VOL. 05, NO. 19, April 20, 2012 (Baishakh 08, 2069)

Practical Action, with financial support from the European Union and in partnership with merojob.com, recently launched ‘Rojgari’, a web portal (www.rojgari.com) amidst a ceremony. The web portalunder the ROJGARI project of the EU is aimed at decreasing the unemployment rate in the country by helping people search jobs matching their skills in Nepal and abroad.

The portal is similar to other existing job sites in which both the job seekers and employers can create their accounts highlighting necessary details and requirements. It is a free service and is a labor market information system which is mainly targeted for the poor and the people in need.

“The web portal is immensely useful to both job seekers and employers as it will both parties to connect, know each other and share information that promotes transparency, healthy competition and information sharing,” said Achyut Luitel, Country Director, Practical Action.

According to the portal developers, Rojgari aims to address a diverse workforce, especially people with vocational and technical training certificates and entry level experiences. It brings them together under a single hub and helps organizations that are in need of workers and employees. The employers can contact the people they like directly and save time as well as cost.

The portal aims to help not only local employers but also foreign employers who want employees making effective use of online sites.

“Rojgari.com is an answer to the need of people who are skilled but have problems finding jobs. The main challenge is linking jobs to correct people. It will also help employers find the right persons at the right time. I hope it will help decrease unemployment rate in Nepal,” said Shailendra Raj Giri, Managing Director at meroJob.com.

As the portal is targeted at the people who are poor and people at the rural places, various plans have been made to reach the concerned people, said an employee at Practical Action. However, it is not restricted only to them. The city people can also make use of the portal.

“According to data released by research companies, some 4 and a half lakh people enter markets every month seeking jobs but only 50,000 jobs are created. There are some gaps in the employment process between the employers and unemployed people,” said Dr. Man Bahadur Biswokarma, Director General at the Department of Labor, who launched the web portal. “Two-thirds of the people have to go abroad for employment,” he added.

Unemployment has been a major hindrance in the economic growth of the nation. People having skills and willingness to work have also been deprived of work due to lack of contacts and effective job opportunities, especially in the rural areas. Employers have also been facing difficulties in finding skilled people. Hence, Rojgari web portal might act as the bridge and help ease the nation’s employment problem for the good.

What are the main differences between the management group and the management committee at Nepal Bank?

Although they both seem to be the same, they are different in many respects. According to Nepal Rastra Bank’s clause number 86, the management committee has all the rights that the Rastra bank has. The management committee also has rights to hold general meetings. However, the executive powers to control the day to day activities are with the management group.

When you were sent to Nepal Bank, it was stated that you were sent for a maximum of 3-4 months. But, two years have already passed and there are talks of extension of your tenure by one more year. What are the reasons for the delay?

The Rastra bank should not take any bank under its control forever. The financial sector is a very critical sector as it holds money of the common people. Various activities should be done to return the deposits as planned to the people. So, till the time another Chief Executive officer (CEO) is elected, we have been given the task.

The Rastra bank has increased the tenure by 1 more year but it does not mean that it has extended my tenure. It means the Rastra bank has taken control using clause number 86.

The Rastra bank is facing accusations that it is not treating Nepal Bank and other banks similarly. Has this been the situation since the central bank has taken the control?

It is normal that accusations are made to the central bank, which plays the role of the regulator. The central bank does not have dual policies or treat banks differently. The only difference with Nepal bank is that it has been handling the capital fund.

Nepal bank has credit net worth. So, if the net worth remains like this, and according to NRB’s instruction, we cannot take any deposit and make investment till there is improvement in the net worth. In this case, what will happen to 12 lakhs customers of the bank? As the bank is heading in the right direction, it will be free from this situation soon. The Rastra bank has no intention of taking control forever.

Can the bank make profits as said?

The bank will make profits even in this fiscal period, and it will be around 15 crores. But it cannot increase at the past ratio. If the financial statements of all the financial institutions are analyzed for this fiscal period, all the banks’ profits have decreased compared to that of the past. In the next Ashar, we are planning to increase deposits to 50 billion and loan investment to 33 billion rupees.

“Prime Minister is kept in dark and is receiving wrong advices” Bal Bahadur Tamang, chairman of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies NAFEA

You have been elected as the chief of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies. What will be your first priority?

All my friends have given me the responsibility by electing me at the helm of the NAFEA. First of all, various problems are seen in the work done by the foreign employment department. There are problems with pre-work and final work permits.

Even after the department gave final work permits, there have been cases where workers have been sent back from the Tirbhuwan International Airport. Government organizations have crossed the limits of giving troubles to businessmen. My first task will be addressing this issue. For the long term, we will organize a one-week program for all the things that need change and we will bring all the ‘mission vision’ within that time. That program will come with plans of works which can be done in 1, 2 and several years.

Preceding persons at the helm of this association had also made similar commitments but they never came into effect!

I have seventeen years of experience in this sector. I know this sector should be managed and disciplined. All the troubles I have encountered during my career are the common problems of all the businessmen. I will not only make commitments but will also prove by my work.

You have been working as the crucial medium to bring in huge amount of remittances. Has the government given respect that you deserve according to your role?

No, our contribution to GDP is around 23.6 percent. 56 percent of households are seeking direct benefits due to this sector. We have not got the respect from the state that we deserve. There have been no investments from the government as required for foreign employment like technical schools, colleges, and training centers. There is a need of investment in this sector.

Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is showing a lot of interest in this sector!

Yes, his interest is appreciable. But it makes me sad as the prime minister has not been able to understand the actual reality. He is showing interest as he saw bad condition of a few Nepalese at transit at Qatar while returning from America. More than 6 lakh Nepalis work there and he believed what Nepalese Ambassador at Qatar told him. He should have gone to departmental stores and development sectors there to know the real situation.

It is not possible for an architecture engineer like him to understand foreign employment by himself and the people who are giving him advices are giving him all the wrong advices. People who are working with him and giving him advices have no real knowledge of the reality in foreign employment.