Calls for G20 Labour Ministers to tackle youth unemployment

Young workers call on G20 Labour Ministers to tackle youth unemployment

Brussels, 14 May 2012 - Since the economic crisis began, the unemployment rise has hit young people particularly hard and threatens long-term growth potential. Breaking into the particularly damaging cycle of high and rising youth unemployment is necessary to "buy time" for young people until broader measures can be successful in kick-starting job growth in the global economy.

On 14th and 15th May, young trade unionists from all over the world are meeting in Guadalajara, Mexico, prior the G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting, to focus the G20's attention about the dramatic situation of young people looking for a job. A new report "The Social Crisis Behind the Economic Crisis - the Millions of Young People Unemployed", will be released at the ITUC Youth Committee meeting, focusing on the situation of young European workers and the answers from the trade union movement to the problems they face.

"Wage policies need to ensure that young people receive 'the rate for the job'. Minimum wages for young workers must not be lowered - this would only spark a race to the bottom," said Sharan Burrow, ITUC General Secretary. "The rights of young workers should not be compromised through weakening their protection at work."

Other issues that will be discussed over the two-day meeting include the forthcoming ILO International Labour Conference, the Rio+20 Summit, how to increase the representation of young people in trade union organisations and experiences with trade union renewal.

The Guadalajara event is the sixth meeting of the ITUC Youth Committee since the Confederation was founded in 2006. The Committee includes young men and women from each region: Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Americas and Europe.

To read the full report: http://www.ituc-csi.org/the-social-crisis-behind-the.html?lang=en

The ITUC represents 175 million workers in 153 countries and territories and has 308 national affiliates.
Website: http://www.ituc-csi.org and http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI

ENDS

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