In the next four years, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) plans to engage and support livelihoods for about 6,000 youth in the country with the launch of the Youth Engagement and Livelihood Program (YELP) today. YELP is a school-to-work transition program to provide job seekers with opportunities to enhance their skills and work experience.
The ministry also signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Construction Development and Corporation Limited (CDCL), Pyelbar Lokchey Nyamchoe Laydey and the Youth Group of Panbang who will collaborate with the ministry for youth engagement.
The program incorporates the government’s aim to support the livelihood of youth while being engaged productively under the construction and agriculture sectors prioritised among others. Allowances for the participants will be provided through the program.
Around 1,500 job seekers will be supported under the program annually. The program was developed based on the findings on the impact of Direct Employment Scheme, carried out jointly by the GNHC and the ministry. Looking at the effectiveness of the program, GNHC recommended the ministry to make it more engaging and inclusive.
“For me, I am less worried about whether the program and its inception are perfect. I think it has to be implemented and as we go along, there will be many flaws, there will be many loopholes, will come across many challenges. But what is more important is that when we come across challenges, when we see the loopholes and the drawbacks of this program, respond swiftly to this and then try to improve the program. And I think that will be the key to the success of this program,” Labour Minister Ugyen Dorji said.
The ministry also launched the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) today. The program will enhance the skills, knowledge and abilities of the Bhutanese workforce. The Labour Minister said the program is not going to be implemented like the Learn and Earn program (LEP) which did not fare well in the past. The program will be implemented directly by the ministry.
“The two programs are entirely different. Firstly, TITP is the outcome of the MoU that was signed in October last year. It has been designed in direct collaboration with the Japanese government to allow our Bhutanese youth to pursue an internship with Japanese employers. And unlike the Learn and Earn program, the technical intern training program this time hasn’t been designed to send hundreds of youth together. It has been designed based on the needs and situation. That’s why, for the first batch we just have 25 and for the future, we want to focus on a few number and more on skills and knowledge development,” Lyonpo said.
The youth will be placed for three years of internships in various implementing organisations in Japan with a possible extension of up to five years. The employing agencies will pay a stipend, facilitate the accommodation and logistics for youth during the internship. The youth are expected to return home to join the labour market after the internship. However, they can also choose to work in Japan through their own choice if they get a working visa.
