Yemen’s labor market: its needs and requirements [Archives:2006/919/Business & Economy]
By: Mahyoub Al-Kamali
Many are the needs and requirements of Yemen's labor market, necessitating deliberation, study and exploration of proper solutions. The Yemeni labor market is in need of organization, creation of serious job opportunities and working to solve social problems resulting from an increased unemployment rate.
The situation requires a financed strategy to provide and implement solutions for the unemployed. In this regard, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor overseeing the workforce sector is devising a plan for the current public sector. The plan will concentrate on amending the labor law according to labor market requirements and international agreements. It also aims to establish a unified labor market information system among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states. The ministry also will formulate an executive employment strategy in light of outcomes from a Nov. 22-24, 2005 workshop in Sana'a.
The ministry plan includes finalizing a version of the human resources development strategy to refer it to the government for national committee ratification. A committee of ministry and civil service representatives also will be activated. The committee is specialized in organizing and regulating conditions of non-Yemeni laborers working for state administration institutions. The intention also is to revive a committee specialized in discussing and ratifying annual plans of companies working in the oil and gas field. The committee was formed in 1989 by the Ministries of Labor and Oil and Mineral Wealth under Yemeni cabinet decree.
Sources at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor said employment offices will be linked to a labor market information network to facilitate their employment process tasks and improve their mechanism. Employment office employees also will be trained to upgrade their skills. The central statistics apparatus and the social development fund will join the ministry in surveying this sector, as well as analyzing survey and census results from a 2004 workforce sampling. Results will be connected to the workforce survey in order to develop a professional classification system compatible with the GCC's classification system.
There also are plans to develop general management's abilities, women working in central government and in governorates, as well as prepare a national social dialogue strategy. The ministry will participate in meetings regarding development goals, a poverty alleviation strategy and the national committee of women. It will meet with relevant ministries and institutions to coordinate implementing the national strategy on women's work, as well as conduct an evaluation of the status of working women in relevant ministries.
Ministry sources also said there will be a plan to end child labor by enhancing the abilities of the unit fighting child labor to be able to draft policies and follow up implementation of the child protection law. It also will reconsider legislation regarding its suitability in providing protection to children in line with International Labor Organization criteria.
Civic organizations will be engaged in efforts to face the worst forms of child labor and their help sought in gathering and updating statements on the volume of child labor, particularly in risky jobs.
It is believed that such policies will help reduce the proportion of unemployment and improve working conditions. To do this, the labor situation requires organization, funding and implementing policies at the ground level.
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