UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman has said employment-centric sustainable development has gained an increased global attention following the severe disruptions in the job market caused by the global financial crisis.
“The crisis led to a serious slippage in job creation for the younger population. As many as 74.8 million youths (15-24 year olds) were unemployed around the globe in 2011 alone,” he said.
The Governor was addressing the UN ECOSOC high-level ministerial panel on employment-centric sustainable development in the UN headquarters, New York on Tuesday, according to a message received here on Wednesday.
The discussion was chaired by Martin Sajdik, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and moderated by Guy Ryder, Director-General of International Labour Organization (ILO).
The panel included Amara Konneh, Finance Minister of Liberia, Pekka Haavisto, Minister, International Development, Finland and Carlos Lopez, Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa.
The panel of eminent persons on post-2015 development agenda puts ‘transforming economies for jobs and inclusive growth’ as one of the five transformative shifts.
Similarly ‘Open Working Group on Sustainable Development’ advocated for the promotion of an inclusive growth and decent jobs for all as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The BB Governor said most countries have taken these goals seriously and are trying to integrate their policies to engage multiple actors and agencies in achieving these goals.
The challenges faced by various countries are broadly similar, warranting cooperation in buildup of a strong political will and social commitment by various actors towards creating decent jobs in a sustainable manner, he added.
Atiur said diversification of economic structures will remain at the core of employment-centric sustainable development processes.
