The delay in job announcements has obviously created frustration amongst candidates
HYDERABAD: It has been six years since the Sindh Public Service Commission last announced a job vacancy for an English lecturer, despite vacant positions at colleges across various districts of Sindh. It may be because either the Commission has failed to forward a relevant summary to the provincial government or the government itself is holding it back. There are many suitable candidates who remain unemployed and this is starting to impact their families in terms of finances and mental and physical health.
The effects of unemployment on the economy need not be explained. Moreover, the situation has demotivated many students as they feel their field of study does not have any scope and many have changed their professions due to this. This even serves as a negative indicator for governments and commissions as it reflects their inability to create opportunities. It is one of their prime responsibilities to make annual summaries of all vacant positions throughout the various departments, and recruitment should be done annually to reduce unemployment.
The delay in job announcements has obviously created frustration amongst candidates. As a result, candidates face constant family and social pressure which leads to stress and depression. According to social psychology, it may even lead to suicide. Moreover, many lecturers who have passed competitive exams have moved to different departments, yet the government has avoided filling these jobs. To fix this, the government should open avenues for unemployed people and settle this matter as quickly as possible.
In addition to this, private management of schools and colleges are not paying suitable salaries to subject specialists in rural areas of Hyderabad district. The Ministry of Education should take action against those institutions that are not paying salaries as per the pay scale set by the government. Furthermore, the federal government has set the minimum monthly wage for skilled labour at Rs14,000, yet barely 10 per cent employers follow the policy. Even though we have these laws in place, unfortunately, they are not followed. The Sindh chief minister and the provincial education minister are requested to kindly look into these issues and resolve them as soon as possible.
Ishaque Junejo
Published in The Express Tribune, April 9th, 2019.
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