New hope for Algeria's unemployed youth
2009-05-27
Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia addressed a reassuring message to Algeria's young people this week, telling them the government is working hard to create new work opportunities. He said the measures provide a brighter future than the orchards of Barcelona and the building-sites of Marseille can offer.
By Mouna Sadek for Magharebia in Algiers – 27/05/09
 [Getty Images] Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia told the nation's youth on Monday that his government is working hard to address unemployment. |
The Algerian government is urging its young people once again to seek their fortunes at home. Faced with an ongoing problem of illegal immigration to Europe caused by a lack of jobs in many sectors across the country, officials made new assurances that young Algerians can find prosperity in their own country.
Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia addressed the issue on Monday (May 25th) while presenting the government's action plan to parliament. He promised to give greater chances of success to potential "harragas", who take their lives in their hands to seek the European dream, but also said opportunities are often no better in Europe.
"As for those of you who travel illegally to other countries," Ouyahia said, "the luckiest will find seasonal work picking oranges in Spain or as bricklayers in France. We have greater ambitions for you. Your country is Algeria."
Since the civil service sector can no longer absorb the full stream of unemployed graduates, the government has developed other measures to address unemployment, including small business development.
The state will set aside plots of land in industrial zones for youth business, and plans to create a fund and advisory body to facilitate investment. Ouyahia said these steps will "make the effort worthwhile once again".
Some have questioned the government's action plan, since there are 1.2 million unemployed Algerians and 3 million proposed new jobs. "The fact is that we're thinking about the future," he said. "Each year, 400,000 young graduates leave university and swell the ranks of the unemployed."
The leader said job creation efforts resulted in 300,000 new jobs over the past year, and said that graduates staying in school for doctoral study will receive a bonus of 12,000 dinars if they have no other source of income.
According to a recent study by the economic institution CREAD (Centre de Recherche en Economie Appliquée pour le Développement), the job market is still fundamentally unfavourable to young people.
Unemployment among young people is above 20%, according to the study, while among adults the jobless rate is 6-7%.
"These young people are mostly young girls living in cities, who face the most discrimination on the job market with unemployment rates in excess of 30%," explained lead researcher Mohamed Saib Musette.
Resourcefulness has become the order of the day for unemployed young people.
"The informal sector is growing rapidly, especially in towns where the phenomenon of young people having to take jobs for which they are overqualified is commonplace," Musette writes in the study.
"Youth unemployment and underemployment are having an impact on the social behaviour of young people," he continues, adding that many grow so frustrated they either flee the country illegally or answer one of the many calls abroad for workers in specific trades.
"The majority of those who leave the country legally are skilled," said Nabil Boubkeur of the Youth Action Group (Rassemblement Actions Jeunesse or RAJ). "They will not take seasonal jobs or work as bricklayers; they will go to companies and foreign universities."
For the rest, Boubkeur said, the future is not as bright. "The question is whether the category of young people on the lowest rung of the ladder will actually benefit from the promised measures. We need much more than a single speech to make our young people hopeful."
Mourad, 27, attempted to start his own business to avoid unemployment. "I tried ANEM, ANSEJ and ANGEM but had no luck. We all know the problem lies with the banks. They refuse to finance projects."
Facing the stress of prolonged joblessness, Mourad said: "If I could find a legal way to leave the country and go anywhere else, I wouldn't hesitate."
His brother Rahim, a commerce student, is more optimistic. "More and more foreign companies are coming to Algeria. With a bit of luck, people will be able to get jobs."
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Anonymous Posted 2009-05-27
Mr Minister- Stop lying to the young people. No longer tell them, "Your country is Algeria." People are not so naive. They know well to whom Algeria belongs: you and your clique. If the young people choose misery in Europe, then it is just to earn a little cash. And this is so even if many of them are not conscious of their real motivation pushing them to leave. The truth is that you - just like your neighbours - have transformed the region in a hell where people are being smothered. They need fresh air. They want to breath in freedom, not the **** into which this dictatorship is pushing the Maghreb down into. Dictatorship, injustice, favouritism, cruelty, dishonesty and contempt for the people have alienated the people from their country. In the orchards of Barcelona and the construction sites of Marseille, the young people do not smell the atmosphere of **** reigning supreme in Algeria. If your nose is still not clogged, there perhaps there is still some hope.
Algerian Posted 2009-05-27
What a joke! We've heard this kind of empty promises since we were born but things just keep getting worse by the day, he has been there in power for more than a decade and he is responsible for current miserable situation the Algerian people are living in, may be he should tell the Algerian people what he achieved during all this time instead of repeating the same story everyday like a broken record.
ابراهيم Posted 2009-05-28
Peace, mercy and blessings of God be upon you. I am a young man, 25. I want details about civil service. I am a university graduate. Thank you.
nasser Posted 2009-05-28
we heard it before ,i think it's about time to do something for the young before it's too late.
خليل وصفي الحاج درويش Posted 2009-05-29
Salam alikum. Opportunities in Algeria with the presence of vocational training, continuous training, languages, professional experience will be God willing a gleam of hope. Let's read Al Fatiha for the intention of success God willing. (Good luck). Amman, Jordan.
kamel Posted 2009-05-29
salam, i would like to say just one think to this leaders stop laying,and say the truth we are tired form your lies .
BEN Posted 2009-05-30
The unemployment of young people is a Maghreb-wide problem! Pooling our efforts to declare war against this is a necessity, and, in times of peace, it is an obligation. No single country in the region will manage this all alone. This will require undertaking the political path of neighbourliness once again and renouncing the present suicidal position for the good of all the people of the Maghreb. “’Je t’aime’, ‘Moi, non plus’” (“’I love you’, ‘Me neither’”) is an outdated feeling. We need to have some concrete achievements in order to move forward.
بطال Posted 2009-05-30
Stop lying ****. We're tired of lies. Wake up Algeria. There is nothing in Algeria. There is just Harga, harga.
السيدة س ل Posted 2009-05-31
I am a state engineer in industrial chemistry. I want to invest in a project even if it is not in my field of expertise. Can anyone help me to find the idea of a small project? Thank you.
comme tout jeune algerien Posted 2009-06-01
I do not agree with you, Mr Ouyahia. You mock the young people who are suffering and do not know to which god to turn. It is not unusual that they think about fleeing. I got my education. I was unemployed. I left for France to get a better education. I returned and I work as a sub for those who were hired at 7,200 dinars. I know that in two shakes I am packing my bags because there is no chance of me getting hired. Do you know why? It is because they didn't put me in biology, but in a department where they were lacking hired help. What do I have to gain from this? ...certainly, not experience. This is just a diversion, distancing me from my profession. I am ashamed of my Algeria and of my region. There is too much favouritism, cruelty, dishonesty and contempt. In effect, I am sorry bear how ever bitter a witness this may be.
yasser Posted 2009-06-01
I always support the peaceful mean of aqquiring things, but to a certain degree, one has to know when to say enough is enough.this is just another lie and a joke. I think the youth of algeria need to take it to the streets. With that many people on the streets already hugging the wall they could be chanting and causing disrupption to the government, which is the only way governments nowadays listen. But in all honesty i think alot of youth in algeria arent looking to work, they just want money for nothing. they have a get rich quick mentalitity, and even then dont want to put the work required to do so. ALGERIAS A LAZY COUNTRY... the government is too lazy to bring work to the country.. and to be honest with u even if there was work i dont think the youth would take it.
يوسف Posted 2009-06-02
I hope that these promises will be carried out in reality. This is the reporter Youssef from Oran I hope to communicate with you.
Abdelkader Posted 2009-06-02
In the name of God, I address those who are carrying the heavy burden of the total failure that is our experience. Algeria, country of our ancestors, rich and grand, has fallen into the hands of ignorant, incapable and irresponsible people. We will never forgive you, the ones who have been governing Algeria and its people since the time of independence.
SIMO Posted 2009-06-02
New hope!? Is this masquerade not over with yet??? Who are they mocking??? Enough is enough! An evident beginning to a solution - should the leaders' intentions be good for once - would be to contain spending and avoid pointless waste. For example, what good is there in spending billions and billions to support so-called "freedom movement", which are in fact separatist movements, like those of the Polisario and company? These are movement of diverting public funds to the profit of their **** leaders, who amass this "aid" in foreign banks!!! They are paid a fortune to endlessly write their completely nonsensical hot air. What if these billions were spend on serious educations for our young "hittists" (young people who kill time leaning up against 'hitts', i.e., walls) and giving them a reason to live before they throw themselves into the suicidal arms of these obscurantist terrorists??? A word to the wise!
mohamed chrife Posted 2009-06-03
God is our mandate against you deceivers.
نانو اسماعيل Posted 2009-06-18
Nanou Smail from the municipality of Chellal, district of Chellal, province of Mssila. I hope that Ouyahya will be president of the Algerian republic. I am tired of false promises. Where is the programme of eradicating bribery especially in employment competitions? I haven’t found a job to this day. Do you know why? Because I don’t have 25 millions to offer as bribery. Even if I had it, by God no one would take it. The citizen faithful to his country Nanou Smail, affiliated in Rand party with Haj Mouhad and Daoud Yassine.
hassouna Posted 2009-06-20
Nice articles, nice words, I hope it is true. I love you so much.
Djahida Posted 2009-07-01
Mr Minister- Stop making promises. I find it truly painful to see myself living in a rich country that has been stolen by people who have as their sole objective satisfying their never-ending needs. I hear you say "Harba Meleblad", but you have done nothing for this country.
maghrebihi Posted 2009-07-03
I am writing you to tell you how proud I am of you, the young people who do not let yourselves get carried away by the fake promises of Algeria's so- called "government"!!! And, so as not to hide anything from you, I have faith that these young Algerians and these young Algerians alone should take the destiny of this great nation into their own hands. They have the ability to do so! It is up to you to take the bull by the horns and express your desire for change by all means possible. Good luck!!!
زهير Posted 2009-09-11
I am an Algerian young man. I am 35. I am looking for a job in Algeria in any sector. Thank you.
محمد Posted 2009-09-29
Don’t make promises to people if you aren’t going to honour your promises. We are fed up with lies and false hopes. It is better that you don’t speak in order not to compound our hatred and despair about you.
ANSEJ Posted 2009-10-08
I am an Algerian young man. I have decided to set up a small project ANSEJ. Then I went to ANSEJ. I wanted to set up a project of a moving and delivery company. After a lot of hard work, I have prepared my papers. Now I have been going to ANSEJ for six months, every time they say not yet, not yet, the wali is on vacation, not yet, then when Ramadan began, I went to ANSEJ, they told me not yet, the wali wouldn't sign applications until after Ramadan. One day, I went there and told them I am unemployed, you must study my file. They told me your file would be examined after 15 days. I went home and after 15 days I received a phone call from ANSEJ on a Tuesday. They told me tomorrow Wednesday you must be at the district of Cherraga at about 9 in the morning. I was happy and went as they told me. I went, met some young men and women. I told to some of them, what would we do now? Would they give us permits? They said we didn't know, we were confused. Then a guard called me with another young man and two girls. We accompanied the guard to the first floor. The guard told us to sit in the sitting room. Then a man came, called the girl then she went to the meeting room as it was written on the door. After about ten minutes, the girl went out and her face was yellow. Then I asked her who was inside and what did they tell you. She told me there was the wali and some figures who ask you questions. But I was confused. The girl went home confused. Then the man came back and call the young man who was with me. After about ten minutes, he came out angry. Then the man came and called me. I went in, I was surprised to see a 13m table full of flowers in the middle, with men and women in classical dresses. I was surprised as they were examining me from head to foot. A man asked me to sit down, I sat in front of a man, I didn't know if he were the wali or not. He was sitting in the front of the luxurious table. He asked me “what is your name?” I told him my name. Then he asked me “what do you want top do?” I said a moving and delivery company. He replied violently “are you sure you will succeed?” I replied with the will of God. He told me “do you have data for work?” I said yes with my friends, they have shops, I will work with them. He asked me do you have papers to work with them? I said I cant have anything since I haven't...Sorry I can't write because the number of characters isn't enough. Anyway, the story is long and sad. The project wasn't approved.
ANSEJ Posted 2009-10-12
Long live Algeria. Long live Algeria.
كاملة Posted 2009-10-23
Salam. This is very sad my brother but this is the attitude of agencies. I had a training at the national agency for the employment of young people and saw humiliation. By God, I don't know what to say but there is a high scorning of the attempts of young people in any project.
ALLAL Posted 9 days ago
Hello- These are just speeches to deceive everyone so that we stay attached to the throne. Nothing is working anymore. Nothing is real. No one can discover the truth. Look the truth in the face. The inhabitants are dying every day under the ruins of buildings built by France. Right now, citizens are dying out in the Mediterranean just to go find some food in Europe; others are committing suicide; and so on and so on. Yet, you tell us that all is well and that everything is going smoothly. What shamefulness. -Allal
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