VIEW FROM THE COMMONWEALTH WOMEN PARLIAMENTARIANS (CWP) CHAIRPERSON
JOB CREATION AND GROWTH: SOLUTIONS TO INEQUALITY View from the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Chairperson It gives me great pleasure, as the newly The successful modern economy is based on elected Chair of the Commonwealth Women citizens earning the income they need to survive Parliamentarians, to contribute my first View through the work they do. It is those in the labour article to this issue of The Parliamentarian. force who produce the goods and services which Poverty leads to the breakdown of social comprise the modern economy. These workers also structures. Unemployment disrupts the generate the majority of taxes that allow governments momentum of economic empowerment. to play their economic role, including providing Inequality denies future generations. I wish to income to many of those who don’t work. The begin this article with these three important social importance of jobs to a successful modern economy ills: poverty; unemployment; inequality. Poverty can be seen in the lengths that all governments go to is not hereditary, and yet for decades it has Hon. Dr Dato’ Noraini Ahmad, secure and protect them, and the promises politicians been growing in every society. Unemployment, MP, Chairperson of the make that, if elected, they will implement policies however, is the result of poverty when and where Commonwealth Women which will create more (and better) jobs. Therefore, it is not addressed. Families that are poor could Parliamentarians (CWP) and politicians and leaders of nations are the key to better not provide the necessities for their children to Member of the Parliament of opportunities for their people with the right policies move towards a better future; alas unemployment Malaysia. and implementation. Never leave your people to and poverty can be a vicious cycle in the family. starve, while we enjoy the benefits of the economy. Inequality, meanwhile, is the result of history and tradition in some A roadmap for the future of any country would be dependent on parts of the world and a stigma in others. Inequality is a setback and ensuring a sustainable and robust economy. This involves working one of the factors that contributes to poverty and unemployment. This on competitiveness, achieving high-income levels, innovation in cycle cannot be stopped if fundamental issues such as social safety economic performance and making a bold transformation through nets, job creation, education, protection of the rights and needs of economic reforms that modernizes an ongoing economic model society are not equally bestowed upon every citizen of all nations. for the future. Progress requires the government and the people The aftermath of poverty, unemployment and inequality requires to be more innovative in creating methods and opportunities for the government to move forward with social policies that either assist wider economic participation. This could be done by engaging or provide their people with monetary, subsidy assistance or services and developing a more consultative approach especially with that may elevate the standards of living and livelihood of those affected. stakeholders. A powerful and dynamic economic approach will steer Global unemployment rose following the economic crisis from 1997 to a better strategy to sustain economic growth. 1998 and further escalated between 2008 and 2009. Unemployment Job creation hinges on policies that provide the right hiring has increased three fold in the last twenty years and the situation has incentives, create public jobs through investing in the nation’s crumbling worsened as a result of oil depletion and current oil market values. infrastructure, support the growth of small and medium enterprises, In some parts of the world, the levels of unemployment have sparked and tap into consumption outside our borders. Further, we must explore demonstrations and protest. Unemployment and poverty have pushed innovative approaches to stemming long-term unemployment by societies beyond what can be considered healthy and resilient. These examining the merits of a relocation subsidy. Other proposed measures, conditions therein have had a grave impact on societies as a whole and in like extending unemployment benefits and raising the minimum wage, some cases have led to crime, hatred and dysfunction in society. Inequality are also important and viable measures to reduce inequality. But they endangers democratic institutions, limits economic mobility and, as recent won’t have the same long-term impact as stimulating the creation of research has shown, can be damaging to economic growth. Inequality good jobs. One must first have a job to benefit from a minimum wage. too has been the major factor in the rise of union movements, special And raising the minimum wage will primarily impact workers in lowinterest groups that fight for equal rights, feminism and in some cases paying service sector jobs where the lack of skill development impedes extremism. Inequality restricts the freedom of people to choose, to live, upward mobility. According to anyone, unemployment benefits aren’t the to enjoy the benefits provided, to achieve the best in life and to be able to preferred long-term solution, not to those on the right or the left, and not live harmoniously. To move forward in a challenging and globalized world, to the unemployed workers who need them. governments need to review, revamp and reinforce the basic needs of the In fact, creating high-paying jobs is one of the few policy objectives people as a remedy for the ills created by these specters. that can unite the right and left. It will inarguably address one of the 108 | The Parliamentarian | 2017: Issue Two