COVID-19: Youths pushed out of employment

EMPLOYMENT   VIRUS

KAMPALA - The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic has seen at least 50% of youth in Uganda pushed out of employment following the outbreak of the coronavirus in the country.

According to youth leaders, a recent COVID -19 impact assessment by different youth organizations indicated that half of the youth in both informal and formal sectors have lost their jobs.

Speaking during the second regional youth e-conference on sexual reproductive health, environment and climate change, as well as job creation and leadership, Timothy Oboth a program manager at Plan International Uganda said many youths across the country, especially in urban centres, had lost their jobs.

"It is clear most of these young people went out of employment and when they do, they remain vulnerable to all sorts of temptations so government needs to do something to bring them back to their feet," Oboth told a youth conference in Kampala on Tuesday.

He added: "We believe that given the impact of COVID-19, we are going to focus on building skills and empowering young people to make informed decisions".

On his part, Ali Kaviri, the team leader Youth Equality Center (YEC) said youth majority of who are employed in the informal sector, were left with no jobs when the government imposed a total lockdown. 

Kaviri proposed that the government puts in place economic relief measures such as stimulus packages specifically for young people.

"All segments of our society have been greatly affected by the loss of jobs but the most hit are the young people. Some of these young people work in hotels, which are not operating because there are no tourists coming into the country," Kaviri said.

At the conference, the youth also hinted at the likely increase in school drop out by the young people whose parents have been greatly affected by COVID-19.

Lillian Aber, the Chairperson National Youth Council, said many teenagers had gotten unwanted pregnancies as a result of keeping away from school.

She implored the government to come up with supportive mechanisms, to help the young people who have been affected by the Pandemic.

"Today as I speak, several young people have gotten pregnant. This calls for a special program that stakeholders and the government have to look into so we control the gap of child parenthood," Aber said.

Olive Lumonya, the Country Director SOS, said there is a need to recognize and empower the young people for a better Uganda.

"We have to recognize the young people because they are the voices we need to listen to. We need to give the young people, the mentorship they need. We need to listen to them," she said.

Youth day 

At the conference, the youth leaders also observed the International Youth Day, with a call on government and Ugandans at large, to focus on social, cultural, economic and political challenges which they said impact more on the young people. 

They said while attention has been drawn on COVID-19 Pandemic, there are long-lasting effects that come with lack of services such as sexual reproductive health, among other services needed by the youth.

According to the statement issued by YEC, the COVID-19 situation in the country has exposed the young people to vulnerability hence denying them a chance to live quality lives.

"Sexual reproductive health challenges like teenage pregnancy, child marriage, infection from HIV/STIs, substance abuse, sexual gender violence are so prevalent and this pauses a high risk to young people thus robbing them of their ability to realize their full potential," Stated Kaviri.

The theme for this years' celebrations was engaging the youth for global action. In her remarks, Nakiwala Kiyingi, the state minister for youth and children affairs, commended the youth leaders for their efforts in engaging the youth.

Nakiwala said the youth face sexual reproductive health challenges that continue to impinge on their development.

"Almost 4,000 rape cases have been reported during the COVID-19 period. We also have sexual violence, unsafe abortion, high teenage pregnancy, and high dropout rates for girls, early marriages and early childbearing," Nakiwala said.

As part of the celebrations to mark the international youth day, the youth have staged a week-long e-marathon, aimed at mainstreaming youth voices in the ongoing civic and potential discourses and ensure youth aspirations are manifested in the electoral campaigns and processes.