To work, or not to work

The onus of unemployment has weighed heavily on successive governments which have borne the brunt of public dissatisfaction, electoral volatility, and stagnant economic growth. 

As a problem that has evaded a logical solution for decades now, unemployment issues refuse to move over from the realms of electoral promises to a transparent, data-driven, and structurally sound policy framework.

When unemployment lingers purely as a campaign rhetoric rather than a policy reality, it often results in the continuous cycle of unfulfilled pledges, a ballooning informal workforce and disillusioned youth adding to the ranks of the unemployed.

Unemployment is no longer viewed merely as an economic statistic, but as a profound social detriment.

Unlike the dramatic job crises of previous decades, the present form of unemployment often unfolds subtly, woven into temporary jobs, unpredictable income, and shifting expectations about work.

Many young people today move between internships, short-term contracts, or gig assignments without ever feeling a stable sense of belonging to the workforce.

“Every generation faces criticism from the one before, but Gen Z isn’t just being criticised, they are being locked out of the workforce. ‘Young people don’t want to work’ has become an easy headline.”

Young people are rejecting work.

A fondness which quite naturally translates into a definite preference for government jobs has been cited as the main reason for the growing joblessness in Goa. Youngsters just don’t want to avail the employment opportunities that crop up from time to time in the private sector.

Yet, we have politicians decrying the move by private companies to ‘deny’ locals employment by hiring workforce from outside the state.

For that matter, nothing could be more ironic than legislators demanding 80% private sector job reservations for locals. Not because this highlights a structural failure where governments pivot to private sector quotas to mask an overall shortage of state-funded jobs, but simply because most of the local youngsters just do not want to work.

It is as if the government jobs are more comfortable without the diligence and hard work that is called for in the private sector. The security that comes with the government job is the icing on the cake!

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant recently issued a stern warning to government officials, stating that those who fail to perform their duties will be suspended or told to ‘sit at home’. He specifically criticised staff and drivers in departments like Agriculture and Panchayats for avoiding field work and neglecting the public.

However, ‘shirking from work’ and ‘not wanting to work’ are fundamentally different concepts.  ‘Shirking from work’ is a behavioural issue. It involves the conscious decision to put in less effort than expected while on the clock. It is about actively avoiding specific tasks, avoiding responsibility, or withholding effort while maintaining the appearance of working.

‘Not wanting to work’, conversely, is a motivational, psychological, or existential state. It represents a deeper disengagement. It stems from a lack of purpose. Someone in this state doesn’t just want to avoid a specific task; they question the fundamental necessity or meaning of the work itself.

While the Goan ethos of relaxed contentment is highly debated with elders championing it as a healthy work-life balance, many locals however argue that this mindset has made the younger generation complacent.

Many of the youngsters in my village continue with their indolent lifestyles. It is incredibly frustrating to watch young people, especially males, losing their momentum and missing out on their potential.

It is believed that the intersection of village football and the tavern culture is deeply woven into the fabric of Goan society. However, this vibrant tradition has increasingly come under scrutiny as a perceived haven for unemployment.

Of course, you cannot force someone to work if they are completely unwilling. Moreover, sitting idle at home is a reason for someone to develop languidness. Prolonged inactivity infuses a sense of lethargy.

In this regard, the urgency shown by migrant labourers employed in some of the industrial estates in the state to substantiate their income is indeed remarkable. Migrant workers often work multiple overlapping shifts to maximize their earnings.

Although Section 60 of the Factories Act of 1948 explicitly prohibits factory workers from working in more than one factory on a single calendar day, it is evidently a rampant practice.

If local youth wasting their time is to be construed as an unemployment phenomenon, yes, Goa is definitely in the throes of a high joblessness.

Local youth in Goa are often perceived as unfazed by high official unemployment statistics because they choose to wait for high-quality positions or rely on alternative revenue systems, rather than accepting low-paying manual labour.

Goans increasingly shun blue-collar jobs in sectors like manufacturing, construction, and hospitality. This reluctance is driven by a preference for government jobs with better pensions, societal stigma attached to manual labour, and the availability of higher-paying opportunities through international migration.

It is not about Goa experiencing a major demographic and economic shift; or about a significant influx of migrants and affluent lifestyle settlers filling the gaps in local labour and business ownership!

While individuals prioritising an unemployed lifestyle may find joy in joblessness, the collective withdrawal from the workforce reduces Goa’s overall economic competitiveness and independence. This is a unique socio-economic paradox in Goa!

To work, or not to, is indeed a deep existential dilemma.

Pachu Menon is a senior columnist and author of seven books. Besides touching on topics of national interest, he writes incisively on Goan politics, tourism, and social change.