HR and employment policy:

Promoting decent jobs for all

The National Human Resources and Employment Policy for Sri Lanka is currently being formulated with the leadership of Human Resources Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera.

It will provide an overarching and integrated policy framework towards promoting the goal of decent and productive employment for all.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is providing technical support for the government for developing the policy.

After cabinet approval, the process of formulating the policy commenced in June 2011 with the establishment of a National Steering Committee (NSC). The NSC comprises high officials including Secretaries of over 10 ministries. There are 10 thematic working groups under the NSC, which are developing background material for the final policy document, an ILO release said.

The release adds - Importantly, the process of formulating the document includes holding three regional consultation workshops with stakeholders on the regional issues related to human resource development and employment.

The workshops were held in Kandy on September 13 and in Jaffna on September 19, and one more will be held in Matara on October 3. Findings of the thematic working groups are presented at the workshops.

Senior Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera said it is essential to develop this policy especially because of high incidence of unemployment among educated youths.

He said the youth unemployment issue could be very sensitive and potentially dangerous if the government did not give serious attention to the issue. He assured that the policy will be constructive and implementable with contribution from both the central and regional levels.

Country Director of the ILO Donglin Li said the government made a significant improvement in the Sri Lankan economy.

He said it is still challenging for the government to ensure that quick economic growth translates to a better skilled labour force, decent jobs and quality of life for the people. He commended the government for embarking upon the formulation of the National Human Resources and Employment Policy and committed the ILO's full support for the development of the policy.

Secretary of the Secretariat for Senior Ministers M. Madihahewa said that though Sri Lanka's unemployment had declined to less than five percent, he questioned whether this statistic reflected the true unemployment situation in the country.

These issues cannot be resolved by one ministry, but rather through a well coordinated approach inclusive of a wide range of stakeholders and directed by an overarching policy on human resources and employment, he said.