Interactive Dialogue on Youth Initiatives
Statement by Mr Charles Dan, Special Representative of the ILO on Youth and Social Inclusion
The current economic crisis has hit young people hard.
Youth unemployment rates are soaring in developed economies. In developing countries, the informal economy is too often the only solution for young people.
On average, youth unemployment remains at three times that of adult unemployment worldwide. Frustrations over lack of decent work opportunities are among the reasons for youth protests.
Youth employment is a declared priority in many countries. But it is seldom translated into concrete national policies. One example: only 35 countries have formally adopted national youth employment action plans.
In June 2012, the International Labour Conference launched a “Call for Action” articulated around macro-economic policies, education, training and skills, labour market policies, entrepreneurship and self employment, and rights for young people.
To promote decent job opportunities, we need to focus our efforts around what I would call a “7 Cs Youth Employment Policy”, in line with the ILO Call for Action.
The ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, has decided to make youth employment an Area of Critical Importance (ACI) in the work of the Organization.
It is clear that reversing the global youth unemployment trends calls for a different policy scenario in which employment, and youth employment creation in particular, are among the principal goals of macroeconomic frameworks and a priority for fiscal policy. New patterns of growth are needed, including industrial and sectoral strategies that encourage economic diversification and the creation of good quality job opportunities, as well as a financial sector that serves its true purpose of investing in the real economy.
With the intolerable dimension that the youth employment has acquired, it may be time to revisit, strengthen and provide a new impetus for action at all levels, including through national, regional and global coalitions for youth employment.
Nobody can do it alone. To push the youth agenda forward we should:
Youth unemployment rates are soaring in developed economies. In developing countries, the informal economy is too often the only solution for young people.
On average, youth unemployment remains at three times that of adult unemployment worldwide. Frustrations over lack of decent work opportunities are among the reasons for youth protests.
Youth employment is a declared priority in many countries. But it is seldom translated into concrete national policies. One example: only 35 countries have formally adopted national youth employment action plans.
In June 2012, the International Labour Conference launched a “Call for Action” articulated around macro-economic policies, education, training and skills, labour market policies, entrepreneurship and self employment, and rights for young people.
To promote decent job opportunities, we need to focus our efforts around what I would call a “7 Cs Youth Employment Policy”, in line with the ILO Call for Action.
- The first C is the Concept: each country should have a common vision for youth employment grounded on inclusive macro-economic policies, with the participation of the youth itself.
- The second is Coordination: success requires strong coordination among all ministries, public agencies involved, the private sector, public-private partnerships and trade unions.
- The third is Credit: adequate budgets must be allocated to active labour market policies for youth, and appropriate access to credits for self-employment and youth entrepreneurship must be ensured.
- The fourth is Competences: young people must be equipped with the skills needed to improve their employability and cope with technological changes and greener economies.
- The fifth is Care: youth employment policies should promote rights at work and social protection, including for young migrant workers. Particular attention should be paid to gender
- The sixth is Communication: much more can be done on social dialogue with respect to youth employment policies, in ensuring effective youth participation and representation in the policy decisions, and in communicating on policies to confront the youth employment crisis.
- The seventh is Control: youth employment programmes should be systematically monitored and evaluated in order to identify successes and failures, better allocate funds and upscale interventions.
The ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder, has decided to make youth employment an Area of Critical Importance (ACI) in the work of the Organization.
It is clear that reversing the global youth unemployment trends calls for a different policy scenario in which employment, and youth employment creation in particular, are among the principal goals of macroeconomic frameworks and a priority for fiscal policy. New patterns of growth are needed, including industrial and sectoral strategies that encourage economic diversification and the creation of good quality job opportunities, as well as a financial sector that serves its true purpose of investing in the real economy.
With the intolerable dimension that the youth employment has acquired, it may be time to revisit, strengthen and provide a new impetus for action at all levels, including through national, regional and global coalitions for youth employment.
Nobody can do it alone. To push the youth agenda forward we should:
- foster national mobilization (governments, employers’ organizations, trade unions)
- promote regional solidarity (including with regional integration bodies and regional development banks)
- develop global partnerships ( including through a UN Panel on Youth ) in order to create a youth employment alliance in order to help breaking the vicious circle that keeps too many millions of young women and men out of decent work
- propose youth employment as the theme of the IYD2014 given the magnitude of the decent work deficits for youth across the world.