212 million people will be out of work, up from the current 201 million. 600 million new jobs need to be created by 2030, just to keep pace with the growth of the working age population.
Goal No. 8 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals for the period 2015-2030 is “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”.
It has got the following targets- sustain per capita economic growth in accordance with national circumstances and, in particular, at least 7 per cent gross domestic product growth per annum in the least developed countries, achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors; promote development-oriented policies that support productive activities, decent job creation, entrepreneurship, creativity and innovation, and encourage the formalization and growth of micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, including through access to financial services; improve progressively, through 2030, global resource efficiency in consumption and production and endeavour to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, in accordance with the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production, with developed countries taking the lead; By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value; by 2020, substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training; Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking and secure the prohibition and elimination of the worst forms of child labour, including recruitment and use of child soldiers, and by 2025 end child labour in all its forms; protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment; by 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products; strengthen the capacity of domestic financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking, insurance and financial services for all; increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least Developed Countries; by 2020, develop and operationalize a global strategy for youth employment and implement the Global Jobs Pact of the International Labour Organization.
Bangladesh, as part of her commitment to implement the SDGs, decided to take part in the Voluntary National Review at the UN High Level Political Forum. Bangladesh has an inspiring story to tell. We have earned many international awards for our achievements in MDGs. While embarking on the journey to implement the SDGs, we drew inspiration from the ideals of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who envisaged a prosperous Bangladesh with equal opportunities for all. The Government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina envisioned transforming Bangladesh into a middle income country by 2021 and a developed country by 2041. Bangladesh has already translated this vision, pronounced at the highest political level, into an actionable agenda by formulating Perspective Plan (2010-2021) and two Five Year Plans (FYPs) associated with this. Bangladesh integrated the 2030 Agenda in its 7th FYP (2016-2020). This offered a tremendous opportunity to implement the 2030 Agenda, while reflecting the priorities of the SDGs in the national plan. The Government has adopted “Whole of Society” approach to ensure wider participation of NGOs, development partners, private sector, media and CSOs in the process of formulation of the Action Plan and implementation of the SDGs. To spearhead the process, ‘SDGs Implementation and Monitoring Committee’ has been formed at the Prime Minister’s Office to facilitate and implementation of SDGs Action Plan.
In Bangladesh, the first year of the 7th FY Plan coincided with the launch of the UN post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The 7th FYP Plan centres on three themes:
GDP growth acceleration, employment generation and rapid poverty reduction; a broad-based strategy of inclusiveness with a view to empowering every citizen to participate full and benefit from the development process; a sustainable development pathway that is resilient to disaster and climate change; entails sustainable use of natural resources; and successfully manages the inevitable urbanisation transition.
However, this is also true that at present, all over the world there are 70 countries that have the system of international quality education criteria, but Bangladesh still does not have. The budget allocation in the current financial year is relatively higher than the previous year but this being a very tiny portion of GDP is not sufficient to meet the demand. Bangladesh still lacks in making proper assessment of job market before enrolling students in various disciplines and should take suggestions of the industrialists to develop technical education sector. Bangladesh government has reportedly approved 7,773 technical institutions to promote technical education in the country but the results or impacts are yet to reach at desired level. Enrolment in technical education is only 14 per cent in our country. Bangladesh needs development of technical education sector to become a middle-income country by 2021.
SDGs demand concerted and collective efforts with strong political commitment at all levels. The 2030 Agenda comes at a time when Bangladesh has already kicked off its journey towards an upper middle income country by 2030 and a developed country by 2041. Despite having so many challenges, Bangladesh has incorporated priorities of SDGs in all her development policies. The Government has adopted an inclusive approach to development so that the poorest and the most vulnerable section of the country can be integrated into its national development efforts. As the country moves ahead, challenges in several areas, including in resource mobilization and data management, will have to be addressed. Bangladesh is confident to set the example of a leading SDGs achiever.
Writer: Executive Editor, The New York Times, Bangladesh National Section