DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA Presented by Georgia MENSAH, Acting Youth Coordinator ITUC-Africa

INTRODUCTION Working keeps us away from boredom, vices and needs. Every unemployed person finds his or her life threatened by insufficient resources for his survival. Poverty alleviation helps the youth, women and men to have access to a secure employment. The search for a decent job is a right for all citizens who have attained the working age. DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

A productive job is one that meets the basic needs of individuals, not only in terms of income but also in terms of security for themselves and their families. It is a job which is free from discrimination and which ensures equal treatment for women and men. But in reality it is rather characterized by growing insecurity, inequality and exclusion. In many developing countries, especially in Africa, unemployment, underemployment and informal work are increasingly becoming the lot of young workers. DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

Definition and elements of decent work Decent work is the possibility for each woman and each man to have access to gainful employment in conditions that guarantee freedom, fairness, security and respect DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

Elements of decent work The possibility of doing a well-paid, productive job; Job security and social protection for workers and their families; Better opportunities for personal development and social integration; Freedom to express one’s worries, to get organized and to participate in decisions that affect their lives; Equal opportunities and treatment for all women and men; DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

THE SITUATION IN AFRICA DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

The main features of the job market in Africa Active population: over 368 men and women, representing 11.9% of total labour force worldwide Predominance of agriculture and non-agricultural rural activities About 70% of the African population live in rural areas (where agriculture is the main source of income for 90% of the population) A sizeable proportion of the population is found in the informal economic sector of Africa, both in rural and urban areas About three quarters of urban economic activities in Africa are informal More than one rural and one urban worker out of ten work in the informal economic sector. DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

THE YOUTH AND THE AFRICAN LABOUR MARKET Over 200 million aged between 15 and 35 Africa has the youngest population in the world and is expected to double by 2045 The educational level of the youth is improving Many jobs have been created, but this remains insufficient 60% of unemployed Africans are young people and their unemployment rate is twice as high as that of adults. DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

The main issue is the low demand for young workers. Lack of qualification, the absence of information on the job market, the attitude of employers and employment regulations Young people consider lack of employment as the most nagging problem DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

THE INVOLVEMENT OF TRADE UNIONS Trade unions are powerful organizations that fight for equality and social justice and against exclusion They are capable of influencing educational and training policies as well as quality job creation for the youth unions themselves need to adopt new strategies and practices to recruit young workers DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

To prepare the future and overcome obstacles faced by unions, it is necessary to: Commit to building collective agreement negotiation capacities Analyse information on job markets Better understand international labour standards, as well as national labour laws Implement the procedures for the prevention and settlement of disputes DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

Use socio-economic data to improve on the required collective bargaining skills Encourage policies geared towards universal education Promote the creation of more and better jobs for the youth Fight HIV/Aids as well as perverted behaviours affecting the youth Organize the youth by laying special emphasis on young women and men in the informal economy. DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

CONCLUSION The time has come to switch the agenda of African countries to inclusive growth strategies, proven to be capable of creating sustainable jobs, with the primary objective of responding to the specific needs of the youth. We need to get out of the crisis with a different economy. This is obvious for financial markets which now have to work for the real economy instead of speculating DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA

Thank You DECENT WORK – A COMMON GOAL FOR THE YOUTH AND TRADE UNIONS IN AFRICA