Country needs policy for developing skilled manpower: Speakers
MA Mannan said the government is aware that there is shortage of skilled manpower in the country and it has been working on this issue
Bangladesh needs formulation of policies aiming to develop sector-wise skilled human resource mainly to cut dependency on foreign skilled workers and thus reduce outflow of remittance, said economists at a discussion here today.
"The government has taken various measures to develop skilled human resource considering the increasing demand of local manpower market," said planning minister MA Mannan while speaking at the discussion "Bangladesh Employment and Labour Market Watch 2019: Sector challenges and opportunities' at the Policy Research Institute (PRI).
He said the government is aware that there is shortage of skilled manpower in the country and it has been working on this issue.
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About the overall development of the country, he said even a 7 percent economic growth over a period of eight to 10 years is impressive.
"We will be really economic developed country by 2040," Mannan added.
"From $5 billion to $6 billion is remitted from the country by foreigners working as chief executive officer and manager level position in local and multinational companies," M Syeduzzaman while speaking at the discussion on.
"We must have some programmes to create skilled workforce to reduce the outflow of such a bigamount of money every year," said Syeduzzaman who was a former finance minister.
Shamsul Alam, senior secretary at the General Economics Division at the Bangladesh Planning Commission urged the district level technical training centres to play vital roles to produce skilled workforce.
"Bangladesh is paying remittances for the skilled foreign workers but we are sending unskilled workers abroad. Formulation of a policy is needed to develop skilled manpower to stop paying such a big amount of remittance," said Rushidan Islam Rahman, executive chairperson of Centre for Development and Employment Research (CDER).
The government also allowed remitting of 75 percent of the salary of foreign workers and efficient foreign skilled manpower, according to CDER.
"We need several labour intensive sectors for generating more employment. Incentives are paid in discriminately as few selected sectors enjoy the benefit of government incentives in the businesses," said Rizwanul Islam, senior visiting fellow of the CDER and distinguished fellow of the PRI.
In Bangladesh the entrepreneurs are not encouraged for manufacturing, said Farooq Ahmed, secretary general of Bangladesh Employers Federation
So, the entrepreneurs feel encouraged in quick, Farooq Ahmed added.
