Going by the latest report by ILO (International Labour Organization), the status of employment in the world, including the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region in 2009, represents a scary picture. The situation, if not restored, could lead to a combination of political, social and economic problems.
In short, global unemployment rate in 2009 will grow to 30million in 2009 from 18million in 2007, or may be even more than 50million, if the situation continues to deteriorate, owing to international financial crisis.
The Annual Report by ILO indicates that 200mn workers, particularly in developing economies could be pushed to extreme poverty. In fact, MENA region has recorded the highest rate of unemployment worldwide, the ILO report indicates.
ILO states that last year MENA had the highest rate of unemployment with North Africa recording an unemployment rate of 10.3 percent and Middle East recording an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent, followed by Central and South Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth Independent States, Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America.
According to Cairo-based Economic expert, Ahmad Al Najar, unemployment is the main socio-economic and political challenge that the Arab region is facing in 2009, as it disrupts other production elements.
Najar cautioned that unlike other elements in the production process, the labour factor is a human element that has social and political requirements. It could turn into a “disorder element” if a large part of it has been de-activated.
According to the estimates by Arab Labour Organization last year, apart from 17mn unemployed people, Arab nations need to create jobs for another four million, entering employment market each year.
The Head of UN Development Programme’s regional office has quoted the average unemployment rate of Arab World as 15 percent. However, this figure grows to 40% among people in age group of 15 to 24, making a total of 66mn unemployed, out of the total Arab population of 317mn, with one-third of this total population falling below age 14.
The number of job losses owing to international financial crisis is yet to be revealed. However, as far as the region is concerned, few major projects have been shelved, major businesses have been hit, and companies have merged together putting aside their expansion plans.
In the meanwhile, ILO has suggested few measures for the governments to execute so as to tackle the high unemployment and poverty worldwide, which includes, wide coverage of unemployment benefits, insurance schemes, public investment in housing and infrastructure and support to small and medium establishments. Posted on 13/2/2009
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