President Aquino Reaffirms Support to Youth Employment on International Youth Day

The International Youth Day celebration in the Philippines titled KA JAM or “Kabataan: Jobs and Alternatives to Migration” was held last 12 August 2011 at the SMX Covention Center in Pasay City. With President Benigno S. Aquino III as Keynote speaker, the event also marked the culmination of the United Nations’ International Year of the Youth. In his message, President Aquino reaffirmed the government’s important role and duty to equip the young people with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as well as provide the opportunities to achieve that success.

News | 12 August 2011

The International Youth Day celebration in the Philippines titled KA JAM: Kabataan (Youth) Jobs and Alternatives to Migration was held last 12 August 2011 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. With President Benigno S. Aquino III as Keynote speaker, the event also marked the culmination of the United Nations’ International Year of the Youth. In his message, President Aquino reaffirmed the government’s important role and duty to equip the young people with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as well as provide the opportunities to achieve that success. He added that his administration was aware of the challenges caused by the job mismatch that faced many young Filipinos and understood their concerns on whether the skills they learned in school will enable them to find well-paying jobs. Keynote address at the Kabataan (Youth) Jobs and Alternatives to Migration

Attended by more than 500 guests from different sectors, KA JAM: Kabataan (Youth) Jobs and Alternatives to Migration highlighted the concerns and issues that young Filipinos face today, particularly in the area of employment and migration. The increasing dropout rates in secondary education, skills mismatch between labour supply and demand, the lack of labour market information for career guidance and counselling, the lack of opportunities to pursue technical vocational courses and entrepreneurship as alternatives, the need to strengthen soft skills to increase employability, these are only but a few of the myriad challenges that face Filipino youth today.

Jacqui Badcock, United Nations Resident Coordinator, encouraged young people to do their part to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals and to be the generation that can end poverty. She recognized that more than a celebration, KA JAM is an opportunity to encourage young people of the Philippines to speak up and take action. She said that they can help address many challenges faced by the Government and its partners in delivering basic services to everyone and meeting the MDGs. Welcome message at the Kabataan (Youth) Jobs and Alternatives to Migration

On youth employment, Lawrence Jeff Johnson, Director of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Office for the Philippines explained that of the 18.2 million Filipinos, aged 15-24, there are 1.5 million unemployed youth striving to find employment opportunities after investing in their skills and education that may not be in demand at home or abroad. He further added that there are 2.3 million employed youth, often unable to invest in their education, who are into different forms of vulnerable employment. “Often characterized by inadequate earnings, poor work conditions, lack of social protection, these youth are often left with little choice but to accept or create whatever work they can find, just so they and their loved ones can survive another day”, he added. Message at the Kabataan (Youth) Jobs and Alternatives to Migration

In response, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) led by Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz presented strategies on youth employment and migration that would address the concerns of Filipino youth. The strategies followed three key themes: (1) Economic and Social Inclusion, (2) Rights and Social Protection and (3) Dialogue and Diversity. Of this, a seven-point strategy was developed to include the promotion of employment rich opportunities, realization of responsive education, training, and career coaching modalities, improvement of labour market information systems, strengthening of worker’s rights awareness and social protection initiatives, harnessing migration gains and minimize its risks, providing meaningful voice and representation and promotion of culture and heritage appreciation.

Distinguished guests included Ambassador Jorge Domecq from the Embassy of Spain, Director General Joel Villanueva - Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Leon Flores III - National Youth Commission, Jacqui Badcock - United Nations Resident Coordinator, Heads of the United Nations agencies in the Philippines, Ovais Sarmad - International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ugochi Daniels - United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and representing UNICEF, on behalf of Vanessa Tobin, was Mary Grace Agcaoili.

In closing his speech, President Aquino called upon the Filipino youth to contribute to this cause - to make the most of opportunities, to constantly strive for excellence, to go beyond themselves and to always raise the bar. He said “more importantly, the youth should harness the positive energy that is prevalent in the country again, and contribute to the country’s development by extending to others compassion and gratitude, and by always being responsible for the effects their actions on others.”

The event was organized by the Spanish funded MDG Fund Joint Programme on Alternatives to Migration: Decent Jobs for Filipino Youth in partnership with the Department of Labor and Employment and National Youth Commission, together with the UN Country Team agencies, ILO, IOM, UNICEF, and UNFPA. The joint programme is aligned with the country’s effort to achieve the Millennium Development Goal 1, Target 1 – B which aims to achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all, including women and young people.