The Qatar Career Fair was in the limelight recently, with ministries, organisations and the private sector offering jobs in various fields. Organisers of the fair say the primary goal of the event is not to provide employment, it is to provide jobseekers the opportunity to take a look at the labour market and the available jobs. It is to update jobseekers with the needs of the labour market so they can plan their future.
The fair, as the organisers put it, provides jobseekers training, educational and capacity-building opportunities. These objectives are of great importance.
It is true that employment is what everybody looks for. Qualifications, training and capacity-building are necessary for jobseekers to enter the job market when they are best qualified. By doing so, they would not get shocked when they start working after theoretical study or practical training.
I would like to focus on another issue here and it is related to training, development and learning – which are provided by the Career Fair. My cause is fostering a culture of taking responsibility and resigning when one fails to achieve goals; when one must quit lest one harm national interest.
In the West, the culture of apologising and resigning is so common that it is not a surprise if a minister leaves his post voluntarily when he fails to accomplish his mission. The minister could have failed to carry out the plans he had laid for his ministry or organisation. Of course, there is nothing wrong with this.
It is not necessary that everyone holding an office would be qualified to carry out his duties. A person who fails in one field may excel in another that matches his qualifications.
I think this culture should be instilled in the new generations, which will occupy major positions in different sectors in future. I do not want to hold the fair’s organisers alone responsible for spreading the culture of owning up responsibility and resigning.
All parties should cooperate in fostering the culture of apologising and resigning in the new generations. We do not wish to see future generations holding on to their posts at the nation’s expense.
I often cite the example of an incident that took place following the Asian Games in Doha in 2006. Taiwan’s sports minister resigned three days after the games, in which his country got dozens of medals. Why?
The minister had announced before the Doha games that his country would get 15 gold medals. But Taiwanese athletes disappointed the minister. The contingent won nine gold medals, 10 silver medals and 27 bronze.
The minister resigned despite these achievements. Since he had pledged to get 15 gold medals, he considered anything less a failure. Therefore, he resigned three days after the games.
I am giving this example from the Asian continent to show that there is nothing wrong in resigning due to failure. The Taiwanese athletes were not complete failures and just fell short by six gold medals. Some of the athletes may have encountered unfortunate circumstances. But the minister did not forget his pledge or make any excuses to keep his post. He courageously quit.
Failure to do something does not mean failure in everything. On the contrary, one may be creative and distinguished in another field. Perhaps the current post does not match one’s qualifications. Therefore, the minister courageously left the post for others who could excel where he had failed.
We are in need of the culture of acknowledging failure and carelessness. Such a culture would never tarnish one’s reputation. On the contrary, it would make a man more respectable.
Why does not a man in a certain post resign when he fails to accomplish his mission?
Perhaps he believes he has made no mistake or his post is private, as in the case of a family-owned company. In the latter case, the public has no right to ask.
I would like to advocate the culture of taking responsibility and resigning. Our sons and daughters should discuss and debate it at home, in school and at work so that they have the courage to admit their mistakes and apologise for them.
The Career Fair should organise workshops that instil a new culture and help young people join the labour market.
We want this new culture to change the behaviour of our youth, who can be easily taught at a young age. This generation will one day occupy all the high posts and will make decisions in the future. Therefore, they should acquire this culture.
It is not shameful to resign if anyone fails to fulfil his promise or translate his words into deeds.
Safeguarding public assets is my responsibility and yours as well as the responsibility of everyone.
No one should under any circumstance give up this responsibility or allow anyone to relieve him of it as the law, Shariah and customs do not allow this.
All watchdogs should work hard to safeguard public assets and tighten controls over national projects. As a number of major projects — which will be a qualitative leap for Qatar — are in the pipeline, accountability and controls are required to prevent any misuse of public assets.
