The government will render the necessary help to support the future plans of youths involved in the Learn and Earn Programme in Japan. Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, last week, shared this while meeting with the youths who returned to the country.
The Prime Minister met to discuss the way forward with the youth. And the Prime Minister sought cooperation from the youth and parents to solve the problem. More than 300 youths returned to the country so far. Seven of them were deported to the country recently after they could not get a working VISA in Japan.
“Please come up with individual plans related to business or start-ups. We have around five to six thousand unemployed youths in the country today. We have been supporting them with access to machinery, loans, and state lands on a lease so that they can carry out agricultural activities. We are ready to provide similar help to you all,” said Dr Lotay Tshering, the Prime Minister.
The youths welcomed the idea as they too felt it was time to move on.
“We worked hard in Japan. I took up four part-time jobs. But now, it is high time for us to come up with a future plan. We have to seek help from the concerned authorities. As the Prime Minister mentioned, opportunities are there and we have to grasp it,” shares Singye Wangchuk.
While advising the youths to move on with life, Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering asked them to cooperate so that the government’s intention of supporting them turns into a success.
In fact, a few of them have already found jobs. Tshering Yangki is one among them. She currently serves as a contract teacher in one of the schools in Bumthang.
“The Labour Minister met with some of us last year. That time, Lyonpo informed about the government’s employment programmes in agriculture and construction sectors. We were asked if we would take up jobs paying Nu 24 to 25,000 monthly. From that amount, around Nu 14,000 can be used to pay our loan while the remaining will meet our other expenses. This is the government’s plan. So we should try to make use of the opportunity,” said Tshering Yangki, a contract teacher.
The Prime Minister also clarified that the government is not in favour of Bhutan Employment Overseas, the private recruitment agency that initiated sending Bhutanese youths to Japan through the Learn and Earn Programme.
“Many say the government has been speaking in favour of the agent. There is no point for us to do so. Had the government benefited by the agent, then it is valid to accuse us. We do not have the authority to reprimand the agent. On our part, we rendered help in investigating the case,” Lyonchhen added.
Meanwhile, two separate criminal cases related to the Learn and Earn Programme in Japan are in Thimphu District Court and the Office of the Attorney General.
Pema Tshewang
