Govt for dedicated website for youths seeking jobs abroad
Tribune News Service
Shimla, July 3
With Himachalis working overseas sending Rs 2,030 crore back home in one year, the state government has directed the Labour and Employment Department to develop a dedicated website and mobile application to empower youths seeking employment opportunities abroad.
“Each year, around 10,000 youth from Himachal Pradesh travel abroad in search of employment, while another 5,000 pursue higher education. However, due to limited access to accurate information and proper guidance, these numbers remain lower than their potential,” Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said. In 2023–24, Himachalis working overseas sent remittances totalling Rs 2,030 crore from overseas, accounting for nearly 0.2 per cent of the national remittance figures, a significant contribution considering the state’s relatively small population, he added.
The CM instructed the department to study the overseas employment models of Kerala and Telangana to draft an effective strategy for Himachal Pradesh. It is notable that Kerala has the highest rate of overseas employment in the country, with 57.94 individuals out of every 1,000 working abroad, while in Himachal Pradesh, the number stands at just 5.36 per 1,000.
Sukhu said this digital platform will compile comprehensive data of aspirants, ensuring better transparency, accessibility and protection while securing overseas jobs, he said. He said youth of Himachal are hardworking, honest and capable and the state government is committed to helping them secure well-paying jobs abroad and protect them from potential exploitation.
The Chief Minister said that Himachal Pradesh State Electronics Development Corporation (HPSEDC) has received the licence as registered recruitment agency. He instructed the HPSEDC to collaborate with certified training agencies to enhance the skill development of youth in line with international job market requirements.
The Chief Minister also directed the Labour and Employment Department to launch awareness campaigns to inform youth about safe and legitimate pathways to overseas employment, encouraging them to go abroad only through registered recruitment agencies. He also instructed the department to develop database of Himachali NRIs. Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, MLA Suresh Kumar, Principal Advisor (Media) to Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan and other officials attended the meeting.
Himachal Tribune