Economic Development: Challenges and Opportunities for Youth in Timor-Leste
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Youth economic development is critical for the world's youth population, including Timor-Leste. The economic sector remains a public concern for two decades after the country's independence. However, despite this, there is still a significant disparity in access to employment opportunities and youth economic development.
The development of the youth economy in Timor-Leste
is unclear, and a feasibility study has not been carried out on how to create
employment for young people. Although the state has a broad vision to establish
mega-projects with high-cost national budget expenditures to create jobs, this
plan was not realistic in providing benefit to youth. The state budget allocation
without any plans to create jobs based on the National Strategic Development
Plan (NSDP) has actually led to job losses.
The majority of Timorese youth do not have access to
employment opportunities. For example, the national employment data in 2015 revealed
that more than 20% of people aged 15 to 29 are economically disadvantaged and
continue to be unemployed.
Youth participation in economic development
continues to be hampered by a lack of knowledge and financial resources. The
government appears to be failing in its role of ensuring the population's
economic well-being. Indeed, the agricultural sector should contribute to the
country's potential financial resources. Around 80% of the people live rely on
agricultural production; however, there is limited investment in improving
production and industrialization, and the majority of the youth only
participate in subsistence agricultural output, not for industrial production
that generates income.
Timor-Leste's constitution does, in fact, guarantee
the economic rights of the youth. However, job opportunities for young people
are almost non-existent. The YLDP observes that the state is still less
concerned with the state's role in fulfilling citizens' rights.
Opportunities
for Economic Participation
Despite the limited opportunities to learn productive
skills, many youth groups strive to effect economic change in society. For
example, many young entrepreneurs are now striving with the commitment to be
financially independent. Some succeed while others struggle as a result of
being involved in the private sector.
The Institute for Business Development Support (IADE) aims to provide training to youth groups on business management and their development of their ideas. However, the main challenge is the market conditions to support the sale or distribution of their merchandise or products.
The Challenges of Economic Growth
There is no space for young people who are skilled and talented in the creation of high-quality art to promote their work. Instead, as has recently occurred with Arte Moris youth art groups in this country, the government seized their products and forced them to leave their location.
Street vendors, clothing, and vegetable sellers are
often kicked out by the police because they are considered to pollute the
environment. "Take away your things because you make this place
dirty," says a police officer when evicting a vendor from a busy
intersection in Dili, Timor-Leste.
Youth in Arte Moris are actively involved in the
arts and cultural activities. They have already created a plethora of creative
and innovative works. Art initiatives, education, and music have been
consistently promoted among young people. However, the government forces them
out and does not provide adequate conditions for their development.
Many young people in Dili want to participate
directly in doing business in the market spaces, but they lack land and farms.
Furthermore, because the majority of Dili's population is from the districts,
it is difficult for them to find a place to sell their wares.
Another challenge of business insecurity stems from
the government's lack of control over foreign investors such as those from China,
Bangladesh and Indonesia.
The next challenge in a few years ahead is that
Foreign businesses will dominate Timor-Leste, selling local products and
traditional foods. Chinese businesses are one example, as they produce simple
products, mainly made by the Timorese. Similarly, primary and basic products
like oil, salt, candle, rice, and all the basic needs merchandise by the
Chinese people.
However, The YLDP affirms that Timor-Leste needs to
regulate and control market movements and products to guarantee the youth's
participation in business and other economic activities. Foreign investors are
supposed to invest in big industries but instead they serve small businesses
like kiosks and other small scales.
The Impact of Lack of Job Creation on Youth
With a lack of job creation for young people, this
country will suffer greatly in terms of human resource development. As a
result, many young people have already left Timor-Leste to find work overseas
in order to support their families.
The young overseas workers interviewed for this study
explained: “I work in a foreign country or abroad to support my family,
especially my brothers, to study in university, build a house for my family. It
is the only thing I can do, I can’t even have a business, but it is the only
thing I can do.”
The issue of unemployment has been a critical topic
of public discourse, and it is regarded as one of the primary causes of
conflict in Timor-Leste. This includes domestic violence between young couples
(wives and husbands), and can lead to divorce due to financial problems.
A lack of financial security is not the only reason
contributing to the various types of violence in social life. A lack of
employment for young people can also contribute to frustration, anger, sadness,
and ultimately physical violence, especially when they cannot control emotions arising
from the social and economic pressure.
“Lack of job opportunities is a big problem, will
arise various issues which we don’t expect, people will move around like crazy,
and some can get psychologically pressured, so when there is no job, there is
no future”.
Besides the conflict caused by the economic impact, other factors also contribute to business barriers in Timor-Leste, like psychological pressure among young people. This condition can even lead to violence and suicide. In 2020, for example, a young man suicide himself because of facing economic pressure from his family members.
Conclusion
The government of Timor-Leste should give more space to promote local production and invest in the innovative work of youth, especially promoting their products in the market. It is crucial for this young country that the government should start to design and implement a stable economic environment.
The government of Timor-Leste should give more space to promote local production and invest in the innovative work of youth, especially promoting their products in the market. It is crucial for this young country that the government should start to design and implement a stable economic environment.
Reference:
https://timor-leste.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/PNJ%20Tetum.pdf
Writer: Youth Leadership Development Program- Timor-Leste (YLDP-TL)
Youth Leadership Development Program – Timor-Leste (YLDP-TL) is a youth led organisation that was established in Timor-Leste in 2017. The purpose of the organization is to motivate and encourage the Timorese young people by providing a positive learning space and offering leadership training, capacity-building, personal development, research, and debate. The aim is to transform the mindset of the youth into a transformative and constructive learning environment, as well as to promote youth literacy in the country.
To learn more about YLDP-TL please visit:https://yldp-tl.org/yldp-tl/
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