South Asia Youth Forum Networking “Strengthen the union future and development next generation”

PSI believes that the organisational future of unions depends on organising young workers and unions must address the special interests and concerns of these workers. Young workers need to be given the opportunity to become involved in union work and be mobilised to support trade union rights issues. Unions must ensure that they have appropriate representation within union structures and negotiating teams.

Considering PSI changed its rules to give young workers representation position in the new composition of the PSI Executive Board and to reform the constitution to include affirmative action measures established at the sub-regional, regional and international level, PSI South Asia Sub-regional office facilitated and organised for the first NETWORKING FORUM ON YOUTH. The forum was held in Kathmandu, Nepal, in 5th January 2008. 20 young people from all five countries affiliated to PSI – Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - (11 female and 9 male) active participated to share their knowledge and experiences in a Youth Network Forum as part of PSI South Asia Quality Public Services Campaign. Sister Lakshmi, South Asia Sub-regional Secretary, said that the policy changed not just only put young people but how we have capable and responsible young people to represent themselves in the structures. To take into action and set up young workers networking among the affiliated unions in South Asia, this networking forum provided them to:

• develop a platform for young people in South Asia
• give opportunities to identify and discuss their problem
• understanding the commitment and the sustainability of the youth structures in the unions and their
• identify ideal structures for youth in the national, sub-regional, regional and global level from the sub-regional
• identify the areas of capacity building for the young people
  

The agenda were divided into five sessions that provide them the space to explore and sharing in the issues on: Asia Pacific Young Workers Network (PSI AP-YN) and the Asia Pacific Strategic on developing and organising their young members; Young people and globalization, and; Young people as leaders of trade union but why young people are not interested in joining unions: The key inputs for the youth network was to make aware PSI initiatives to integrate youth in the public sector trade union movement through Asia Pacific Youth Net from this year 2008. This would be affected by the participation of young people in the Regional and sub regional committees and also to the PSI global EB. Youth to youth, a youth web blog will be the communication tool to facilitate the network. Further the young people were given an idea about the globalization, the process, the impacts and challenges and the young people’s role in re shaping the globalization to the advantage of the young people. The role of young people in adopting the leadership responsibilities and their apprehension.

In the group work session, the participants divided into three and discussed the key questions on networking issues: (1) young people and the rights; (2) young people and gender issues, and; (3) Young people and governance issues. Fundamental Rights, gender and good governance are related issues for the young workers and relevant to trade union. They discussed on what capacity is required to implement the rights, how young workers capacity can be built on gender issues and promote gender equality. The issues related to good governance, they discussed on what are the issues on governance which can be taken by trade union and what are the capacity building areas for young workers in governance issues.

Herewith the result of the three interactive workshops as above mentioned:

In order to promote good governance, equality and rights for young people the young people recommended an integrated action plan which provides for:

· Developing a trade union culture of organizing the young people
· Provide opportunities for networking
· Intensive training and education
· Sharing of responsibilities in organizational matters
· Sustainable youth structures to manage youth activities
· Provisions in the constitutions
· Succession planning in the unions
· Raising social consciousness on quality public services sans corruption
· Promote quality trade union movement which is transparent, accountable to its members and the society
· Capacity building to deal with the challenges presented by the globalization on employment, health, environment and socio cultural aspects