Rethinking employment

While unemployment continues to dominate discussions around Bangladesh's economic challenges, an equally pressing yet often overlooked issue is the quality of life of those already employed, particularly in the corporate sector. Beneath the appearance of white-collar stability lies a growing discontent fuelled by inflation, low wages and mounting debt.

Graduates from top private universities often invest millions of taka in their education, aspiring for a better future. However, the reality they face is disheartening. Their first job offers, despite the prestige of their degrees, come with salaries that are disappointingly low, sometimes barely enough to cover basic living expenses, let alone provide financial security or support to a family.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the average household debt rose to Tk 74,000 in 2022. With the continued rise in living costs, this figure is undoubtedly higher today. Many corporate employees find themselves trapped in a cycle of debt, unable to build savings or improve their standard of living despite working long hours and dedicating years to their jobs.

This economic strain has led many professionals to seek opportunities abroad, not just for higher salaries but for a chance at a more dignified life. The focus of national policy has largely been on increasing employment numbers, yet there is little conversation about improving the quality of jobs or ensuring that employment translates into a meaningful standard of living.

If our working population cannot afford a decent life even after years of education and service, then it is time we question the direction we are heading as a society. Sustainable economic development must include not just job creation but also fair compensation, worker rights, and improved living standards. Otherwise, we risk losing our brightest minds to foreign shores and deepening the dissatisfaction within our own workforce.

Rafid Alam, Jr. Officer,

SFE, Aristopharma Ltd

rafidalam80@gmail.com