Speakers at a seminar on Sunday said Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has changed the dynamics of employment generation. Skill development a must to tackle the automation-driven job cut. Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) organized the seminar styled, "Future Skill Development Required for Bangladesh" at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
Minister for Labour and Employment Begum Monnujan Sufian attended the seminar as chief guest while Md. Nojibur Rahman, Principal Secretary, Prime Minister's Office attended as guest of honour and Kamran T. Rahman, President Bangladesh Employers' Federation as special guest.
Addressing as chief guest, Begum Monnujan Sufian said that government has established few Polytechnic Institutes across the country and allowed the private sector to come forward to establish more Polytechnic Institutes in the country. According to ILO 2 million new educated young people are coming into the job market every year.
"But to accommodate them in this 4IR transition period we have to train them for skill development. Our existing academic curriculum cannot make skills for job, she said. Our manufacturing sector is adopting technology day by day which may cut jobs but it will create more innovative jobs as well", she added.
Md. Nojibur Rahman, Principal Secretary, PMO urged upon to formulate a need-based curriculum coming out of the traditional system of education to create industry-demand employment. "The world is going fast and adopting newer technological shift, so we should not waste our time. According to a2i, 5.5 million people of 5 sectors which is 47% of total workforce may lose their jobs due to automation by the year 2041. Skill development, re-skilling, up-skilling, technology adaptation, training and R&D are some of the main areas where we should focus now", Nojibur added.
Kamran T. Rahman, President, Bangladesh Employers' Federation said that 80% of jobs are created by the industry sector. He also stressed on diversification potential exportable items rather than RMG. DCCI President Osama Taseer in his welcome address said in Bangladesh we have 63.5 million of young workforce who are contributing to our economic development. He also said that the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has changed the dynamics of employment generation.
He said 6.58% of the total workforce are engaged in industry sector and the RMG sector alone creates jobs of around 32.52%. The traditional job requirements will no longer be eligible and the criteria will be replaced with the knowledge of technology, 4IR, robotics, internet of things, big data etc.
Senior Vice President of BGMEA Faisal Samad, Additional Director General of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training Sheikh Rafiqul Islam and Chairman of BSCIC Md. Mostaque Hasan also spoke on the occasion as panel discussants. BSCIC Chairman informed that the organization will establish 50 industrial parks in the country by the year 2030. Faisal Samad underscored the importance of proper training for the female workers of RMG sector to create leadership quality among them. Sheikh Rafiqul Islam urged for more budget to conduct research and development both in the public and private sector.
DCCI Directors Engr. Akber Hakim, Alhaj Deen Mohammad, Enamul Haque Patwary, Kh. Rashedul Ahsan, KMN Monjurul Hoque, Md. Rashedul Karim Munna, Mohammad Bashiruddin, Nuher L. Khan and SM Zillur Rahman were also present on the occasion.