Restructure national employment authority to respond to unemployment needs

Job creation is one of the cardinal responsibilities of a caring government. In developed countries, governments periodically release employment and unemployment figures.

For instance, in the USA, governments are voted on their ability to generate quality jobs for the citizens.

According to employment status in the US, the Donald Trump administration is doing quite well.

Employment opportunities have increased, while unemployment has drastically reduced. On that score alone, the incumbent is still popular among the American voters.

Trump is going into the forthcoming elections as a favourite in the race for the White House. Developing countries have not fathomed the importance of jobs for their citizens. Job creation is not a priority for the leadership.

Agencies tasked with employment matters are handled casually and are managed by people who are not qualified for task.

How can such a crucial agency be given to a person who retired from active public service? Something must be terribly wrong with us.

To get the agency working, the Employment Authority should organise a conference for all placement officers, human resources personnel and training managers from institutions of higher learning and professional recruitment bodies to brainstorm and come up with a national strategy.

Career officers, academic registrars, deans and chairmen of academic departments and employers and trade union representatives should also attend.

Without involving key stakeholders, the Employment Authority is groping in the dark, operating on trial and error basis. Let us deal with employment issues strategically. 

Letter to the Editor from Benard Amaya, Nairobi