Jobs: A bucket in the ocean, say unemployed grads

By Isuri Kaviratne

While the Government has promised 18,000 jobs would be given to the graduates by March next year, the graduates’ association said only around 500 graduates were given jobs by the Government during the past two years. The Combined Association of Unemployed Graduates (CAUG) thus pooh-poohed the statement made by Deputy Minister Ranjith Siyambalapitiya that 18,000 jobs would be provided.

CAUG convenor Sujith Kuruwita said in the 2006 Budget, money was allocated to give jobs to 10,000 graduates and in 2007 budget for 8000 graduates. “But the Government didn’t give the jobs even though money was allocated for it. Most of the 500 got jobs due to influence and favouritism, without a transparent system to give appointments,” Mr. Kuruwita said.

He said the Government promises jobs to graduates only after they hold a protest to remind the Government of their existence. “The minister had said there are plans to give jobs to the graduates and they are being implemented. But though the implementing was done from last year as well we didn’t get jobs,” he said adding that it was due to this reason the CAUG asked for specific dates as to when the jobs would be given.

Meanwhile, Mr. Siyambalapitiya said the Government needs time to give appointments to the graduates as a reasonable and transparent method to give jobs to the graduates is being followed.“We plan to send the undergraduates who are studying in their second and third years at the universities on internships to various Government institutions so that they get a work experience,” he said.