Age limit for government jobs

YOUTH unemployment is expected to be a major problem for Bangladesh over the next decade, according to a recent World Bank report. The report said the country was simultaneously experiencing a fall in the employment growth rate and a slow uptake in job creation. The report observed that the problem of youth unemployment is global and with a further one billion youth waiting to enter the job market in the next decade, the situation will further deteriorate and only 40 per cent of them are likely to get jobs that currently exist.

A huge number of unemployed youth waiting to be employed have long been demanding that age limit for government jobs should be extended to 35 years. But unfortunately government has not been accepting their demand on the ground that since there had been no session jam in universities for quite some time, demand for extension of age limit can not be accepted.

But if we look at some other countries, we can see that the age limit is 40 years and in some special cases one could enter government service at 65 years and until the day before retirement. Following the footprints of the government the private companies are also denying job opportunities for a large number of jobs seekers who are above certain age limit.

Now who would take care of the large number of unemployed people? The state has a responsibility towards them. Let us hope that the state will perform its due role by extending the age limit for entry into government jobs. It may be done on a temporary basis to face off the impending crisis of increasing unemployment in the country.

Md. Tarek Aziz Bappi

Department of Political Science

University of Dhaka