High-level meeting on “Social Dialogue With and For Youth”

This high-level meeting for invited participants aims to trigger discussion and debate on the issue of social dialogue with and for youth.

A high-level meeting on "Social Dialogue With and For Youth" was co-organized by the EMPLOYMENT and GOVERNANCE departments at the International Labour Organization, in Geneva on 29-30th November 2022. It was a first-of-its kind event where the youth were at the front and centre of the discussion amidst the ILO’s  tripartite structure that underpins social dialogue. Embodying the spirit of ‘nothing about us without us’, the youth representatives from different parts of the world presented their perspectives and suggestions along with government representatives and social partners to forge pathways for youth-inclusive and youth-sensitive social dialogue that lead to better youth employment outcomes. Acknowledging the present reality and challenges, participants from over twenty countries, representing governments, employers, workers and the youth, shared knowledge and best practices, and also proposed concrete solutions towards supporting decent work for youth through social dialogue and policy coherence.

The high-level meeting commenced with a message from the ILO Director-General Gilbert F. Houngbo. The DG highlighted the key role social dialogue can play in building consensus and shaping effective labour market policies through the inclusion of young people.
The directors of the two departments also addressed the meeting by highlighting the challenging situation facing young people in the labour market. Concerns were raised about the long-term structural damages if the youth were excluded from policy processes and thereby, mentioned the pressing need for youth-inclusive and youth-sensitive social dialogue to avoid a lost generation.

Government representatives

Several ministers and government representatives from the ILO member states joined and shared their visions on ways to engage youth in social dialogue processes and address their concerns.

Jeannette Jara, Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, Chile
Ana Mendes Godinho, Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Portugal
Carla Bacigalupo Planás, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Paraguay
   
Moustafa Bayram, Minister of Labour, Lebanon
Kamal Hachoumy, Director of Human Resources, Budget and General Affairs, Ministry of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Jobs and Skills, Morocco
   
Panellists shared the best practices in different countries including:  
  • Portugal’s active social dialogue with and for youth to devise innovative initiatives that address youth needs, such as free kindergarten services for working mothers, financial support to companies that formally employ young people and an upskilling programme that brings together learning institutions, public employment services and the youth.
  • Paraguay’s experience in terms of shaping the National Employment Plan with a focus on youth, through tripartite consensus.
  • Senegal’s national youth council which promotes synergies in the context of exponential demographic growth, and a Presidential council for youth employment which promotes recruitment of youth in different sectors, and community projects and labour-intensive public projects that benefit youth.
  • Ghana’s recent establishment of a National Service Scheme which allows new graduates to gain their first job experience.
  • Colombia’s increased opportunities for greater participation of youth in policy making. As of now, half of the elected representatives in municipal councils are young participants.
  • Australia’s initiatives to improve youth participation in policy making, such as the Office for the youth, youth steering committees and youth advisory groups, and a youth affairs coalition.

Workers' and employers' representatives

Representatives from both the workers' side and employers side highlighted the issues facing the youth today, as well as the need to integrating youth in social dialogue to find solutions, and the risks if not doing so.

Roberto Suarez Santos, Secretary-General of International Organisation of Employers
Anna Fendley, Regulatory and State policy/Youth Committee, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)
Kingsley Agah, Executive Assistant to Director-General, Nigeria Employers' Consultative Association (NECA)
Madeline Northam, Regional Secretary, Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), Australia

Youth representatives

Rada Rofek, Member, United Nations Youth Advisory Panel, Cambodia
The youth were at the table. Embodying the spirit of ‘nothing about us without us’, youth representatives from different parts of the world presented their perspectives and suggestions along with government representatives and social partners to forge pathways for youth-inclusive social dialogue that lead to better youth employment outcomes. Not only did the youth get to put forward their voice in the meeting, but during a side event they formulated a list of expectations and suggestions for better integration of youth in social dialogue and better employment outcomes.