Colombo, 24 September, (Asiantribune.com): JobsNet - The National Employment Sourcing and Delivery System is a referral system benefiting jobseekers, local and foreign employers and self-employment seekers by providing referrals for jobs and training, information, advice and career guidance. It is an on-line referral system with a web interface at www.jobsnet.lk

The project a Public private sector partnership runs as a national project of the Ministry of Labour Relations and Foreign Employment representing the Public sector joins hands with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, harnessing the support and active participation of the private sector in this unique partnership. CCC manages JobsNet.

National Employment Policy recognizes the constant changes and uncertainties of the business environment and the importance of developing a competitive workforce to face formidable challenges Sri Lanka faces due to the impact of globalization. The development of an efficient and competitive workforce is of paramount importance to take Sri Lanka forward in the global market. A serious lack of direction, negative attitudes towards certain job categories due to poor knowledge, lack of career guidance all leading to a mismatch of skills and qualifications for the job market has been identified as areas that need to be corrected.

In this perspective, JobsNet held a two day workshop on 'World of work its issues, impediments and the way out' at Hotel Dolphin Waikkala last week to work out problem settlement and proposed intervention with the objective of a) educate, inform, encourage and solicit support of media in tackling the issue, b) actively involve all stakeholders to contribute towards gainful employment, and c) recommendations from the work group assisting the drawing up of a strategic action plan to counter identified exception gaps.

Papers were presented by various resources persons on education sector, private sector, socio/economic focus and media and at the end of the presentations workings groups were formed on Corporate Social Responsibility and Change; General Policies and guidelines for Sri Lanka; Media and its role in relation to employment; Effecting psychological change at a macro level and Training for Employment and Education Reforms. The groups made recommendations and with the help of these recommendations a comprehensive report would be prepared by the JobsNet.

In the sphere of Corporate Social Responsibility and Changes it was recommended that awareness be made and educate both private and public sector of the need for strategic corporate responsibility. Career/parental guidance to be aligned to current needs through private sector, churches and temples. Stigma and perceptions on certain job categories to be removed from the minds of parents and create awareness of national and CSR needs.

Unskilled job seekers too to be provided opportunities in obtaining employment with on the job training. Professional sports to be promoted in the villages and communities to promote healthy living.

Labor laws be strictly adhered to JobsNet to have a database of organizations providing necessary career, skills and information for the development of jobs seekers and access to be provided through JobsNet. Private sector to be involved in developing the curricular at all levels of education.

Government to create a 'job club" environment within the organization in order to change the attitudes and to build confidence to allocate a percentage of vacancies to take in the 'not-so-skilled job seekers who lacked knowledge of English and IT skills. To make it compulsory that private sector organizations align with all universities in providing industrial training to the undergraduates.

Private sector to allocate resources within their annual budgets to ensure that a certain number of programmes are conducted in the rural schools to provide necessary inputs, knowledge and awareness. JobsNet and Chambers should be responsible in conducting educational programmes on skills requirements pertaining to particular jobs to be promoted through private sector sponsored TV programmes.

Under conflict resolutions it was recommended that the Government, Private sector and the civil Society together to work for permanent peace and conciliation. Under Economic Growth Policy Investment, Ministry of Finance and the Board of Investment to promote increased domestic investment and the government, private sector and civil society to improve agricultural productivity. More investment in the rural infrastructure public and private sector. Ministry of Finance to take steps to reduce budget deficit and public debt.

It was recommended to introduce orientation towards private sector work culture in educational systems with public private partnerships. Standards and fundamental rights at work are adhered to. Mainstream gender into workplace policies be maintained. Minimum occupational safety and health standards for all work places be provided with. Fundamental rights for all workers (right to health and social welfare) be ensured. It is recommended that adequate social protection for all workers (access to medical insurance EPF, ET, Pensions etc) be provided and ensure better work place co-operation between employees and employers.

Making the introductory remarks at the outset of the workshop, Priantha Fernando, Project Director, JobsNet said they have been discussing in many forums to try to come up with solutions and have carried out in-depth research but most of these reports are gathering dust. He said that their attempts were to reconcile the stakeholders and the action plan, envision a role-play to move forward. They should not depend on the government for everything, but need to find solutions where employment is concerned to come up with a project proposal.

Prema Cooray, Secretary General, CCC said that the ILO has been facilitating the JobsNet and they were trying to find out to match jobs as there seemed to be a huge mismatch.

He said that there should be more vocational schools and the private sector needed young men and women on multiple roles. He said that they were discussing with Universities to change the curricula of study course to accommodate IT and come out with degree course of business careers.

He said that the private sector too should be blamed as they did not interact with the universities and educational institutions, interacting to give real inputs to change the curricula.

ILO Director, Sri Lanka Claudia Coonjaerts said that in the presentations almost everything has been dealt with and the ILO considered that the whole issue of JobsNet is very important.

Sri Lanka as any other country in the world and in the region is taking multiple challenges as a result of globalization. Last year she said that they launched translation of a report on Globalization which is an extremely important report that gives systems efforts, analysis, understanding the work and the consequences of globalization.

She said that there is a growing discontent on the whole issue of globalization and said that according to global changes there should be national changes with stronger management of labor market and there is a lot to be done on these with right policies.

Ms Coonjaerts said that in many countries there were lot of active labor markets and in Sri Lanka the ILO supports the JobsNet, The National Employment Policy, the first real attempt in Sri Lanka in trying to introduce active labor market programmes, but she cautioned that this would not be the 'panacea' for everything.

- Asian Tribune -