joci.org

Young workers demand security!

(3 votes)

Written by Secrétariat International

Tuesday, 22 April 2008

Young women informal workers, Haiti

"Until I get a permanent contract, I don't want to complain" say young workers from Belgium, employed on temporary contracts. According to leaders of an international campaign demanding social protection for all, fear of job loss means young workers are often not demanding their rights, even in countries where laws and trade unions exist to protect workers. The International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) movement, is today releasing their report titled "Social Protection - Our Right", to mark its annual International Week of Young Workers and May 1st Workers' Day and to promote participation in a global campaign demanding the right to social protection. Thiruvalluvar Yovel, international coordinator of the campaign, says that social protection must include employment as a fundamental right. "We demand the right to a secure future and ask governments to play a major role in ensuring that social protection policies cover the basic principles of work security, economic security, health security, and equality between men and women."

The report of surveys shows young workers are living in precarious conditions worldwide, and demand a secure future.

"In many countries, a total lack of social protection policy means young workers are forced into long hours of work, or to migrate to other countries in order to provide their own 'familial' system of social security for their relatives and friends" says Mr. Yovel.

Jack, 26 years old from Brussels, arrived from Peru 18 months ago, to start a new life in Belgium and to support his family members back in Peru. "The social system is not enough for those who work informally in Peru, so to support my family I send around €300 per month back to Peru. I want to continue to support them, even though I have a dream to study and integrate more into life in Belgium".

Legima Leres is 26 years old and lives in Port-of-Prince, Haiti. "To earn a living, I sell phone calls in the streets. I work every day from 5 am to 8 pm, about 15 hours of activity. I have no fixed place to do that. I have to walk down the streets to meet people who want to make phone calls" says Legima.

The IYCW believes that social protection is more than just a system of 'social benefits'. The demands of the campaign include:

protection from unfair dismissal
the right to get organised and represent the voice of young workers
access to free quality training
income security during illness, injury and life threatening events
food supplies and protection of the environment to facilitate food security
public health centres providing quality free health services to all
access to safe drinking water, sanitary facilities, health and environmental protection
enforcement of policies to ensure gender equality, employment advancement, training and access to resources.

Bridget Rauch
Secretary General of the IYCW

Quote this article on your site | Views: 1297

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

< Prev		Next >

[ Back ]

main menu

login

who's online