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Young Workers Fighting for Social Protection

Young workers across the world are becoming more united in their struggles for just work, says the International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) president, Geethani Peries.

‘Young people are making a difference because they are one in their vision of just work for all,’ asserts Ms Peries. The IYCW campaign for Social Protection for all is continuing to attract support right across the world, in both rich and poor communities, in many diverse religious and human rights groups, and among people of goodwill everywhere.

‘We must build this spirit of solidarity if we are to change the conditions of young workers such as Isabel Alvarez Rivas and the young isolated laborers in the Philippines,’ says Ms Peries. Their stories can touch us all.

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“The YCW opts for the education of young workers. This is the specific and primary task of the YCW if it is to reach the objective of liberation of the mass of people.” - ToE

The IYCW held its international council in 2008 where it defined its campaign for social protection: just work, quality education for life and work, and the establishment of gender equality in social and labor relations for all young workers.

We also defined a series of activities which are included in our international plan of action as entertaining and conscious means to give shape and color to our campaign. These activities include the International Week of the Young Workers which takes place from April 24th to May 1st.

A bit of history

The International Week of the Young Workers celebrated by the IYCW from 24th April to 1st May has its origins in Brazil where it started some 40 years ago. “The Week first took place in 1970 and was institutionalized at the national council which was held the same year.” In other words, the Brazil YCW, though in the middle of a military dictatorship, was carrying out activities to draw attention from the mass of young workers.

Based on this positive experience of the Brazil YCW, the IYCW established the International Week of the Young Workers. And so the National Week of the Young Workers launched in 1970 became an international week in 1985 upon decision of the world council which was held in Madrid, Spain, in 1984.

Ever since, the IYCW has chosen a specific theme every year on young people’s reality and for each theme, it organizes debates and looks for solutions through countless activities.

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Sarah is 18 years old and she finished her last year of secondary school in 2008. She is 4 months pregnant and lives with her boyfriend. After her studies, she registered at the VDAB (employment office) and after that in all the temporary work agencies (around ten of them) in her neighborhood. “I was offered a job at Cleandienst. Before I started they told me it was a permanent job but when I started it was only temporary work. I had a few jobs, always short term, not permanent work. They always require experience but how can I get any experience if I cannot work?” Sarah - Flanders YCW - Belgium

Each year around the world, the International Women's Day (IWD) is celebrated on March 8. Hundreds of events occur not just on this day but throughout March to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women.

Organizations, governments and women's groups around the world choose different themes each year that reflect global and local gender issues.

In the IYCW we are also carrying out a campaign for gender equality as a part of our Social Protection campaign. Gender is one of the main aspects we focus on in our campaign. In the IYCW there are many actions happening in relation to this campaign.

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To IYCW National Movements

To Friendly Organizations who are in solidarity with the IYCW

Solidarity greetings from the continental team of the YCW of the Americas. We hope that the development of your actions is improving the working and living conditions of the working class, in particular the young workers around the world.

As you already know, the solidarity plan that we developed in the IYCW to support the reconstruction of the Haiti YCW after the appalling earthquake that hit them is being implemented. We wish to inform you that our friend Leonel Poma joined the reconstruction team over a week ago. He and Yves Rameau, both members of the IYCW international team, are now working together there. We would like to present a report on the first stage of the plan we are carrying out.

Progress in the reconstruction of the Haiti YCW after the earthquake

Current context

YCW reconstruction commission in a YCW camp

There is a big apathy of the people regarding international support because it doesn’t reach the most affected directly. This is why people have started to organize themselves: they have set up their own small businesses or their temporary shelters on the rubble, and people are selling essential goods informally.

Many people have relatives who have not yet been removed from the rubble. For instance, Estelot, an activist of the Haiti YCW, has a relative in the rubble of his house and he doesn’t know when he will be able to remove him.

Many people moved to other cities fearing that the quake might come back. This means that there is a population increase in other cities and no one knows whether this will be permanent or temporary.

Most people have a feeling of guilt promoted by the Evangelist church. That church says that the earthquake took place because people committed a lot of sins and they encourage people to participate in massive masses.

After the quake, the economic system which generates alternative work is not working. Therefore, a lot of YCW activists and young workers are left completely on their own economically-speaking. The presence of the state is not much felt and this makes it more difficult to rebuild the city and to channel international support in an orderly way.

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Fundraising to rebuild the movement

We are launching this campaign in support for Haiti.

Yves Rameau, a member of the international team of the IYCW, is Haitian and was in the country when the tragedy occurred. When communication was possible, he sent us the following message:

“Thank God I am still alive. At the moment I am in the Dominican Republic to see what I can do. In Haiti there is no communication, the Internet doesn’t work, the banks either. We are in a very precarious situation but I have some information I can share with you.

I am quite well but young people of the Haiti YCW, in particular in Port-au-Prince, are in a very, very difficult situation.

The YCW office collapsed with two people inside, Pierlyne who is a national fulltimer and Patrick Hugo Noel. Pierlyne was seriously injured and is now in a hospital in Les Cayes. Patrick, the treasurer and bookkeeper, is dead. Two other activists also died, as well as a former YCW member.

Most people have no house today, and are cut off from livelihood. The Haiti YCW has no more office… In Port-au-Prince, it is very difficult to find a doctor due to the number of people with injuries.”

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