Rohit Bansal - IIT Roorkee

Solutions to the unemploymentthrough a systematic approachBy Faisal TalibThe problem of unemployment is increasing day by day. Creating jobs especially in unorganizedsector, self-employment, appointing task force on unemployment, and ILO initiatives areneeded in order to tackle this problem.The causes of unemployment have beencontinuously debated ever since the mid-1970s. This discussion is no longer confinedto economic issues but includes alsochanging social values. There are manyalternative solutions which have alreadybeen attempted by various countries. Theseincludes attempts to reduce the size of thecompetitive labour force (e.g. earlyretirement schemes, prolong compulsoryeducation), attempts to increase worksharing (e.g. changes in the organisation ofworking time, part-time work etc.) and jobcreation programmes. Apart from thesegeneral policies to combat unemployment, anumber of measures have also been directedto specific groups of workers particularlybadly affected by unemployment, such asyoung, unskilled and minority groups. Someof these measures include vocationaltraining, retraining, work experienceprogramme etc.ProblemIn the era of globalization where capital,technology, high skills, and highproductivity are playing and showing amajor role in labour market. In India, like inmany other developing countries the growthof labour force is accelerating and willremain high for quite sometimes. It needsrapid economic growth with effective andefficient utilization of labour by upgradingits skills to ensure development andemployment generation. Various state andcentral levels programmes in labour markethave served to promote employmentprogrammes in various areas. But witheconomic liberalization and globalization itis thought that there could be very slowexpansion in the employment opportunity