Group Work on Position of the ICFTU-APRO on the Points for Discussions of the Conference

Group Work onGroup Work onPosition of the ICFTU-Position of the ICFTU-

APROAPROon the Points for on the Points for

DiscussionsDiscussionsof the Conferenceof the Conference

1. What are the major disadvantages faced by young people in the labour market? What are the consequences of their lack of access to decent work?

DisadvantagesDisadvantages• Higher unemploymentHigher unemployment• Casual & precarious workCasual & precarious work• Work in informal economyWork in informal economy• Job insecurityJob insecurity• Social insecuritySocial insecurity• No / less financial assistanceNo / less financial assistance• Lower wages / longer working Lower wages / longer working

hourshours• Poor health and safety Poor health and safety

conditionsconditions

UnemploymentUnemployment Lack of experience, skills and knowledgeLack of experience, skills and knowledge

Lack of vocational trainingLack of vocational training Lack of formal educationLack of formal education

Lack of compulsory primary/ secondary educationLack of compulsory primary/ secondary education Job insecurity (informal economy)Job insecurity (informal economy)

Lack of formal employmentLack of formal employment Due to technological advancementDue to technological advancement Mobility of enterprises (off-shoring, outsourcing)Mobility of enterprises (off-shoring, outsourcing) Mergers / acquisitionMergers / acquisition Privatization (much lesser public service)Privatization (much lesser public service)

Increase of informal employmentIncrease of informal employment Increasing international / domestic competitionIncreasing international / domestic competition

Mismatch between supply and demandMismatch between supply and demand Economy / business is changing much faster (changing Economy / business is changing much faster (changing

demands of skills / knowledge)demands of skills / knowledge) Increase of youth population (quantitative mismatch)Increase of youth population (quantitative mismatch) Slow response of national education / training systems to Slow response of national education / training systems to

the changing needs of the marketthe changing needs of the market Lack of proper job placement schemes/assistancesLack of proper job placement schemes/assistances

Lack of financial assistanceLack of financial assistance

Entrepreneurship / Training / education / retraining

Lack of public funds / public schemes (domestic / international)

Poverty (lack of family resource)

Lack of private funds / scholarships (enterprises)

Working ConditionsWorking Conditions

Low skills / experience Informal economy Lack of legal protection and

enforcement of laws Lack of public awareness on the legal

/ workers’ rights Lower wages: minimum wages are

in fact maximum wages for youth (not attractive for young workers)

Social InsecuritySocial Insecurity

Lack of social protection schemesLack of social protection schemes Lack of unemployment insurance Lack of unemployment insurance Lack of compulsory saving schemesLack of compulsory saving schemes Lack of medical insurance schemesLack of medical insurance schemes Non-availability of social securities to Non-availability of social securities to

workers in the informal economy workers in the informal economy (exclusion of part timers, contract workers, (exclusion of part timers, contract workers, etc.)etc.)

Discrimination and lack of special social Discrimination and lack of special social assistance/support schemes for drug assistance/support schemes for drug addicts and mentally disordered, HIV/AIDS addicts and mentally disordered, HIV/AIDS holders, disabled, NEET, juvenile holders, disabled, NEET, juvenile delinquentsdelinquents

ConsequencesConsequences

ConsequencesConsequences

1.1. On the Youth themselvesOn the Youth themselves Poverty (long-term, structural)Poverty (long-term, structural) Health (physically/mentally/psychologically)Health (physically/mentally/psychologically) Crime / Drug / ProstitutionCrime / Drug / Prostitution Child Labour (themselves and their Child Labour (themselves and their

children)children) No career / family planningNo career / family planning Loss of hope / Fall into NEET / StagnationLoss of hope / Fall into NEET / Stagnation SuicideSuicide

1. What are the major disadvantages faced by young people in the labour market? What are the consequences of their lack of access to decent work?

Consequences (1)Consequences (1)

2.2. On GovernmentOn Government1.1. Political insecurity / instabilityPolitical insecurity / instability

Anti-government movementAnti-government movement Less participation in politics (less turn-out)Less participation in politics (less turn-out) Loss of next-generation leadershipLoss of next-generation leadership

2.2. Social insecurity / instabilitySocial insecurity / instability Increase in crime / drug addicts / Increase in crime / drug addicts /

prostitution / traffickingprostitution / trafficking Increase of terrorismIncrease of terrorism Break-up of family ties (divorce) / cultural Break-up of family ties (divorce) / cultural

ties / moral valuesties / moral values Loss of National identity Loss of National identity


2.2. On GovernmentOn Government1.1. Economic insecurity / instabilityEconomic insecurity / instability

Lesser investment (domestic / international)Lesser investment (domestic / international) Lesser revenues (tax) (social security Lesser revenues (tax) (social security

schemes)schemes) Increase in the social costs (e.g. police, jail, Increase in the social costs (e.g. police, jail,

drug fighting programmes, courts/legal, drug fighting programmes, courts/legal, health/AIDS, etc.)health/AIDS, etc.)

Loss of human resources / talentsLoss of human resources / talents


3.3. On EmployersOn Employers Less demands for their products (lesser Less demands for their products (lesser

purchasing power among the youth)purchasing power among the youth) Loss of potential profits / limited growth Loss of potential profits / limited growth

opportunityopportunity Less productive, quality workers in the Less productive, quality workers in the

future (after 5, 10 years)future (after 5, 10 years) Economic insecurity of enterprises (due Economic insecurity of enterprises (due

to national, social insecurity)to national, social insecurity) Loss of corporate reputation / lack of Loss of corporate reputation / lack of

social responsibilitysocial responsibility

Consequences (4)Consequences (4)4.4. On Workers’ OrganizationsOn Workers’ Organizations

Both nationally and internationally…Both nationally and internationally… Loss of membershipLoss of membership Loss of potential / future leadershipLoss of potential / future leadership Loss of income (financial instability)Loss of income (financial instability) Loss of political, social and bargaining Loss of political, social and bargaining

power /influencepower /influence Being obsolete (loss of social Being obsolete (loss of social

significance)significance) Death of unionismDeath of unionism

2. What are the components of the package of policies and programmes that encourage decent work for young people?

1) Education1) Free, compulsory primary and secondary education (pre-

condition: there must be sufficient number of schools)2) Maximum students-teachers ratio (30:1)3) Financial assistance programmes (e.g. scholarship, etc.) for

tertiary education – both public and private, both domestic and international

4) Inclusion of decent work agenda in the curriculum, with a focus on the workers’ rights and labour laws

5) Systematic, regular reviews/revisions of the curriculum of the primary/secondary/tertiary education, by a tripartite body, to make dynamic, constant adjustment to the educational systems in response to the changes in the labour market

6) Investment in the infrastructures for education7) Constant skill development programmes for teachers8) Educational programmes for parents, teachers and

communities (to increase engagement of parents in the development of their young children)

9) Fiscal policy: More spending in / allocation to education


1) Education

10)Cancelling / supporting / rehabilitation programmes for dropouts, school leavers / juvenile delinquents

11)Facilitation of joint programmes and coordination between tertiary educational institutions and lower education institutions (to help students make smooth transition to higher education)

12)Sufficient tertiary educational opportunities (e.g. In some countries, universities do not exist) / Sufficient number of universities and other tertiary institutions (which also contribute to the national development)

13)National, international recognition of certificate/degree


2) Training

• Vocational and self-employment training programmes for the skills and knowledge:

• On demand in the markets

• On potentially on demand in future

• Of their own choosing/interests

• Training on management and leadership skills

• Tripartite mechanisms to review/monitor/check

• the skill demands (shortage and trends) in the labour markets and reflect them in the training programmes

• The quality of training programmes provided

• National, international recognition of certificate/degree/ licence / techniques


3) Employment Creation

• Fiscal policies for:

• Employment-intensive foreign and domestic investment

• Entrepreneurship

• Financial support, tax incentives, information for starting business

• Promotion of family business

• Public and private loan programmes for small-scale, family businesses

• Investments in agriculture sectors to create employment

• Studies/research on the international demands and supply of agricultural products

• Tie-up with the discussion at the WTO to allow more exports for developing countries

3) Employment Creation

• Public direct investment to create jobs

• Public indirect investment to create environment for job creations by private sectors

• Subsidies to private enterprises

• Private investment

• Corporate social responsibility (CSR) – creation of decent, productive, quality jobs as part of their social responsibilities

• Tripartite mechanism to analyse and decide the industries/ sectors/jobs for public and private investments for job creation

4) Unemployment Prevention

• Socially responsible corporate restructuring


5) Promotion of Entrepreneurship

1) Supporting/safe guarding programmes for those who failed in business / risk management

2) Monitoring of the actual impact of the entrepreneurship programmes on labour markets (measurement of how much new, decent, productive, quality employment are actually created)

6) Social Protection (universal social security schemes)

1) National policies on social safety nets which should include:

1) Unemployment insurance schemesnemployment insurance schemes

2)2) Compulsory saving schemesCompulsory saving schemes

3)3) Medical insurance schemesMedical insurance schemes

4)4) Programmes for rehabilitation/social integration Programmes for rehabilitation/social integration



7) Wage policy

1) Minimum wage is necessary, but must be implemented carefully (it often produces negative impact on youth):--- A national tripartite mechanism to decide and dynamically adjust minimum wage levels for each industry (economic sector) and region (city) must be set up.

2) Equality – Ratification and full implementation of C.100: Equal pay for the work of equal values

8) Representation

1) Setting up of national tripartite youth committee on youth employment, members of which should be given a formal position in the national committees on wages, employment and other social/economic issues. This committee will also review and monitor the implementation of the national policies on youth employment.

3. What are the respective roles of governments, employers' and workers' organizations in promoting pathways to decent work for young women and men?

1. Role of Government

1. Creation of new legislation (or revisions of existing legislation) on youth employment

2. Effective implementation of the policies identified above (under the question No. 2)

3. Taking into account social factors in discussions on free trade agreements (WTO, FTA/RTA, etc)

1) Respect to national laws and practices and international labour standards

2) Protection and promotion of local employment

3) Prevention of social (employment) and economic (wages) damages to the workers in affected industries/sectors

4. Inclusion of decent work in the national policies

5. Setting up of national formal institution on promotion and implementation of CSR (create proper arrangement for CSR)

6. Active and responsible participation in tripartite meetings, and respect and due implementation of their decisions


2. Role of Employers1. To provide safe and healthy work environment, including decent

housing, medical, other facilities2. To provide training, retraining, skill upgrading programme for

their employees at free or minimum charges3. Due respect of local laws and practices, and of internationally

agreed legal standards (in particular core labour standards)4. Constant revisions of wage levels, terms and conditions of

contract, based on negotiations with unions5. To set up a proper, transparent, open mechanism for promotion

and appraisal, reflecting the performance of individual workers and productivity increase

6. No discrimination on recruitment, in particular on the basis of age and sex

7. To respect workers’ organizations, and negotiations with them in good faith

8. Respect and commitment to the national initiatives on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), and involvement of unions in their CSR decisions, implementation and monitoring mechanism

9. Active and responsible participation in tripartite meetings, and respect and due implementation of their decisions


2. Role of workers’ organizations1. Promotion and protection of workers’ rights

1. Provide information to workers about human and workers’ rights

2. To promote and ensure the representation of youth members in all the decision makings, programmes and activities of trade unions

3. To provide education and training programmes for young workers, in particular those who are:1. Unemployed2. In the informal economy or under atypical forms of

employment4. Check and monitor the behaviours of employers in terms of their

respect to the workers’ rights, youth employment promotion, and decent work

5. Organize the unorganized1. Unions should allocate more resources for organizing

activities2. Unions should set up internal structure for organizing

activities6. Actively promote decent work by setting up community-based

activities and facilities (e.g. cooperatives)7. Engage in regular dialogue with the Government and employers

on the issues concerning young workers8. Contribute to, and engage themselves in, formal education at

schools to promote decent work, trade unionism, workers’ rights, etc.


3. Role of workers’ organizations1. Promotion and protection of workers’ rights

1. Provide information to workers about human and workers’ rights

2. To promote and ensure the representation of youth members in all the decision makings, programmes and activities of trade unions

3. To provide education and training programmes for young workers, in particular those who are:1. Unemployed2. In the informal economy or under atypical forms of

employment4. Check and monitor the behaviours of employers in terms

of their respect to the workers’ rights, youth employment promotion, and decent work

5. Organize the unorganized1. Unions should allocate more resources for organizing

activities2. Unions should set up internal structure for organizing

activities


3. Role of workers’ organizations6. Actively promote decent work by setting up community-

based activities and facilities (e.g. cooperatives)7. Engage in regular dialogue with the Government and

employers on the issues concerning young workers8. Contribute to, and engage themselves in, formal

education at schools to promote decent work, trade unionism, workers’ rights, etc.

9. Set up a proper training scheme for young activists/members of their unions so that they have sufficient skills and knowledge on youth employment agenda

10.Active and responsible participation in tripartite meetings, and monitor proper implementation of their decisions

4. What is required to ensure that International Labour Standards address youth employment?

I. Effective implementation of existing ILS on youth employment

1. Promote ratification of the existing ILSs on youth employment

2. Reflect the provisions of the ILSs in national legislations

3. Monitor/supervise implementation of the national legislations

• Promote workers’ participation in the supervisory mechanism of the ILS

4. Training and education on ILSs

5. Publicity through TVs, Radio, Newspapers, Films, Cartoons, Comic books, Internet (websites, Net-radio, Net-TVs, Net Advertisement), e-mail (mailing list), SMS (mobile phone), Street Drama, Posters and leaflets and Post Cards, etc. on:

a) ILS (awareness raising, educational, sensitization)

b) Bad practices on ILS (serious violations)

6. Inclusion of ILS issues in the formal education programmes

4. What is required to ensure that International Labour Standards address youth employment?

II. Discussion on, and adoption of new ILSs on youth employment

1. Convention and/or Recommendation on Youth Employment

• Main provisions:

• Equality (age, gender, and other issues)

• Job security

• Training / retraining (on skills required by the markets)

• Proper wages and working conditions

2. Convention and Recommendation on Contract Labour

• Main provisions:

1. Social protection

2. Job security

3. Condition of work (incl. wages, OSH)

4. Availability of training / retraining

5. What should be the priorities for the ILO's policy, research, advocacy and technical assistance with regard to promoting decent and productive work for youth?

1. Provide more training opportunities for the tripartite constituencies on all the matters related to youth employment

2. Make more funds available for national programmes proposed through national tripartite initiatives on decent work for youth

3. Actively publicize, to reach young workers, through TVs, Radio, Newspapers, Films, Cartoons, Comic books, Internet (websites, Net-radio, Net-TVs, Net Advertisement), e-mail (mailing list), SMS (mobile phone), Street Drama, Posters and leaflets and Post Cards, etc. on:

• ILS (awareness raising, educational, sensitization)

• Bad practices on ILS (serious violations)

• Decent work (what is indecent work?)

4. Research on the real impact of different labour market policies and programmes in terms of the quality and quantity of jobs created

5. Assist national tripartite constituencies to build effective youth employment policies and programmes based on the results of the research and studies

6. Develop an international guideline on youth employment, based on tripartite discussions and the international labour standards

Documents

Group Work on Position of the ICFTU-APRO on the Points for Discussions of the Conference