Time to harness demographic dividend is now—Mussa

Minister of Labour, Youth, Sports and Manpower Development Henry Mussa on Friday launched the Malawi National Network for the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) with a call to harness the demographic dividend.

Speaking in Blantyre at a function attended by captains of industry, government officials, trade unionists and representatives of international organisations, the minister said now is the time to promote internships to avert exploitive tendencies.

“We have talked enough, we have talked a lot. What we need to know is that issues to do with commitment are at the core of business. We have to walk the talk,” said Mussa.
He said government is doing its part in training the youth with skills, citing community colleges which “have become the flagship of the government”.

“The role of job creation rests with the private sector. In December, 300 graduated in the technical schools in carpentry, brick laying, metal fabrication and plumbing, but what else? Yes, they can set-up their own businesses, but the labour market must absorb them,” said Mussa.

The fruits of the GAN model of internships and apprenticeship are already bearing fruit in some companies.
GAN champion Michael Khomani, who is also Stansfield Motors Limited general manager for Blantyre, said they have benefitted through work readiness programmes and code of good practice for employers regarding internships and apprenticeship.

He cited the Yamaha motorcycle internship his organisation runs which has seen some of the interns being employed either by Stanfield Motors or others.
“We recruit students that are under training at various technical institutions to do practical work in our workshops,” he said.

GAN initiative is expected to reverse the mismatch between the skills acquired from training institutions and the skills required by the industry.
During a panel discussion, it was noted that in some cases, only 20 percent of the skills acquired from training institutions are relevant to the job.
According to GAN global executive director Shea Gopaul, the skills mismatch is not only a Malawi problem.

“Even in Spain or Italy where 50 percent of the youth are unemployed, there are one million jobs that need to be filled,” she said.
Gopaul said there is need to address the challenge because the youth are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults.