Trade Union Training on Youth Employment for Leaders of Youth Committees in Asia and the Pacific region Bangkok May 13, 2004 Sara Spant Associate Expert on Employment Promotion ILO Subregional Office for East Asia

Policies and Strategies for Youth Employment EmploymentCreation

Employment Creation How do we create Employment?

General actions for youth employment creation: Employment creation for young people depends on macroeconomic policies. A macroeconomic framework using fiscal and monetary policies to stimulate growth and employment intensive investments is essential.

General actions for employment creation: Policy makers need to focus on reducing vulnerabilities among special groups - including young women and young men - to external shocks. Active labour market policies and effective social protection can cushion the impact of economic adjustment. Help young people make transition from informal to formal economy

Creating Employment for Young People: Suggested Steps Encourage governments to work more closely with the social partners and civil society; Devise measures to combat gender inequality – governments, employers, unions and non- governmental organisations can all contribute; Promote youth cooperatives among vulnerable and disadvantaged youth;

Creating Employment for Young People: Suggested Steps Request assistance from workers’ organizations in organising participants, providing facilitators, monitoring and evaluating programmes for youth employment. Ensure youth participation in meetings and debates to improve their chances of specifying their own needs and requirements. Encourage employers’ and workers’ organizations to identify growth sectors of the economy and provide assistance and advice to vocational training agencies.

Exploit new opportunities for employment of young people in expanding sectors by: Working in collaboration with youth groups, community-based organizations, trade unions and employers to develop employment opportunities and work-based training as an alternative to social assistance and to provide youth skill-enhancement and training; Encouraging youth to develop ideas and implement projects in social entrepreneurship, combining business skills with socially responsible objectives.

Exploit new opportunities for employment of young people in expanding sectors by: Recognizing that human services such as education, health and personal care, which are essential for the development of equitable societies, are among the most labour-intensive forms of employment and offer opportunities for young people. Using labour-intensive methods for infrastructure investments and environmental restoration works, and training young people as small-scale private contractors to execute such works. Facilitating access of youth to sectors such as environmental conservation, tourism, entertainment and mass media, and other services areas that might be particularly appealing to young people by training and public/private partnerships.