YES trains its first batch of youth

The objective of the Youth Employment Skills (YES) program, supported by the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) and in partnership with various registered local training providers in the country, is to train the youth in skills for gainful employment and sustainable livelihood.

YES program awarded certificates to its first batch of 190 graduates on December 31 in Thimphu. The jobseekers trained through YES program will be employed in the sectors outside the civil service system, mainly in the private sector.

According to MoLHR, YES program, initiated in 2014, will be implemented until 2018 under the Guarantee Employment Scheme (GES) supported by the Economic Stimulus Plan (ESP). The skills training are provided by identified local training providers through institute-based training and on-the-job (OJT) training models.  YES program is also targeted to meet the human resource requirement in the private sector.

The Director, Department of Human Resources (DHR), MoLHR, Kinley Wangdi, said all the trainees have successfully graduated. He said the training initiated as a part of YES program is the first of its kind and is a huge success.

Addressing the YES program graduates, Kinley Wangdi said, ‘‘the best job in the world is your job. There is nothing as best or biggest job than your own job.”

Employment opportunities under the YES program will be ensured by the training providers in the relevant occupations that the youth are trained in. A maximum of three months duration is given to the training providers to find employment for the trainees after completion of the training program.

The payment of employment cost/tuition fee will be withheld if the training provider does not ensure employment post training. The trained candidates are expected to work for at least two years in the same company, with the objective to gain work experience.

Those candidates not willing to take-up employment after training have to refund the employment cost tuition fee and stipend (Nu 61000) as per the terms of undertaking signed with DHR, MoLHR. Further, they will not be allowed to participate in other programs of the ministry, such as the overseas employment program, direct employment, ATP, internship, etc.

YES program plans to train and employ 400 jobseekers every year. The first phase of YES program has 25 slots for accountants that can use the Tally software, 25 slots for sales executives, 25 slots for front office, 22 slots for housekeeping, 30 slots for food and beverages, 15 slots for bakery, 30 slots for commercial cooking, 37 slots for early childhood care and development, and 31 slots for those trained in pedagogical skills.

The Institute for Management Studies, Computer and Management Institute, and Bhutan International School of Hospitality and Tourism implemented the YES program in the first phase. The training started from September 1, 2014 for the duration of four months.

MoLHR has opened the second phase of the Graduates Skills Program (GSP) and YES program and is waiting for expression of interest to come in from the training institutes.