Endeavors & Pitfalls The Fall-Out! [Archives:2001/14/Business & Economy]

Mohammed
N. Al-Hakimi
Taiz
Stuck into the vortex of blunder and poverty, nearly half of the people are still subject to melancholy and penury which have resulted in too much suffering and deprivation.
This is why worries and fears are raised whenever you think of the disastrous consequences the destitution may have, let alone the negative religious and moral consequences referred to by Islam. Thus lack of subsistence can lead to disbelief and gnaw into the hearts of the people.
I the last decade, Yemen witnessed a huge increase in the rate of unemployment which didn’t only involve the illiterate and those who migrated to seek work outside Yemen, but also a good number of intellectuals who are crowding around the streets and in front of gates of ministries.
Although many are exerting strenuous efforts to get a hold of more than one profession through vocational and training institutes, still, the unemployed conditions are getting worse.
In an official study by the Population National Council, the rate of unemployment was estimated 30% in 1999. The study confirmed that the volume of the workforce will increase to 40% million in the 2001.
The annual report of the Social Development Fund said that the rate of unemployment is increasing. It reported relative numbers according to the statistics of the World Bank which stressed that the rate of the unemployment had increased from 24% to 35% from 1995 to 1999.
According to official statistics, the rate of unemployment may be 50% in 2001, i.e. half of the population.
In fact, illiteracy and lack of good and proper planning by the government and ministries are the key reasons behind the increase in the rate of unemployment.
Previously, migration used to be of great importance to absorb a considerable amount of the labor force, but today the economic conditions have deeply influenced people, who are now seeking employment, although only a few can afford the costs of studying at schools or universities.
Besides, the increase in the unemployment rate was a consequence of the non-existence of industrial opportunities, production establishments and new prospects, in addition to instability of industry and the smuggling of material which negatively affected local industries, leading to unemployment. Investment also seems to be non-existent. Therefore we can’t solve this problem unless we get industrial and agricultural sources, and areas which involve the large number of the unemployed, like the free zone in Aden.
We don’t have a technical employment system, rather we have an ordinary one. Adequate training facilities may help reduce this number. These are: Cadre’s vocational training Fund, First vocational and training Institute and the International Institute in Taiz, which train cadres to get work and improve their professionalism, as to replace foreign hands working in the country.
It is worth mentioning that the number of foreign employment does not exceed 150 people holding upper bachelor degree in Taiz, for instance.
Transformable industry in our country can also be widened for employment, provided that there are effective agricultural areas.
As for the heavy industry, it can do the same too, but this can’t be effective unless there is a substantial contribution by the state and good opportunities offered to investors who come into Yemen so that we can have a speck of hope.
Private sectors seek well trained, experienced and qualified people as they want to restrict distributing duties at the center or foundation to qualified individuals.
Irrespective of the fact that only few get accepted to learn and be trained, the receipiants can’t get to work in private or governmental institutions.
Unless we consider this issue to be one of the critical issues facing Yemen, and enlist it as a priority in creating a better society, we will suffer a great loss at achieving the goal of creating a model generation.

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