Globalisation could create job opportunities for locals
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Ervina (right), a graduate, is not choosy in working as a saleslady

While some blame globalisation for exacerbating unemployment and poverty, others see it as a way of solving such problems.

A local graduate, Ervina Hj Mustapha, 24, said globalisation could generate employment opportunities for the unemployed in Brunei Darussalam by creating a viable market for foreign goods and services.

"It can cause heartbreak for workers of other countries when more-competitively priced goods produced overseas enter their market. They may find their jobs on the line.

"But since our manufacturing industry is still at its infancy, globalisation means foreign goods can enter Brunei Darussalam easily and create employment for young people like me," she said.

Ervina had just completed her degree in business administration at University Tun Abdul Razak (UNITAR) in Sarawak where she studied from 1998 until this year.

On returning to Brunei Darussalam, she decided to join her father's furniture establishment, Dave Gracia, as a trainee salesperson.

"As a result of globalisation and trade liberalisation, my father with his partner managed to import wood furniture from Indonesia especially Bali.

"Because of our small population, I believe it is better for us to import products from other nations until such time when we would have our own pool of skilled labour to manufacture such products here and sell them locally and overseas. However, because of the vision of some importers, young local graduates can find jobs as sales persons in this kind of establishment," she said.

She advised unemployed locals not to be shy and selective in searching for employment.

She added that at first she was embarrassed but then she thought she could go much further, perhaps to become a manager of the establishment.

"I would then think about expanding the firm. Now the company employs a few Indonesian workers for the purpose of assembling the imported products but one day we may open opportunity for them to teach the locals to assemble the products.

"Later on, maybe if there is demand we may even start up a furniture-making school so the locals can learn how to make such furniture locally," she said.

Ervina went to Berakas Secondary School attending form 1 to 3 before continuing her studies at Sayiddina Hassan Secondary School to complete her form 5.

She then went to a matriculation college in Kuching before pursuing a degree course in business administration.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin