Unemployment May Affect Stability

Unemployment May Affect Stability
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Statistics from the Labour Department last year showed that 113,621 foreigners and locals were employed in the private sector. Out of the total, 78,658 or 69.2 per cent are foreign workers, while the rest (30.8 per cent) are locals and permanent residents.

Most of the foreign workers are employed in construction, mining and manufacturing. While most of the local and permanent resident workers are employed in the financial, insurance and commercial sectors.

The statistics show that there are areas in confronting the issue of unemployment, especially by attracting more locals to seek employment in the private sector.

This observation was made by Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Md Yusof, the Minister of Home Affairs in his capacity as chairman of the first
meeting of the committee on tackling unemployment, yesterday.

The minister noted, "With the establishment of the committee on tackling unemployment, I hope that we together also can curb social problems like crime and drug abuse and at the same time support His Majesty's (the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam) aspiration in achieving further stability."

"Unemployment is a national issue that needs to be addressed and tackled by all stakeholders in the private and public sectors and the community itself. If left unchecked, it will have a negative impact on the social-economic stability and prosperity of the country."

Held at the new Ministry of Home Affairs building, the meeting was told by the Minister of Home Affairs said that in August 2008, a total of 6,025 jobseekers were registered with the Labour Department with 92.9 per cent of them holding qualifications below '0' Level.

"Many of these jobseekers still prefer to look for jobs that do not match their qualification," he said.

"Although jobseekers are employed in the private sector, many couldn't fulfill their obligations, causing very high turnover in the private sector.

"The sad part is that most of the jobseekers are classified in the productive group and are physically fit, however couldn't contribute to the economy of the country."

To tackle the worrying trend of unemployment, a committee on tackling unemployment was set up with the consent of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

He said the committee on tackling unemployment is comprised of officials from the private and public sectors. Among the aims of establishing such the committee are to examine real situation in the job market; to identify the causes of unemployment among locals; to prepare policies and action plans as well as mechanism in tackling unemployment; to prepare and organise courses or programmes and activities that are more comprehensive as well as effective. "The committee also can invite any relevant authorities that can contribute information and opinions to tackle unemployment issues. The committee can also appoint a working committee to oversee the effectiveness of the committee."

The co-chairpersons of the committee are Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Haji Awang Dani bin Haji Ibrahim, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, and Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Eusoff Agaki Haji Ismail, Deputy Minister at Prime Minister's Office. Other members of the committee include senior government officials and prominent figures from the private sector. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin