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Young Workers for Gender Equality take their demands to the ILO

The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) want "gender equality" to form a central part of any decent work campaign, and will present this demand to the 98th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva which starts at the beginning of June.

Geethani Peries, IYCW President, Ludovicus Mardiyono, IYCW Team member from the Asia-Pacific region, together with Fanny Sanchez, YCW member from the national movement of Peru, will form the delegation of the IYCW movement for the conference.

"Through our delegation, the IYCW wants to bring the demands and real life testimonies of young workers to the centre of this international forum", says Geethani Peries, newly elected International President and former employee from the Free Trade Zones of Sri Lanka.

"There were 600 workers in our factory producing garments for European countries and 99% were girls aged 18 to 28. I would start work at around 7:30 a.m. and would normally finish at 10 p.m. for a basic salary of around (US$ 18). My overtime hours were not paid. There were no official records saying that we were working. We just received our salary in hands", recalls Ms Peries. "In addition, conditions were very unhealthy. My nose was filled with very dark dust. I realised that I was losing weight and I felt so tired."

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“Social protection for young workers is needed now more than ever!”

The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) is promoting the global actions of young workers during the International Week of Young Workers.

The IYCW demands ‘Social Protection’ for all young workers as the best way to ensure social, economic and cultural development for all young people in all countries. Now more than ever, young workers rights and dignity need to be protected during this time of global economic uncertainty. At a time where countries are pumping over $2.8 trillion into major banks and private companies to salvage the international financial system, young workers are facing unemployment, job insecurity, precarious work conditions and despair.

Consequences for Workers...

In October 2008, the International Labour Organization (ILO) published a study with disturbing news for workers around the world. According to its projections, the current economic crisis may lead to over 20 million people being unemployed by the end of 2009. The number of people living in destitute situations would escalate from the current 190 million people to 210 million. The Director General of the ILO, Juan Somavia, claims this to be “a record high” level of unemployment. The study warned that this forecast was optimistic and that these figures may worsen if the crisis persists and has a stronger impact on production.

The study also points out that the number of “poor workers,” who earn less than one dollar a day, may increase by 40 million and the number of people earning less than two dollars a day may increase by 100 million. The lay-offs announced at the beginning of 2009 have confirmed the ILO projections.

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Young Women Workers - the first to feel the effects of the economic crisis

Globally we are talking about the economic crisis. Many workers are losing their jobs every day.

In many workplaces, the first workers to lose their jobs are women.

A YCW member and young factory worker, “Subashini” from Sri Lanka, says,

“There are 7000 workers in our factory. 98% of the workers are young women. Last month there was an unannounced meeting called by the factory management. The management explained their difficulties in paying the workers salaries. To fix the situation, they forced us to sign a blank piece of paper. We did not know what they took our signatures for. If we didn’t sign the blank piece of paper, they said we couldn't work at the factory anymore. Out of fear, we all signed the blank piece of paper.

"One week after signing the blank paper, the factory gave all workers 1 month leave from work.

"To this day, we really do not know what is going on. What will happen after our holidays? There were some comments made about our salary.

"All my family is depending on my income. Like me, 90% of women working in the factory come from our village. Many other young women workers and their families are facing the same struggle"

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A future that permits young workers to live in security

The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) Movement has announced the launch of its new plan of action demanding the right to social protection for all young workers. At the conclusion of its XII international council and global summit “Together in Action’’ held in India during the month of October 2008, the movement has reaffirmed its commitment to work towards a better future for young workers in its new international plan to be realised during the next four years.

"With the creation of our new plan of action and election of our new international team, we are committing ourselves to realising our vision of a new society - a society where the right to have a job is not a dream, but a reality. We want a world where each and every one can access education that prepares us for all aspects of life, where equality of gender prevails and where we can be sure that our work offers us the chance to be independent and participate fully in society as young working people", says Thiruvalluvar Yovel, outgoing President of the IYCW.

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