Haroon Rashid Bhat
It is a well-acknowledged fact that the government cannot absorb all job aspirants into public sector employment. However, despite this reality, many of our youth continue to spend years preparing and waiting for a government job. In doing so, they often cross the age limit for such jobs. Unfortunately, they may also miss out on the right time for marriage, leading to multiple social and emotional challenges. One of the main reasons young, educated individuals hesitate to join the private sector—especially in regions like the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir—is the deep-rooted sense of job insecurity. Even when they manage to secure a position in the private sector, they are often subjected to harsh and exploitative working conditions. Many private employers impose strict and unfair rules. If an employee receives a salary increment or begins to expect better compensation, they are often dismissed under flimsy pretexts. There is little to no enforcement of employee or labor laws in the private sector. Private employers frequently disregard employment norms and regulations with impunity. For instance, private schools are known to pay meager salaries to their staff. If anyone demands fair compensation, they are immediately shown the door. As Karl Marx aptly observed, exploitation and alienation continue to persist; only the form of exploitation has changed. During the Industrial Revolution, it was factory owners who exploited workers. Today, that role is taken up by owners of schools, hospitals, and other private institutions.
The government must step in to curb this exploitation of our educated youth. It is essential to hold private employers accountable and ensure that they treat their human resources fairly and ethically. Proper enforcement of labor laws, regular inspections, and grievance redressal mechanisms must be put in place to create a secure and respectful work environment for everyone. In today’s competitive world, securing stable employment remains a top concern for millions of youth across India. It is an acknowledged fact that the government cannot provide jobs to all aspirants. Yet, despite this reality, a significant portion of our educated youth continues to chase government employment, often investing years in preparation and waiting for vacancies to be announced. In this prolonged wait, many cross the age limits set for public sector jobs, and in some cases, even the age considered ideal for marriage, leading to a cascade of personal and professional frustrations. The alternative—private sector employment—should have ideally absorbed this workforce. However, that is not the case, particularly in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The private sector here offers limited opportunities, and whatever roles are available are often marred by harsh working conditions and a deep sense of job insecurity. The reality on the ground is grim. Even after being recruited, employees find themselves in precarious positions, with no assurance of long-term stability or fair treatment. A troubling pattern has emerged: once an employee receives a salary increment or begins to expect better pay or benefits, private employers often make excuses and terminate them without warning or justification. There is a blatant lack of adherence to labor laws. Many private institutions, especially schools and small-scale enterprises, exploit their staff by paying meager salaries and offering no job security. If any employee dares to demand fair wages or raise concerns about their rights, they are quickly shown the exit door. This form of exploitation is not new. As Karl Marx insightfully noted, “Exploitation and alienation remain; only the form of exploitation changes.” During the Industrial Revolution, factory owners exploited their workers; today, the exploiters come in the form of school owners, hospital administrators, and heads of private firms. The silence around this issue is deafening. In a region striving for progress, our educated youth continue to be undervalued and underpaid. If left unchecked, this situation could lead to social unrest, brain drain, and a growing sense of disillusionment among the youth.
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Haroon Rashid Bhat is a teacher by profession, can be reached at minamharoon123@gmail.com
