PSI AP Young Members

Move to New Website

2008-03-27T11:15:00.002+08:00

moved to new website for better quality access: http://www.psiapyouthnetwork.org/

CIU on Mobilisation of World Social Forum in Manila

2008-01-29T19:55:00.000+08:00

CIU, PSI affilkiated union in Philippines, joined for the mobilization last January 26 culminating activities of World Social Forum simultaneous with celebrations on other parts of the world.World Social Forum (WSF) is the answer to the World Economic Forum of rich countries, top corporations, capitalist and rich individuals who meets every year at Davos, Switzerland to tackle world issues such as climate change and economy among others.

The WSF was formed to counter this gathering by way of projecting the true nature of the economy in the developing copuntries such as the Phils. including issues on privatization, contractualization, urban poor, public services, human rights and all the rest that reflects the gloomy and real situation of our country.

The activities from the 23rd of this month includes forum, mobilization at the skyway protesting contractualization and the march from Plaza Miranda to Mendiola which was halted by the police at the corner of Morayta and C.M. Recto The same was participated in by the APL, FDC, PM, BMP and other progressive organizations which were mainly from the KONTRA coalition (anti privatization, anti contractualization). News came out of tabloids and broadsheets.

For more info, please contact Mike Maga (General Secretary of CIU): miguelmagajr@yahoo.com

ILO projects global economic turbulence could generate five million more unemployed in 2008

2008-01-25T11:32:00.000+08:00

ILO projects global economic turbulence could generate five million more unemployed in 2008

Economic turbulence largely due to credit market turmoil and rising oil prices could spur an increase in global unemployment by an estimated 5 million persons in 2008, according to the ILO's annual Global Employment Trends report (GET). ILO Director-General Juan Somavia, speaking on the eve of the World Economic Forum in Davos, called this year’s global jobs picture "one of contrasts and uncertainty".

In South East Asia and Pacific over the period 1997 to 2007, the unemployment rate for young people increased by 6.3 percentage points, the highest increase in the world. The situation in 2007 was almost as bad for young men as for young women (page 27). In East Asia increased total employment in 2007 by 7.5 million (0.9 per cent more compared the previous year). East Asia is the lowest youth unemployment in the world due to decreasin trend.

Check the complete report at (PDF, English): Global Employment Trends - 2008

United Nations World Youth Report 2007

2008-01-23T19:56:00.000+08:00

The World Youth Report 2007 examines the challenges and opportunities existing for the roughly 1.2 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in the world. Distinct from the 2003 and 2005 editions, it provides a regional overview summarizing the major youth development trends in the fifteen priority areas of the World Programme of Action for Youth. The report explores major issues of concern to youth development, including employment, education, health, poverty and violence. At the same time, it highlights youth as a positive force for development and provides recommendations for supporting their essential contributions.

Introduction
Chapters: (PDF Versions)

Asian youth in the context of rapid globalization
Latin American youth in an era of socio-economic and political change
Overcoming the barriers of poverty: challenges for youth participation in sub-Saharan Africa
Labour force participation among youth in the Middle East and North Africa and the special challenges faced by young women
Tackling the poverty of opportunity in small island developing States
Labour market challenges and new vulnerabilities for youth in economies in transition
Opportunities for youth development in developed market economies: An unequal playing field
Ensuring youth development around the world: The way forward

1st Asia Pacific Youth Network (AP-YN) Meeting in Bali 8th April 2008

2008-01-22T18:23:00.000+08:00

The first AP Youth Network (AP-YN) meeting will be held in Denpasar, Bali on 8th April 2008 prior to the APREC Meeting. Coordinators from each sub-region will be participated in this meeting.

We need your input to set up platform of the meeting, please send to us your input for the meeting to indah.budiarti@world-psi.org

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

2008-01-11T14:39:00.000+08:00

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

Young Workers participated in the Asia Pacific Quality Public Services Workshop, Manila 12-14 December 2007

2007-12-16T14:51:00.001+08:00

73 delegates, 8 of them was young workers, from a range of sectors covering electricity, water, health, municipal, and public administration assembled in Manila city from December 12 to December 14, 2007 to develop an action plan for the QPS in the Asia Pacific Region. The delegates keenly listened to the background of QPS as the overarching campaign of PSI in its 100th year. In order to achieve QPS, global objectives and strategies devised and approved by the PSI Congress in September 2007. QPS workshop is organised in Manila in conjunction with the ongoing PSI advocacy work with the ADB for the recognition and greater role of public sector trade unions and labour issues. This dialogue session on 11 Dec.2007 assisted the ADB to gain a better understanding of the role of unions and the PSI gained a better understanding of the ADB accountability processes and projects in the PSI related sectors.

The QPS workshop for 3 days identified key issues and challenges in the Asia Pacific Region in the 4 essential sectors of PSI namely utilities and infrastructure, Health services, Municipal and related services, Public Administration. A wide range of challenges and issues related to the 4 sub regions and commonly summarized are the deterioration of public services due to poor funding, lack of staff, working conditions, casualisation, contracting, young workers issues, gender issues and workers rights to organise.

Tan Sze Wei, AP Young Workers Representative, and other young delagates raised respective issues concerning young workers in the public services in their own countries and in general situation of young workers, and appeal to include young workers in the PSI Quality Public Services Campaign.

Unions and young workers

2007-12-07T14:29:00.000+08:00

I wanna to share with you web for young workers and the union, by HOLOLOG (click the title for more detail) the networked dialogues (aka "holologs") looks at the issue of unionisation through the eyes of young people working successfully in the field (as well as a few left-field gonks).....please enjoy and learnt from their experiences

Sharing from TWARO-ITGLWF: Youth and Trade Union

2007-12-05T14:27:00.000+08:00

At the 13th TWARO (the Asian and Pacific Regional Organisation of the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers’ Federation) Regional Conference held last year in Bangkok, a resolution to promote more active youth participation in TWARO was adopted unanimously. The resolution stressed the need to organize more young workers and train them up to take future leadership in our movement. Now, how do we approach young workers? To get a hint to this question, TWARO conducted a questionnaire on Trade Union Youth Activity among its affiliates.

Almost all the unions responded to the questionnaire pointed out the tough reality surrounding young workers in their respective country, and revealed the negative spiral they were caught into. Most young workers lacked training opportunities, so they were stuck in low-wage jobs and were offered only unstable employment. Their wages were so low that they have to work long hours to make a living, and this gave no time left for them to get involved in union activities. Their rights at the workplaces were easily denied, because they did not know their rights. They would not dream of the possibility they could change their situations through trade unions. The bottom line was that youth were not fully integrated into union activities. UI Zensen, a TWARO affiliate in Japan, is challenging this question.

The union has set up a new organization for its youth members five years ago to approach the younger generation in the union. The basic idea underlying the union’s efforts is to "Enjoy! Build up a circle of friends!" The union’s major challenge is to organize events that are fun and attractive enough to bring in as many youth members as possible. But the hardest part of it, according to UI Zensen, is that each event must end up gaining something more than just fun.

Further information, please email TWARO: twaro@st.rim.or.jp

Malaysia: Young Workers Networking Workshop

2007-12-03T14:52:00.000+08:00

23 young Malaysian unionist active participated in the workshop on Young Workers Networking. The workshop was held in Vistana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur from 30th November to 1st December 2007.

In this workshop, they identified the problem and challenges facing young workers in Malaysia in related with knowledge, Employement, Mass Media, Globalisation, Union and the Public (Customer).

They concluded the workshop and proposed the recommendation to their union, PSI Malaysia NCC and PSI

Encourage each union to provide young workers representative in the union structure and involve them in the union meeting and activities;
Encourage each union to provide education and training activities for young members (age 18-35 years) ;
Support and promote the implementation of 30% quota based on PSI new policy for young workers in all education and training program and to be implemented in each affiliated unions of PSI in Malaysia;
Encourage PSI Malaysia NCC to support and recognise young workers coordinators for Malaysia as elected during the PSI SEA Young Workers Networking on 30th November – 1 December 2007 at Vistana Hotel, Kuala Lumpur;
Support PSI to provide and organize young workers activities

Two coordinators has been elected to coordinate the network among the young members/unionists of PSI aafiliated unions in Malaysia, they will work closely to PSI Malaysia NCC: Sharul Hizam bin Mohamed and Ransium Umpok

Indonesia - Young Workers Workshop

2007-11-19T14:17:00.000+08:00

23 young members/leaders, 9 female and 14 male, from six affiliated unions in Indonesia active participated in two days youth workshop on Quality Public Services. The workshop organised by Southeast Asia Sub-region office from 16 to 18 November 2007. The workshop aimed to encourage young workers actively participates and engage in the trade union movement in Indonesia:

identified young workers problems and challenging and its impacts to workplace, union and in the society;

introduced and promoted PSI policy program and strategic objectives 2007-2012 specifically session (5) on gender equality, equity and diversity an its commitment of PSI for young workers through changed of its rules;
Shared and discussed with affiliated unions national leaders on organizing and recruitment of young workers in the union and how the union can be changed to attract them;

Proposed recommendation to the PSI Indonesia National Coordinating Committee a young workers coordinators and their union itself;

Appointed among themselves coordinator and co-coordinator to coordinate and organize of the communication of the Indonesia young workers network

Youth Coordinator: Setia Budiman and Co-cordinator: Hera Shinta Della

SP.PLN-Persero: Coordinator (Hera Shinta Della) and Co-coordinator: Nila Sofia
SP.PJB: Coordinator (Muhaimin) and Co-coordinator: Rona Siregar
SP.Angkasa Pura 1: Coordinator (W. Nofiyanto) and Co-coordinator (Anggresia Tampubolon)
SP. PDAM Jakarta: Coordinator (Setia Budiman) and Co-coordinator (Melva Siregar)
PP Indonesia Power: Coordinator (Amir Murtono)
FSP.FARKES/R: Coordinator (Melianti) and Co-coordinator (Mawardi)

List of Participants

What is youth?

2007-11-14T17:13:00.000+08:00

Youth is transitional phase from childhood to adulthood when young people, through a process of intense physiological, psychological, social and economical change, gradually come to be recognized – and recognize themselves – as adults. So it is more a stage in life than giving rise to the expression that you are “young as you feel,” which is especially popular among those who are well part their youth!

For research and policy it is useful to pin down the period of youth more precisely. Perspectives on the most relevant age range vary across discipline. In the health field youth is associated with the ages of physical maturation that begins with menarche for girls and more gradually for boys, typically between the ages of 10 and 16.
In the social sciences youth is defined by the acquisition of various adult statuses, marked by events such as menarche, leaving school, employment, marriage, and voting, with the recognition that becoming an adult is an extended, self-reinforcing process, often extending into the 20s.

Social psychologists argue that the subjective experience of feeling adult matters at least as much as the objective markers of adulthood, such as age or particular statuses. While much of this research is based in developed countries, it suggests that young people in their late teen and early 20s often see themselves as not-yet-adult. Some argue that this prolonged period of semi-autonomy can be viewed as a new life stage in which young people experiment with adult roles but do not fully commit to them. Laws in most countries designate ages when people can be treated as adults and are thus no longer offered the protections of childhood. One can thus change from being a child to being an adult overnight. But this varies by context or sector. The ages at which school attendance is no longer compulsory and employment is legally permitted typically ranges between 11 and 16 years.

Legal responsibility for crime can begin early, but individuals are typically not charged as adult until around 16. Politically participation through voting is postponed, typically to around 18 or later. Likewise, service in the military, whether compulsory or voluntary, is often restricted until age 18. The purchase of cigarettes, in countries where there are restrictions on sales to minors, is allowed from around 15 to 18. Consumption of alcohol, where it is legally prohibited for minors, is allowed from the ages of 18 to 21 though in some cases it is prohibited until the age of 25.

National policies on youth typically establish an age range for beneficiaries. The lower bound ranges from around 12 years (Jordan) to around 18 years (Bangladesh). In some cases it is not strictly defined, as in Hungary, where the youth secretariat deals with both 0-14 and 15-26 year olds. The upper bound ranges from around 24 (Jamaica) to even 35 or 40 (Kenya, Pakistan). The UN’s World Program of Action for Youth defines youth as people aged 15-24, while WHO and UNICEF use the term adolescent for those 10-19, youth for those 15-24, and young people for those 10-24 year olds.

Who are young workers? The definitions of youth vary according to culture, history and social context. Among PSI affiliates, young workers range from 18 to 35 years. Although young people are not one homogenous group, they do share common workplace concerns. Young workers:

Experience much higher rates of unemployment than the rest of the population (in 2003 the worldwide youth to adult unemployment ratio was 3:5)

Suffer underemployment, including involuntary part-time or temporary jobs, which are frequently not covered by collective bargaining agreements.

In many countries begin their professional life in the informal economy and experience low rates of unionism.

Are discriminated against in terms of wages and job progression. Lack knowledge about rights and health and safety issues.

Are often the ‘first fired and last hired’ and lack the specific training or seniority which buffers older workers against changes in the economy. Constitute a major part of the migrant worker population, going abroad to find a better future.

Source:

· Source: the World Bank “World Development Report 2007”
· PSI Young Workers Brochure

Philippines: Workshop on Organising, Recruitment and Retention of young workers in trade union

2007-11-06T11:36:00.000+08:00

22 young workers from 6 affiliated unions in Philippines participated in a workshop on “organizing, recruitment and retention of young workers in Trade Union” held at Kimberley Hotel Manila from 29-31 October 2007. The activity aimed to establish a core group of leaders from its affiliates in the Philippines who understands the Public Services International (PSI) programs and policies, to identify and discuss issues/problems confronting young workers, to come-up with an action plan that will help in the advancement and advocacy of the youth sector.

The participants concluded the workshop and proposed young workers resolution No. 01-2007 on “Establishment of PSI Youth Network in the Philippines and Providing a Representatives to PSI Philippines National Coordinating Council”

Detail of this report, please contact Rodel Leocario: apo_sphinx@yahoo.com

Philippines Young Workers Resolution No. 01-2007

Media Release - Komite Pasifika

2007-11-05T08:41:00.000+08:00

Dear friends,

Please find following some information on a campaign that is being run in New Zealand to inform young workers of their rights at work. We are using new forums like Bebo, Myspace and Youtube to get the message out to young people.

Cheers,
Tanja Bristow
NZPSA Organiser
Private Bag 68-906 Auckland
Ph: 0274 418 293 Fax: 09 918-4135

Thailand Youth National Coordinating Committee

2007-10-25T11:15:00.000+08:00

- The Participants with the PTAC Leaders and Sister Katherine Loh, PSI SEA Sub-regional Secretary-

23 young workers activitist from eight affiliated unions in Thailand participated in two days workshop, 23-24 October 2007, on Young Workers and Quality Public Services. This workshop was organised by the PSI South East Asia Sub-regional office in order to facilitate young workers to be actively involve in the union works. This activty also to ensure that young workers voices be heard in their own union and to The PSI Thailand Advisory Council (PTAC).

They were discussed about PSI and its works, sharing on the establishment of PTAC and how its work. The important discussion for this activity was with the existing leaders of PTAC; the PTAC strongly supported and recognised the elected two youth representatives for Thailand affiliates.

They also had identified six members for PTAC Youth Representatives as coordinator to assist the chairs on coordinating/to lead the young people in this network and to work closely with PTAC. Herewith the list of PTAC Youth Representatives:

1. Ms. Sopa Kanithabuth (LUPEA) - Chair
2. Mr. Vorathai Maklamthed (LUEGAT) - Chair
3. Mr. U-Then Viriyapreeda (LUBMTA) - Coordinator

4. Mr. Arthorn Sunthorncheun (LUMWA) - Coordinator

5. Ms. Wipawan U-Arun (LUNHA) - Coordinator

6. Ms. Kwannapa Prom-rin (Paolo TU) - Coordinator

7. Ms. Sunyaluk Detwan (GEAT) - Coordinator

8. Mr. Kritsana Promjit (LUGPO) - Coordinator

For further detail, please contact sopajeab@hotmail.com or makamtet@hotmail.com or katherine.loh@world-psi.og

Unemployment still haunts Korean youths

2007-10-23T13:40:00.000+08:00

The Korean National Statistical said that the nations’s youth labour market remains sluggish even though the overall unemployment rate is decreasing. The unemployment rate among youths aged 15 to 29 came in at 7 percent in September, down 0.3 percentage point from a month earlier. The overall employment rate also dropped 1 percentage point to 41.6 percent from the previous month.

Experts, however, claim that these figures fail to reflect the employment status of most youth, since many of those who are seeking jobs are classified as economically inactive, and are thus not included in the category of being unemployed.

The unemployment rate represents the number of unemployed people as a percentage of the economically active population. The employment rate represents the number of employed people as a percentage of the total population.

For detail, please click the title

Indonesia Stand Up and Speak Up Action Against Poverty

2007-10-21T12:15:00.000+08:00

All the Indonesian affiliated unions of Public Services International participated in an event to mark October 17th, the international day for the eradication of poverty under the theme of “The Achievement of MDG’s on Water and Sanitation”. Almost half of the participants were young leaders and activitist of our affiliated unions in Indonesia but they took part for this action during the long holidays of Idul Fitri in Indonesia.

Stand Up and Speak Up against poverty

2007-10-21T12:04:00.000+08:00

PSI South Asia Office with the affiliated unions in India have organised the Global call action against poverty on October 17, 2007. They made a presentation to a secondary school in Faridabad where the global call of action against poverty was explained. Students, teachers and employees of the school all took the pledge to stand up and speak out against poverty. Two banners were made to promote quality public services and to end poverty and the students, teachers and employees have been invited to sign them throughout the day.Other activities were organised at the National Girls Higher Secondary School, Chennai, India and the National Body High School, Triplicane, where Mr. Durai from the Food Corporation of India Employees Union (PSI affiliated union) addressed the students.

Australian jobless at 33-year low

2007-10-12T09:56:00.000+08:00

Australia has seen its jobless rate fall to its lowest level in 33 years in September, official data shows, raising chances of an interest rate rise. Employers created 13,000 new jobs for the month, sending the unemployment rate down to 4.2% from 4.3%.
The job rise was lower than forecast but came after August's figures were revised significantly up by 34,300.

The government raised interest rates to their highest in 10 years in August, at 6.5%, in a bid to contain inflation.

Tightening bias

"The key is that the unemployment rate fell to a new low - that's the best indicator of the health of the labour market " said economist Su-Li Ong with RBC Capital Markets. "This outcome will keep the central bank wary and will only reinforce their tightening bias." Analysts are now looking towards the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figures due on October 24.
"If we get a relatively high CPI result, then a [rate] hike could be on."

Argentina: Huge youth march

2007-10-11T09:39:00.000+08:00

Brussels, 2 October 2007: the Youth Department of the Central de Trabajadores de la Argentina (CTA), the HIJOS group, the agricultural workers’ Federación Agraria Argentina (FAA) and the Federación Universitaria Argentina (FUA) organised a huge march on Friday 28 September to the Parliament, where they transmitted the 10 demands comprising the political agenda agreed between many youth organisations.

The latter also included: Corriente de Organizaciones Sociales, MBB, MTI, MAB, MTL, Marcha Grande, Frente Transversal, la Corriente de Militancia Popular, local CTA groups from various parts of Buenos Aires, FTV, Libres del Sur, Jóvenes de Pie, Miles, JP Evita, Octubres, la FJC, PS, MNR, FM and various other student bodies.

Over 5,000 young activists joined the march to the Congress, where they gave a public presentation of the united political programme of the organisations in pursuit of their rights.
“Our primary aim is to force a discussion agenda on the State and the major economic interest groups that are currently running the country, with a nationwide redistribution of wealth as the priority issue”, stated Pablo Reyner, National Director of CTA Youth, before adding: “we are struggling to secure public policies that enshrine young people’s right to a decent life and provide for the future wellbeing of the whole nation”.

More information is available here: http://www.cta.org.ar/

New Co-convenor for PSI Pasifika Network

2007-10-04T09:03:00.000+08:00

Hina Short, New Zealand Public Services Association (NZPSA), emailed me to inform that new co-convenor for the PSI Pasifika Network for young workers is Sesilia Mann from Samoa PSA . She will be worked with Robert Kutapai the Papua New Guinea PEA.

Congratulation

CHARTER OF THE PASIFIKA YOUNG WORKERS NETWORK

2007-10-03T09:45:00.001+08:00

Our colleague from Pasifika Young Workers Network, Mohnish Dutt (Fiji Public Services Association) just sent me an email regarding PASIFIKA YOUNG WORKERS NETWORK CHARTER.

Herewith below their charter in JPEG Format, I will send to you the copy of the charter very soon in PDF and word formats.

Partnership needed to tackle youth unemployment

2007-09-26T14:20:00.000+08:00

The government, public and private sectors must combine efforts to reduce unemployment among young people in Indonesia. Promoting youth employment is one of the most critical challenges currently facing Indonesia, with alarming unemployment figures for this age group.

Data from ILO shows that the number of unemployed people aged between 15-24 years has grown from 1.4 million in 1990 to 6.9 million in 2006, indicating only 30.6 percent of Indonesians in this age group belong to the labor force. According to the ILO, the country's unemployment figures were dominated by young people, who accounted for 61.8 percent of all unemployed people. The total number of unemployed nationwide represents around 10 percent of the 110 million Indonesians in the labor force.

ILO economist Kee Beom Kim said some of the reasons behind high youth unemployment were slow economic development which has failed to keep up with rapid increases in educational attainment, and school curriculums that were inappropriate for the work force "Rapid urbanization has also caused young people to become more mobile than adults, thus becoming unemployed or engaged in the informal urban economy,"

Detail of this news, please click the title

Video: Trade Union movement and Young Workers'

2007-09-25T16:31:00.000+08:00

To provide you with more interactive blog, we are created link to video or TV related with the trade union movement and young workers, this will connect you with the work of the unions. These are short videos produced by and for trade unions around the world. Just click the icon or the title to watch.

Please send me comments or message if any error to: indah.budiarti@world-psi.org

Keep enjoy and share solidarity worldwide

PSI Young Workers Meeting-Short Report

2007-09-24T17:16:00.000+08:00

Please click this address to read brief report on the PSI Young Workers Meeting on 23 September 2007: http://www.psi100.org/files/Monday24sept.pdf

28th PSI World Congress - Update

2007-09-24T16:51:00.000+08:00

As you know that from 24-28 September 2007 in Vienna, Austria, PSI is Conducting the 28th World Congress. To get the latest news of the Congress, please click on the link below to read Sunday's edition of Congress Express - the daily news bulletin for Congress participants.

Sunday Express 23 September 2007: http://www.psi100.org/files/Sunday23sept.pdf

UN YOUTH FLASH-Vol. 4, No. 6, September 2007

2007-09-21T08:48:00.000+08:00

UN Youth Flash, a service of the UN Programme on Youth to keep you informed about the work of the UN on youth issues. In this Issue:

- Feature: Youth and ICT as Agents of Change:
- Highlights from UN Headquarters
- Highlights from UN agencies around the world
- Calendar of Youth Events
- On the Internet

More detail, click the title

Young workers vulnerable to unfair dismissal, study shows

2007-09-20T09:31:00.000+08:00

Young people have very little power in the workplace, Paula McDonald says

(File photo). (AFP: Francesca Belmadani)

A new report has found many young workers have been unfairly sacked for being sick, complaining about harassment or accusations of theft. Queensland University of Technology researcher Paula McDonald looked at more than 1,000 complaints made by young people who had lost their jobs.

About 20 per cent said they were forced to leave because of bullying or sexual harassment, and a similar amount because they fell ill or got injured. In many cases the dismissals were unlawful.

The study was based on figures before WorkChoices came into effect, but Dr McDonald expects things would now be worse. "It shifts more power away from employees towards employers, and when we're talking about young people, they have very little power in the first place," she said.

She says young workers are particularly vulnerable because they are more likely to be working in unstable positions and not know their rights.

Related News: Young workers often fired for being sick at http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2007/09/14/young_workers_often_fired_for_being_sick/2817/

Young Workers' and Millennium Development Goals

2007-09-18T09:38:00.000+08:00

The Millennium Declaration is a commitment to development, peace and human rights.

At the United Nations Millennium Summit in 2000, 189 Heads of State and Governments pledged to work together to make a better world for all by 2015. On behalf of their people, they signed the Millennium Declaration which promises to free men, women and children from the dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty and make the right to development a reality for everyone! Eight Millennium Development Goals were adopted, committing rich and poor countries to work together in a global partnership to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, ensure that all boys and girls complete primary school, promote gender equality, improve the health of mothers and children, reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, and protect the environment -- all by 2015.

Goal 1: Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
Today there are over 238 million young people around the world living on less than one dollar a day. This goal is about lifting people out of extreme poverty by providing them with the basic things they need to live a decent life: nutritious food, clothes, clean water, a home, and health care

Goal 2: Achieve universal primary education
Providing children with a basic education is the best investment the world can make in its future. Lots of young people have to work in order to support their family instead of going to school and, in some families, girls are expected to stay home and help with chores, forcing them to give up their own education

Goal 3: Promote gender equality and empower women
Promoting gender equality means ensuring that women have the same chances as men to improve their lives and the lives of their families. Unfortunately, in both developed and developing countries, women are often not given the same opportunities in education, employment, and in government.

Goal 4: Reduce child mortality
More than 11 million children die each year in the developing world from preventable. Every child born into this world, no matter where, deserves to live a rich and full life. Child mortality is linked with all the other Goals, because young children are always the most affected by poverty and illnesses.

Goal 5: Improve maternal health
Worldwide, more than 50 million women suffer from poor reproductive health and serious pregnancy-related illnesses. Bringing a baby into the world should be a wonderful moment in a woman’s life, but for many, it is a life-threatening event. Many pregnant women living in poverty simply do not have transportation to emergency medical facilities.

Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Every day, seven thousand young people contract HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS not only affects the individual, it touches entire communities and countries.

Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability
Today, human activities are causing losses in biodiversity at a rate 50 to 100 times faster than would otherwise be expected. We can not maintain a healthy society or economy without taking care of our environment, and protecting our environment contributes to reaching all the other Goals.

Goal 8: Develop a global partnership for development
What the world is like in 2015 will be a reflection of how developing and developed countries worked together to achieve the MDGs. Collaboration between rich and poor countries is key to achieving this Goal . The deal makes clear that the primary responsibility of developing countries is to work towards achieving the first seven Goals.

"The MDGs are still achievable if we act now. This will require inclusive sound governance, increased public investment, economic growth, enhanced productive capacity, and the creation of decent work." United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon launched the much-anticipated Millennium Development Goals Report 2007 at the opening of the Economic and Social Council's (ECOSOC) 2007 substantive session in Geneva on Monday 2 July.

You might think achieving all of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is the responsibility of politicians or your government, you wrong, you can take part actively and empower yourself as part of the strategies, even there is little you can do to help!

The achievement of goals is need you and everyone who is concerned and willing to work together to make this work. The Goals won't be met without your voice! Stand Up and Speak Out
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2. Youth at The United Nations http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/mdgs.htm

3. Stand up and Speak Out http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/

4. The Millennium Development Goals Report 2007: http://mdgs.un.org/unsd/mdg/Resources/Static/Products/Progress2007/UNSD_MDG_Report_2007e.pdf

5. End Poverty 2015: http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/site/pp.asp?c=grKVL2NLE&b=138312

6. UNDP Millennium Development Goals: http://www.undp.org/mdg/

7. UNICEF Voices for youth: http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/mdg/explore_mdg.php

Out of sight – girls in mining

2007-09-17T08:27:00.000+08:00

A new ILO study shows that not only are children still being forced to work in mines, but many of them are girls. It is child labour in its worst form: young girls risk permanent injury from carrying heavy loads of rock and contamination from nerve-damaging mercury. Without a chance to go to school, they are locked into a life of poverty. ILO Online reports.

General survey on ILO Convention 94 and Recommendation 84

2007-09-17T08:19:00.000+08:00

The ILO is conducting a general survey on ILO Convention 94 and Recommendation 84 on labour clauses in public contracts. This questionnaire has been sent out to the ITUC affiliated national centres but the response to date from trade unions has apparently been quite poor, with only 10 countries replying.

PSI would like to encourage you to take the time to fill in the questionnaire, which concerns the insertion of labour clauses in contracts awarded by any public authority, including at municipal level. The ILO wishes to know :
(1) whether laws or regulations exist concerning the wages and working conditions to be respected in public contracts;
(2) whether relevant legislation applies to contracts as provincial or municipal level;
(3)what are the terms of a standard labour clause in pubilc contracts if they exist and how persons tendering for contracts are made aware of them;
(4) what kind of inpsection and sanction system, if any, exists

Unfortunately, the deadline for replies is very tight and is the 30th September. Please send replies to anna.biondi@ituc-csi.org with a copy to rights@world-psi.org

Unemployment, informality and inactivity menace young people in Latin America and the Caribbean

2007-09-11T09:12:00.000+08:00

ILO calls for better use of the growth, development and poverty reduction potential of 106 million youth in the region.

SANTIAGO DE CHILE (ILO news) – Unemployment, informality and inactivity endanger prospects of some 106 million young people in Latin America and the Caribbean in the labour market, and hinder potential economic growth and the fight against poverty in the region, says a new report of the International Labour Office (ILO) issued here today.
According to the report on Decent Work and Youth in Latin America (Note 1), 10 million young people in the region, or 16 per cent of the labour force aged 15-24, are unemployed which is three times the adult rate.

What’s more, some 30 million young people work in the informal economy mostly under bad working conditions, and some 22 million youth neither work nor study due to lack of opportunities or frustration, making them a social risk.

“Young people are essential to integrate the region in the globalization process”, ILO Director-General Juan Somavia said. “All over the world, young women and young men, if they are given the opportunity, make an important contribution as productive workers, employers, consumers, members of civil society and agents of change”.

“Forced into unemployment, informal work or precarious employment conditions, young people find themselves in a vicious circle of poverty which affects their self-esteem, fosters alienation and reduces their prospects”, he added.

The report which contains analysis, discussion and proposals on how to address the youth employment challenge in Latin America and the Caribbean, was prepared as part of a process initiated with the presentation of an Agenda for the Hemisphere during the regional meeting of the ILO in 2006 when its member States decided to launch a “Decent Work Decade”.

According to the report, persistent high unemployment rates and bad working conditions of youth create a challenge calling for “coherent strategies instead of separate measures and an integrated and comprehensive view instead of partial approaches”.

The report reviews a series of initiatives that have been taken in the region, discusses their potential and limitations, and makes specific proposals on how to improve working conditions for young people.

"Young people invest their energy, talent and creativity in the economy, and nobody can afford to loose this potential”, the ILO Director-General concluded.

Note 1Juventud y Trabajo Decente, ILO, Lima, 2007, The report is available at http://www.oit.org.pe/tdj. For more information, please contact Luis Cordova at the ILO office in Santiago de Chile, phone: +56 9 8199 3617, e-mail: prensa@oit.org.pe

Get your free young workers POSTER

2007-09-10T14:16:00.000+08:00

Hi...get your free young workers poster by just click this address: http://www.youngworkers.com.au/freeposters.php

herewith sample of the posters...very interesting:

Update-PSI Young Workers' Meeting, 23 September 2007

2007-09-10T08:27:00.000+08:00

Who will attend the PSI Young Workers' Meeting in Vienna, Austria, 23rd September 2007, please check the update of the agenda: http://www.psi100.org/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=977
there will be three session of the discussion:

Organising and Recruitment of Young People;
Retention of Young Workers;
International Solidarity;

at the end, they will work on Resolution 20: Succession planning through intensified and meaningful involvement of young workers

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Side workshop on 26th September 2007 (14.00-16.00): The role of young unionists in the future of labour unions. Check for detail or who want to join click this address: http://www.psi100.org/default.asp?V_DOC_ID=1011

Fight for the Future - ASU Young Workers

2007-09-08T16:37:00.001+08:00

ASU Youth representatives: from left (back) Enrico Burgio, Susie Byers and

(front) Clancy Moore, Johanna Lytton, Jody Miles

ASU Website, 5 September 2007: In late July 2007 a number of ASU youth representatives set off to Adelaide to attend a national conference hosted by SA Unions titled "Fight for the Future". Young workers from all over the country came together to share their experiences and hear first hand how the Federal Government's industrial relations laws are impacting young people.

The conference theme centred on young people working together to fight for their rights to a fair go in the workplace. It also focussed on the importance of enrolling to vote and making informed choices on election day. Young workers who attended the conference came from many different streams, some were high school and TAFE students, others union organisers/delegates/activists and community and grassroots activists.

Participants developed action plans based on the conference themes: Stories of Anger; Stories of Hope and Stories of Action. These action plans will be taken back to schools, workplaces and local communities for implementation

Contact Jodie Miles for detail: jmiles@asu.asn.au , please also visit ASU Youth Web-page: http://www.asu.asn.au/campaigns/youth.html

ITUC Asia Pacific - Trade Unions Unify in New Regional Organisation

2007-09-07T16:57:00.000+08:00

A new ITUC Regional Organisation for Asia and the Pacific has been created, with the founding Congress of the ITUC Asian Pacific (ITUC-AP) taking place in Bangalooru, India, on 5 and 6 September.

The unification in Asia-Pacific creates the first of the three regional organisations of the ITUC, which founded last November in Vienna. The founding Congress was preceded by dissolution congresses of the APRO and the BATU, the regional organisations of the former ICFTU and WCL respectively.

The ITUC-AP Congress elected G Rajasekaran (Malaysia), as its President, Noriyuki Suzuki (Japan) as General Secretary, and Necie Lucero (Philippines) as Deputy General Secretary.

About the poll result “What are your union's current priorities and campaigns on youth issues?”

2007-09-05T11:06:00.000+08:00

Poll result show that 85% choose organizing and recruitment young members in the union as union current priority and campaign on youth issue;14% for youth employment in the public sector, and; 14% for improving term and working condition through collective bargaining.

Thank you for your contribution.

Wages Up in China as Young Workers Grow Scarce

2007-09-05T10:33:00.000+08:00

The New York Times reports that as the labor supply in China diminishes, wages rise and so will prices of consumer goods here in the U.S.:

"Chinese wages are on the rise. No reliable figures for average wages exist; the government’s economic data are notably unreliable. But factory owners and experts who monitor the nation’s labor market say that businesses are having a hard time finding able-bodied workers and are having to pay the workers they can find more money. And higher wages in China are likely to lead to higher prices in the United States — at the mall, at the grocery, even at the gas pump"

Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty and inequality

2007-09-03T19:30:00.000+08:00

Following last year’s successful event, when a record-breaking number of people stood up against poverty, the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) is organising the 2007 event on 17 October. GCAP members and supporters are united by the use of a white band which is the symbol for people all over the world to show their support and keep the anti-poverty message highly visible. You can find more details on GCAP and on your national platform at: http://www.whiteband.org/. You are invited to become actively involved in this global mobilisation by organising activities for this years’ White Band Day on Wednesday 17 October. For more information, including downloadable event materials, go to http://www.standagainstpoverty.org/. Please keep us informed of your union’s events: send details to svend.robinson@world-psi.org.

Links:

1. Youth and the Millennium Development Goals: Challenges and Opportunities for Implementation: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/mdgs.htm

2. ENDPOVERTY 2015.ORG (millennium campaign): http://www.millenniumcampaign.org/site/pp.asp?c=grKVL2NLE&b=138312

3. Youth Voices-Unicef: http://www.unicef.org/voy/explore/mdg/explore_mdg.php

PSI Pacific Young Workers Conference 2007

2007-08-16T08:26:00.000+08:00

On 6th and 7th August 2007, in Nadi Fiji, the PSI Oceania sub region convened a meeting of young workers from across the Pacific. The meeting included participants from the Cook Islands, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Fiji.

The aim of the meeting was; to identify issues for young workers across the Pacific, continue to build a Pacific young union workers network, to develop plans to recruit young workers into the union movement and to develop those young workers into active members and future leaders. The meeting also discussed issues relating to the upcoming PSI congress to be held in Vienna, which will be attended by one of the co-convenors of the Pacific network, Robert Kutapai from the Papua New Guinea Public Employees Association.

The meeting identified a number of issues for young workers across the Pacific which will be included in a new Pasifika Young Workers charter. The charter will outline the need for; respect for young workers, equal employment opportunities, training and development, and decent working conditions.

There have been a number of industrial issues and action across the Pacific in recent times. At the time of the meeting in Fiji, the Fiji Nursing Association had been on strike for almost two weeks. The meeting expressed support and solidarity to the Fijian nurses campaign and discussed the social, political, industrial and economic situation in all of the participating countries. In parts of the Pacific there is still work to be done to ensure that even the core ILO conventions on the abolition of child labour, and the right to organise and negotiate collectively are upheld. The meeting also discussed our hope for future peace and observed a minutes silence on 6th August to remember the victims of the first weapon of mass destruction in Hiroshima in 1945.

Migration continues to be an issue across the Pacific and many Pacific Island workers are being pushed to migrate to find decent working conditions and fair pay. As many Pacific nations are still developing it is vital to ensure that there are opportunities such as this meeting to ensure that young workers are given development opportunities, and can come together to learn, share information and resources and support one another. A recommendation from the meeting was also to make links with other PSI networks in Asia and Europe (PSI Youth Connect). The Pasifika Young Workers Network is also hoping to develop a page on the PSI website, similar to the European Connect page to publish the Pasifika charter, to facilitate the exchange of information and provide a forum to network with other PSI young workers across the globe.

The young workers who attended the meeting expressed their thanks to the PSI Oceania sub regional committee who approved the funding to enable the meeting to take place and particularly to the PSI Oceania staff, Mike Ingpen and Sue Heath who made all of the arrangements to ensure that it was a successful and productive meeting. The meeting also recommended that the Pasifika network be funded to meet on an annual basis so that we can continue to develop and grow, and that together we can work to address the issues for young workers across our Pacific nations.

For more info please contacts:

Mike Ingpen, Ocenia Sub-regional Secretary: Mike.Ingpen@psa.org.nz
Robert Kutapai, PSI Oceania/Pacific Young Workers Network Convener: rkutapai@yahoo.com
Tanja Bristow, NZPSA Organiser: tanja.bristow@psa.org.nz

Korea Job commitment weakens

2007-08-15T14:58:00.000+08:00

More than three out of 10 Korean employees feel they are just spectators at work, not committed to their jobs or companies, according to an online portal's survey released yesterday.

By age, 38.3 percent of employees in their 20s said they fit into the group, followed by 25.3 percent of workers in their 30s, 23.7 percent of workers in their 40s, and 6.3 percent in their 50s, the survey showed

Please click title for full article.

Young People to participate in the life of society and in decision-making

2007-08-15T10:05:00.000+08:00

The world’s 1.2 billion young people are being called upon to stand up and make their voices heard on International Youth Day 2007, which is celebrated on 12 August. The observance is a reminder to youth that their contribution to the development dialogue is valuable, and that their participation matters. To participate means not only to have a seat at the political table, but to play an active role in development by contributing their skills and energy to the improvement of their communities.

Detail of this news, please click the title (link address)

The Pacific's Youth Employment Challenge

2007-08-15T09:40:00.001+08:00

There are many obstacles facing young people who want to get an education and a job in the Pacific subregion. These problems are compounded by a number of interrelated factors that go beyond population increase and uncertain economic growth. They include:

Inadequate access to relevant education;
Low levels of entrepreneurship;
Under-employment, informal and low paid jobs;
Social and cultural pressures;
Rural-to-urban migration by young people;
Emerging problem of child labour;
HIV/AIDs; and
Persistent gender inequality.

For more for this article, please click the title (link address).

Stressful jobs double risk of depression for young workers

2007-08-13T11:02:00.000+08:00

High-stress jobs make young workers twice as likely to suffer from major depression and anxiety disorders, according to a British study of mental health in the workplace: link between stressful working conditions and poor mental health.

"Work stress appears to bring on diagnosable forms of depression and anxiety in previously healthy young workers; in fact the occurrence is two times higher than among workers whose jobs are less demanding”.

Detail of this article, please click this address: http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2007/aug/02/mentalhealth.workplacestress and click this address for related issues for young workers’ at workplaces: http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/YoungWorker/Home.asp

PSI Statement on International Youth Day 2007

2007-08-12T19:27:00.000+08:00

Statement from Public Services International

UN International Youth Day - 12th August 2007

More and more young people are being seen and heard through their trade unions, where their demands include decent pay and working conditions for young workers around the world, and the implementation of the UN Millennium Development Goals, according to Public Services International (PSI). The 20 million-strong global trade union federation is to host a Young Workers’ Meeting ahead of its 28th World Congress in Vienna next month, where young trade union leaders will explore imaginative ways to increase young people’s participation and effectiveness in trade unions and the workplace. The Congress will also mark 100 years of the PSI.

The 12th August United Nations International Youth Day has the theme “Be seen, be heard: youth participation for development.” The theme of the PSI Young Workers’ Meeting is “Give young workers a voice.”

PSI General Secretary, Hans Engelberts, said active participation by young people was influencing trade unions’ priorities. “Young people are better off with the protection of a trade union and they want their unions to play a bigger role in campaigns on global warming, poverty, education, equality and better public services for young people and their communities. PSI’s Young Workers’ meeting will challenge union leaders to prioritize these concerns. It will also help empower young people who want to be more involved in their unions,” he said.

Check the statement by this address: http://www.world-psi.org/TemplateEn.cfm?Section=Home&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=18214 or contact Sister Chidi King: chidi.king@world-pis.org

PSI South East Asia Sub-region-Youth Programmes

2007-08-10T15:06:00.000+08:00

In response to our young members’ recommendation during the South East Asia Quality Public Services Workshop in Chiangmai, Thailand, December 2006, the Sub-Regional Secretary planned to hold Youth Development workshops in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand.

Through these workshops, young participants would learn more about the PSI new policy programmes that would be adopted at the PSI Congress that is held in September 2007. At the same time, they would be introduced to the National Coordinating Committees to understand about the PSI networks in their respective countries. With these establishments, there would be a Youth Network formed in this sub-region and hence there would be Voice For The Young Workers!

Schedules for the workshop and meeting as below:

18-20 October : Philippines Youth Workshop and Meeting with NCC
29-30 October : Malaysia Youth Workshop and Meeting with NCC
5-7 November : Thailand Youth Workshop and Meeting with NCC
26-28 November : Indonesia Youth Workshop and Meeting with NCC

Contact Katherine Loh, SEA Sub-regional Secretary, for detail programmes: katherine.loh@world-psi.org

AP Youth Participants for PSI Young Workers’ Meeting

2007-08-10T11:55:00.000+08:00

Herewith the list of AP Young Workers for the PSI Young Workers’ Meeting held in Vienna, Austria, 23rd September 2007:

East Asia Sub-region:

1. Eun-Mee Kim, KNEWU - Korean National Electrical Workers Union

2. Kang Yeon Bae, KHMWU-Korean Health and Medical Workers Union

3. Naoki Tsutsui, JICHRO-All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

4. Yumiko　Mishiro, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

5. Yoshihiro Abe, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

6. Hiroaki Seki, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

7. Yuki Tamura, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

8. Tomoaki Hasegawa, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

9. Mari Isokawa, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

10. Wakako Yokoyama, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

11. Takashi Shiba, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

12. Shiori Tanaka, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union
13. Eri Nagano, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

14. Kentaro Tada , JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

15. Junichi Arakawa, JICHIRO - All Japan Prefectural and Municipal Workers Union

16. Toshie Kudo, ZENSUIDO-All Japan Water Supply Workers’ Union
17. Tadashi Katayama, JHCWC – Japan Health Care Workers’ Unio
18. Masahiro Shinmyou, ZENSYOKYO

Oceania Sub-region:

19. Robert Kutapai, PEA-Papua New Guinea Public Sector Association

South Asia Sub-region:

20. Subhashini Tikiribanda Jinadasage, SLNRVSS - Sri Lanka Nidahas Rajaye Vurthiya Samini

21. Shariff Adil, INMLBWF-Indian National Municipal & Local Bodies Workers Federation

South East Asia Sub-region:

22. Rodel Leocario, CIU - Confederation of Independent Unions in the Public Sector Philippines

United Nations Calendar of Youth Events

2007-08-10T11:29:00.000+08:00

12 August: International Youth Day
International Youth Day 2007 (IYD) is almost here! The theme for IYD 2007 is “Be seen, be heard: youth participation for development”. For more information, please visit http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyd2007.htm.

9 - 19 August: 42nd Annual UNESCO International Youth Camp
Held annually since 1966 by the Korean National Commission for UNESCO (KNCU), the International Youth Camp (IYC) is an 11-day summer programme that brings young people from different national, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds to participate in activities that promote international understanding and sustainable development. For more information, please visit http://youth.unesco.or.kr/iyc_eng/.

19-23 August: 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific
The Congress will be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka, under the theme, "Waves of Change - Waves of Hope". For more information, please see http://www.icaap8.lk.

26-30 August: UNEP TUNZA International Youth Conference
The TUNZA International Youth Conference will be held this year in Leverkusen, Germany. It is one of the main platforms for cooperation and interaction between the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and its youth partners. For more information, please visit http://www.unep.org/tunza/youthconference.

1-3 September: International Youth Forum
A civil society initiative, the International Youth Forum will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, and is the first of its kind to take place in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), and to be planned, organized, and run by youth. The Suzanne Mubarak Women’s International Peace Movement is providing a platform for around 500 young people from all over the world to express their views and aspirations. For more information, please visit http://www.womenforpeaceinternational.org/EN/Events/EventDetails.aspx?ID=104&Path=International%20Level.

10-11 September: Youth Micro-enterprise Conference
The conference organized by Making Cents International will bring together international development practitioners, policy makers, members of the private sector, youth, and other experienced professionals in the fields of education, micro-enterprise development, and youth entrepreneurship. Participants will share experiences, best practices, and ideas on how most effectively to reduce poverty, vulnerability and unemployment among youth around the world. For information, to attend or to submit a session proposal, please visit: http://www.ymeconference.org.

10 September: Conference on youth enterprise and sustainable livelihoods
The Commonwealth Youth Programme is hosting a one-day conference, entitled “Investing in youth: unleashing the potential of young entrepreneurs” on 10 September 2007 at Marlborough House, Headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. For more information, please see http://www.thecommonwealth.org/news/166531/130707investingyouth.htm

24-26 September: Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development
The Global Alliance for ICT and Development (GAID) is organizing a Global Forum on Youth and ICT for Development: Youth and ICT as Agents of Change, that will help harness the creativity and dynamism of youth in exploring and using ICT for the benefit of their communities and in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. For more information, please visit http://www.un-gaid.org/gfyouth.

8-10 October: Third Committee meetings on youth issues
The Third Committee of the General Assembly will discuss youth issues on the agenda, which includes the Supplement to the World Programme of Action for Youth and the Report of the Secretary-General on Goals and Targets for Monitoring the Progress of Youth in the Global Economy. Also, will there be a youth delegate from your country participating in your national delegation to this year’s General Assembly? For more information, please see http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/youthrep.htm.

12 - 13 October: UNESCO Youth Forum
Young people from all over the world will come together at UNESCO in Paris for the fifth UNESCO Youth Forum. Since 1999, this Forum has been an integral part of UNESCO’s General Conference. For more information on the UNESCO Youth Forum, please contact ucj@unesco.org

17 October: Stand Up, Speak Out!
On the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, join millions of people from around the world to Stand Up and Speak Out against poverty and inequality. For more information, please visit: http://www.standagainstpoverty.org.

29 October - 2 November: International Youth Symposium
Entitled, "Youth Participation and Empowerment - Getting beyond the Rhetoric and Slogans", this international symposium seeks to bring together young people and youth policy and programme designers to share experiences, ideas and aspirations and to identify what motivates and sustains successful youth-designed and youth-led actions. http://www.bankofideas.com.au/Goa

Young Workers' Meeting at PSI World Congress

2007-08-10T11:02:00.000+08:00

It is with great pleasure to inform you that from 24-28 September2007, PSI is conducting the 28th World Congress and will mark one hundred years of PSI’s existence, from 1907 to 2007. The Centennial Congress taking place in the Messezentrum Wien Congress Center,Vienna, Austria, prior to the Congress, one day programme is setting up for the young worker’s on 23rd September 2007 “Young Workers’Meeting”. Empowering young workers around the world and letting them speak for themselves-in their own words-is a key priority for PSI.

PSI supports young people who want to have a say in decision making and in the changes which affect their lives. PSI will encourage the participation and involvement of young people in using their voices and words to define what they want and what is important. To achieve sustainable change, young people need to be able to speak; and they need to be listened to.

PSI considers that young workers need to given the opportunity to become involved in union work and be mobilized to support trade union rights issues. Unions must ensure that they have appropriate representation within union structure and negotiation teams.

Hoping that PSI Centennial Congress will be done successfully, it is not just only Congress but the celebration of the PSI movement globally and the most important is supporting the voices of young workers within PSI. Contact Sister Chidi King for more info regarding the Young Workers' Meeting: chidi.king@world-psi.org

Click PSI Congress Website: http://www.psi100.org/

Talk to us through SKYPE

2007-08-10T10:24:00.000+08:00

Skype is internet communication. Lets you use your computer and internet to communicate with anyone,anywhere in the world. Free download and install to your computer: www.skype.com

PSI AP provides you channel to communicate with this regional office. Talk to us about Public Services International (PSI) in particularly Asia and Pacific, Public Sector Union and the Young Workers, share your news/information, and any related information that you need. please skype this username: indahbudiartipsi

Youth employment in Asia

2007-08-09T10:06:00.000+08:00

ILO Online - No. 31 - Thursday 9 August 2007

Asian Employment Forum

Youth employment: “We are not the problem, we are the solution”

According to the latest figures Asia’s 378 million-strong youth labour force accounts for more than one in five of the region’s total labour force and 58 per cent of the global youth labour force. Although the proportion of young people in the workforce is projected to decline by 2015, a new report 1/ prepared for the ILO’s Asian Employment Forum (to be held in Beijing on 13-15 August) says that for many countries in South East Asia and the Pacific, the youth employment challenge remains huge. ILO Online reports.

BOUGAINVILLE, Salomon Islands (ILO Online) – It is Genevieve Doni’s second day in school. She looks unsure of herself, probably because despite being 17 years old, she is only in primary school.

Like tens of thousands of young people on Bougainville Island, Genevieve missed out on the chance of an education. She was born just before the start of a 10-year civil conflict over the independence of Bougainville from Papua New Guinea. When the time came to go to school the conflict was at its height.

Genevieve spent her childhood hiding in the mountains and rain forests, trying to survive. Schools were burnt down and teachers fled.

But now, things are different. She concedes she feels strange being in primary school, but even on her second day she is motivated. “I should be in secondary school, but I want to continue learning. I want one day to get a job in an office, so I can look after my family. Many of my friends are still out of school. I feel lucky.” 2/

There are many obstacles facing young people like Genevieve who want to get an education and a job in the Pacific. The area is characterised by small, low income developing countries with high economic and political volatility.

The 22 island nations cover about one fourth of the globe, but the total population, excluding Australia and New Zealand, is only about nine million, more than two-thirds of whom were in Papua New Guinea. Seven of these states are ILO members: Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Samoa (previously Western Samoa), the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The last decade has seen a rapid increase in the youth population (ages 15-24) in these countries. In 2005, 58 per cent of the population was aged under 25, and about one in five were between 15 and 24. This increase is expected to continue; if current demographic trends continue the number of young people will rise 42 per cent by 2050.

There are systematically higher open unemployment rates among young people than among those over 25. In Papua New Guinea for example, almost half of those registered as unemployed are under 25.

In Samoa only about 1,000 of 4,500 the school leavers every year are able to find work. In Kiribati, where the total number employed in the cash economy is just 13,000, about 2,000 young people look for jobs for the first time every year. In Vanuatu it’s estimated that there are just 500 new formal sector jobs available each year, although 3,500 leave school annually.

These statistics do not reflect the distress lack of work causes young people or indeed the difficult choices they face. The majority cannot afford to remain unemployed and hence are not registered as such. If they do not find a paid job they are expected to work the family land or take casual work.

Others are under-employed in the informal economy – usually with low earnings, poor working conditions, no career prospects and uncertain social protection other than that provided by traditional social structures. Some resort to illegal activities.

Youth employment challenge remains huge in some countries

According to a report compiled by the International Labour Organization (ILO) for the Asian Employment Forum, this huge youth employment challenge affects not just the Pacific but many countries in South East Asia too. For example, by 2015 the youth labour force is expected to expand by more than eight per cent in Malaysia, by around 17 per cent in Pakistan and the Philippines, 22 per cent in Nepal and Lao People’s Democratic Republic, by nearly 29 per cent in Papua New Guinea and an astonishing 44 per cent in Afghanistan.

“These countries will face enormous pressure to provide education and create jobs for millions of young labour market entrants in the coming years”, says Gyorgy Sziraczki, senior ILO economist.

Paradoxically, other parts of Asia will have to face the challenges brought by a declining pool of youth labour. East Asia is facing a 10.4 per cent drop in young workers by 2015. Thailand and Sri Lanka will see a similar trend, while Japan and the Islamic Republic of Iran will experience a drop of more than 15 per cent.

“These developments will take some pressure off the youth labour market. Countries with declining numbers of young people in their labour force will have the opportunity to focus on improving pathways from education to work, enhancing job quality, and ensuring that young women have the same opportunities as young men”, says Sachiko Yamamoto, ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.

According to Yamamoto, if young people could find decent work early in their working lives it would help them avoid a vicious cycle of unemployment or under-employment, poor working conditions and social exclusion. But if the causes and implications of the youth employment challenge are not tackled, progress towards better economic and political governance in the affected countries will remain uncertain.

In the words of one young delegate to the 2005 Pacific Youth Summit for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals: “What should be done to improve the lives of young people? More opportunity should be given to build confidence, skills and capacity. We are not the problem; we are the solution to the problems.”
__________

1/ Visions for Asia’s Decent Work Decade: Sustainable Growth and Jobs to 2015, International Labour Organization, Asian Regional Forum on Growth, Employment and Decent Work, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 13-15 August 2007.

2/ Source: UNICEF, Papua New Guinea.

Organising young workers

2007-08-08T19:07:00.000+08:00

Union believe that young worker are very important for the trade union movement in the future. Union play the important role to provide greater representation of young workers and increase the number of their participation in the leadership position/decision making bodies and union activities. The organisational future of union depends on organising young workers, and unions must address the interests and concerns of these workers. But many of the unions face difficulties organizing young people to be active in the union.............

Please share your views on how to organise young workers to be actively involve in the union activities!.........I provide you special gift for your comments!

AP Young Workers Questionnaire

2007-08-08T18:54:00.000+08:00

Public Services International-Asia Pacific Regional Organisation (PSI APRO) conducted a questionnaire on “YOUNG WORKERS IN THE UNION” to affiliated unions in this region.

The main purpose of this questionnaire was to follow up the PSI Asia Pacific Youth Forum recommendation proposed during to PSI Asia Pacific Regional Conference held in Chennai, India, from 3 to 8 September 2006: “to provide database of youth membership from its affiliates in Asia Pacific”. The responses from the questionnaire assist the regional office Youth Database and will be used to establish Youth Network among the young workers in this region.

Complete report please contact indah.budiarti@world-psi.org

PSI and Young Workers

2007-08-08T18:47:00.000+08:00

Young people are constantly told “you are the future” but it is important to remember they are the partners of today as well.

Young workers face particular needs, problems and pressures, and are often identified as extremely vulnerable members of society.PSI supports young people who want to have a say in decision-making and in the changes which affect their lives.

PSI will encourage the participation and involvement of young people in using their voices and words to define what they want and what is important. To achieve sustainable change, young people need to be able to speak; and they need to be listened to.

PSI aims to directly address the issues young workers care about and the problems they face. Empowering young workers around the world and letting them speak for themselves - in their own words - is a key priority for PSI. It is a question of social justice and creating a future for the trade union movement itself

Click PSI Young Workers Webpage for more information: http://world-psi.org/TemplateEn.cfm?Section=Young_workers1&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=78&ContentID=7462

PSI CONNECT is a network of young trade unionists from European trade unions affiliated to Public Services International: http://world-psi.org/TemplateEn.cfm?Section=Connect&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=14685

Youth to Youth Bulletin

2007-08-08T16:43:00.000+08:00

The Youth to Youth is e-bulletin for the young members of Public Services International in Asia and Pacific. This bulletin publish every two months, 2007 Editions:

No. 3/2007 - February: http://www.world-psi.org/TemplateEn.cfm?Section=Young_workers1&CONTENTID=16362&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

No. 4/2007 - April; http://world-psi.org/TemplateEn.cfm?Section=Young_workers1&CONTENTID=17437&TEMPLATE=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm

No. 5/2007-July:

No.6/2007-September:

No. 7/2007-November 2007

We invite you to share your youth activities with us. Please send any youth related articles, news and events/activities to indah.budiarti@world-psi.org

Pictures of Youth Activities 2006

2007-08-08T16:30:00.000+08:00

Feel free to download your pictures, if any, when you were attended the South East Asia Sub-regional Activity on Young Workers on Quality Public Services in Thailand, October 2006 and Asia Pacific Youth Forum in Chennai, September 3, 2006. Click this web: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8803830@N08/ but if you need original size just email me indah.budiarti@world-psi.org

Youth Secretary INMLBWF

2007-08-08T16:11:00.000+08:00

The Youth Secretary of Indian National Municipal & Local Bodies Workers Federation (INMLBWF), Adil Shariff, visited PSI Regional Office and met with AP Regional Secretary, Brother Katsuhiko Sato. Adil discussed with him regarding the young workers issues of South Asia and the forthcoming PSI World Congress in Vienna, Austria, in September.

SMSU Youth Leadership Seminar

2007-08-08T15:45:00.000+08:00

Sabah Medical Services Union (SMSU) Malaysia and PSI SEA Gender Health Project conducted two days (6th -7th August 2007), leadership seminar for their young members in Tenom, Sabah, Malaysia. The main objectives of this seminar to develop capacity building of young SMSU in the trade union movement. detail of the report please contact SMSU General Secretary, Brother Laurence Vun: lavun58@yahoo.com

Click this website for all pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11137954@N04/

International Youth Day

2007-08-08T15:32:00.000+08:00

International Youth Day 12 August 2007
The theme for the 2007 commemoration of International Youth Day is: BE SEEN, BE HEARD: YOUTH PARTICIPATION FOR DEVELOPMENT

International Youth Day gives the world an opportunity to recognize the potential of youth, to celebrate their achievements, and plan for ways to better engage young people to successfully take action in the development of their societies. It presents a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to rally together to ensure that young people are included in decision-making at all levels. Check more information through this address: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unyin/iyd2007.htm

HAPPY YOUTH DAY TO YOU ALL - Sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great. You can be that great generation (Nelson Mandela 2005)