Bangladesh falling behind other South Asian nations in average productivity: Study

Bangladesh is falling behind other South Asian nations in average productivity due to a deficit in the trained labour force, revealed a study by the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.

BIDS, a government-aided public research organisation, disclosed in the study report on Sunday at a city hotel in the capital, reports UNB.

The research found that around 96 per cent of the country’s labour force is unskilled and cannot make the desired contribution in the production sector.

It is said that the productivity of Bangladesh is the lowest compared to other South Asian countries because the workers are not properly trained in skills.

BIDS conducted the study on 15 industrial sectors including jute, pharmaceutical, plastic, construction, and other manufacturing factories.

Experts from the government and private sectors were present at the report release ceremony.

Planning Minister MA Mannan was the chief guest at the function.

Nasreen Afroz, the executive chairman of the National Skill Development Authority was the special guest. Among others, DU Professor Dr Sayema Haque Bidisha, spoke at the function. Director General of the BIDS Dr Binayak Sen presided over the programme.

Senior research fellow of BIDS Dr Kazi Iqbal led a group of young researchers to conduct the study. He presented the report on the occasion.

Mannan said, “Good governance is needed, but development is needed first.”

The rural and village people want water, electricity, and fertiliser, and they have no idea of good governance. What they want is security, he said.

Nasreen Afroz said that the gazette of the National Development Policy-2022 will be published soon.

An action plan has been prepared in this regard, she said.

Dr Binayak said explained the objective of the survey. He said the survey seeks to find out the country’s requirement for workers in the next 10 years and what policy support is expected from the government.

Expert panel discussants said that the programmes taken in the name of skill development did little to achieve the target.

They said training is needed, but job opportunities must be secured before that. Otherwise, it will not be beneficial. Quality education should also be given importance.

According to the BIDS study, the construction sector has the most unskilled workers. The number of unskilled workers in this sector is 98 per cent.

Up to72 per cent of workers in the light engineering sector have no education.

The study noted that there is a substantial shortage of skilled workers in the agro-processing industry.

Professionals, machine operators and skilled workers in the IT sector are most in demand. Apart from this, the survey mentions that the demand for nursing is increasing.

The survey revealed that 47 per cent of the workers going abroad are unskilled.