Need-based and sector-specific skill development can increase enrolment of the youth, especially women, in the country's retail industry, speakers told a programme on Thursday.
They observed that with proper training, orientation, and removal of social stigma, more youths can find jobs in the country's retail sector mostly concentrated in private sector-led super shops, shopping malls, clothing stores, fast-food outlets etc.
They made the observations at a roundtable discussion on "Enhancing employment: Opportunities for youth in Bangladesh's retail sector" organised by BRAC's Skills Development Programme (SDP) at the BRAC Centre Inn in the city's Mohakhali.
Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) president Nihad Kabir addressed the programme as the chief guest while Aarong managing director Tamara Abed, Apex Footwear Ltd managing director Syed Nasim Manzur, Unimart chief executive officer Murtoza Zaman, Shwapno business director Tanvir Sohel Khan, Gemcon Food and Agricultural Products Ltd chief executive officer Shaheen Khan, Bangladesh Business and Disability Network head of operations Aziza Ahmed, Amanah Group managing director Masudul Haq and BRAC director Maria Huq spoke at the programme.
Emphasising skill development training for youth in the retail sector, Ms Kabir said, "Sector-specific training for the youth in retail industry is a definite requirement to enhance customer satisfaction."
Referring to over 12 per cent unemployment rate among youths having tertiary education, she said students completing higher education in the country do not want to start their career in retail sector due to social mindset about such jobs.
"Many youths, who have been trying to get a government job, are uninterested to join retail and sales based jobs, rather a number of them prefer being jobless and stay at home if they don't get a government job," she said.
Besides, there has been no recognition of retail sector from the government's end yet, she said, adding they (retail workers) do not get proper motivation to continue their jobs in a dedicated way as the salary in that sector is still very low.
Ms Abed said it is the employer's duty to create decent work environment for both men and women at the workplace as it is a prerequisite for increasing productivity of workers.
She said superstores or retail stores must have separate washroom facility and shift-based work schedule to attract more women and the persons with disabilities to join the retail sector.
Mentioning that there are over 1,900 sales staffs in different outlets of Aarong across the country, she said, "Sector and need-based formal skill development training is a must to make the workers confident about duties and there should be continuous efforts to make the workers more capable."
Mr Manzur said the country's economic situation has changed which made many workers unwilling to work at factories and the retail sector can be their next destination if proper skills are developed.
"It's not only sufficient to organise training and employment in the retail sector, but quality improvement of the sector is also imperative," he said, adding the government needs to play a decisive role in formulating necessary laws and giving recognition to the sector.
Terming retail sector very potential to create employment opportunities, he noted that at least 10 per cent of India's GDP is contributed by retail sector while it also holds about 8.0 per cent of the neighbouring country's total job.
He said scarcity of jobs is more relevant for youths with tertiary level education than the people with low education level while there is social stigma regarding sales based jobs in the country which prevent many potential youths from coming to the sector.
According to a survey by BRAC titled "Progressing the Retail Sector by Improving Decent Employment (PRIDE)", the retail sector of Bangladesh has already employed over 6.0 million people.
However, only 8.0 per cent of the total employees in the sector are female as the retailers are reluctant to hire female staff citing safety issues and due to a pervasive perception that women cannot take physical strain.
Besides, more than 50 per cent of the survey respondent persons with disabilities stated they were not provided with specialised orientation although they had no previous work experience.
Under the BRAC SDP, about 5,200 youths will be trained across the country in near future of which at least 80 per cent will get jobs, the organisers said.
The retail sales project, funded by IKEA Foundation and UBS Optimus Foundation, aims to impact changes in the retail sector by providing decent work opportunities for disadvantaged urban youth, particularly women and persons with disabilities.
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