The IYCW called on 187 ILO Member States to Act in Solidarity for Stronger and Transformative Social Protection System

Brussels (IYCW News) – Basma Doka Louis, the African YCW coordinator, read a statement at the International Labour Conference (ILC) addressing one of the main topics in the conference in the social protection committee - A recurrent discussion on the strategic objective of social protection (social security), under the follow-up to the ILO Declaration on social Justice for a Fair Globalization.

In her statement, she emphasized that young workers need to feel valued by living a recognized life. The full implementation of ILO convention 102 and recommendation N. 202 is crucial in order to guarantee a just social protection system for all.

Basma also shared the testimony of a restaurant worker in Australia who was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: “I was working in the restaurant as a cook. When Covid hit and the government provided a form of crisis social security payment, I was not eligible for it and the business let me go. I had to depend on charity events for food and groceries. It impacted my mental health.” The statement was read out from Egypt in a virtual ILC.

What happened to restaurant workers in Australia also happened in many other countries, including to migrant student workers who live without social protection benefits, informal and precarious workers without adequate protection, workers in the gig economy without future certainty, and young people who lost their jobs, income and savings due to the COVID crisis.

Basma emphasized that social protection is a right for everyone. Social protection includes quality healthcare, education, unemployment benefits and a global safety net for all. Infrastructures such as water, electricity and internet are necessary to participate in today’s world. In addition to that, access to public transport is a matter of social justice as well as answering ecological needs.

To achieve all of this, Basma recalled the importance of solidarity from all ILO member countries, workers and employers.

At the end of her statement, Basma called to act in solidarity. Investing in solidarity financing implies that multinational corporations who most profit from the globalized economy should pay taxes wherever they generate their profit so that a strong and transformative social protection system can be established.

“Last but not least, I urge all 187 ILO member states to stick to the steps proposed in the report, taking into account the reality of young people as well,” Basma concluded.

From 7 to 19 June, governments’, workers’ and employers’ representatives from 187 ILO member states are coming together online to discuss world of work issues, including a human-centred recovery from the pandemic, at the 109^th International Labour Conference.

The IYCW Echoes the Workers’ Voice in ILO Conference: Act for Social Justice and Respect Everyone’s Dignity

Brussels (IYCW News) – In the midst of the cries and screams of millions of contract workers who have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IYCW continues to speak out to the world at the International Labour Conference which has been taking place virtually at the ILO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

Ana Cecilia Salazar, a leader of the YCW Americas Team, took the floor at the labour conference bringing her lament about the fate of a contract worker from Peru who lost her job due to the pandemic.

"I had a temporary contract. When the lockdown was decreed, the company suspended the work. The contract will end and there will be 50 of us young people jobless," Ana read aloud as she shared the testimony of the Peruvian contract worker.

Contract workers are the most vulnerable workers and the first to be fired when the company has to terminate the employment relationship. In her statement, which was read from Peru, Ana emphasized that the phenomenon of easy layoffs for contract workers occurs in almost all countries and has affected millions of contract workers worldwide. This form of work, as well as all forms of precarious and informal work related to online platforms, is increasing even more in the aftermath of the pandemic.

To respond to this global phenomenon, Ana firmly echoed the voice of the oppressed workers about the importance and urgency of action to achieve social justice and respect everyone’s dignity.

“Strong and global social protection must cover everyone, including migrants and informal workers. Social protection implies decent working conditions for those who work in services, as well as ensuring a safety net for all,” said Ana stressing the importance of social protection for all.

According to her, apart from social protection, ILO members must also realize the value of care work. This valorisation needs to be expressed by decent working conditions and representation rights for care workers. 

“It is a global reality and multilateralism is therefore crucial. Work must be dignified; occupational health and safety must be guaranteed everywhere. Everyone needs a dignified income. Working rights need to be updated to our digital reality, including more equality and more opportunities to access internet and electricity,” said Ana.

Ana particularly highlighted young people’s need for real options and dignified working conditions. This means fighting youth unemployment, but also more rights and better conditions for young people at their workplaces.

Ana also underlined the importance of acting for gender equality, including promoting women's leadership. 

Ana concluded her statement by saying, “It is not only about reacting to any sudden situation. It is about addressing the causes of these very inequalities. We talk a lot about vulnerabilities. But there are also actors who benefitted from that economically. They must contribute to the common good accordingly. Do not miss this unique opportunity to bring us all closer to a just world and dignified work for all!”

News from the ICA

This e-news that you have just received in a new format is part of the new collaboration between the International Cardijn Association and the International YCW.

As announced, the following people were elected at the ICA General Assembly held last February:

Bernhard Bormann, a former member of the German YCW, was a member of the IYCW International team. He is currently working as a regional secretary of the KAB (Catholic Worker movement) in Rothenburg-Stuttgart. Bernhard represents the continuity, ensuring the bridge with the new advisors as he started to cooperate with the IYCW two years ago, in particular for the organization of the European Colloquy held in 2019.

Marinete Alves Bayer was a member of the IYCW International Team from 1983 to 1987. She is a former YCW member from Brazil who lives in Spain. She is currently involved in several local social organizations in Spain and is very active in the Joseph Cardijn Educational Encounter Association.

Michele Di Nanno was also a member of the IYCW International Team from 1983 to 1987. He is originally from Italy and is a former member of the Walloon YCW (Belgium). Very active and coordinator within the movement of permanent and popular education in Belgium, Michele will act as a bridge between the ICA and the Belgian particularities, as the IYCW secretariat is located in Brussels. 

Finally, Ludovicus Mardiyono was president of the International YCW from 2012 to 2016 and he was also president of the Indonesian YCW. He is the "most recent former member" of the IYCW. With his communication skills, he will assist the IYCW and the AIC, among others, in editing and publishing this e-news and other newsletters that will be produced to keep you informed about actions and views on issues of importance to youth and the IYCW.

With these newcomers, and in collaboration with the international team and the IYCW secretariat, we hope to further the mission of the IYCW and strengthen the international movement.

Over the past few months, the ICA has held several integration meetings with the new advisors. We have decided to work with two commissions: one will deal with communication issues, the other with financial issues. Furthermore, we have appointed people to follow the work on the archives, which have already been transferred to Kadoc (Leuven).

The preparation of the International Council of the IYCW, which will be held online from September 25 to 29, is a great motivation. It is the main activity in the IYCW calendar as it will define the important contents and coordination of the IYCW for the next four years.

Next month we will bring you a lot more information!!!

The IYCW Stands Strong with Colombian People for Peace, Ending Human Rights Violations

At least fifty-eight people have been killed by police and dozens of others have gone missing since the outbreak of social unrest in Colombia last April 28, 2021. Riots have occurred in various cities at the expense of young workers, women, peasants, fishermen and the urban poor. Police and soldiers have brutally fought the demonstrators in downtown streets.

Colombia is a country that has had a succession of neoliberal governments, which for decades have been implementing a series of anti-people reforms and laws in the areas of health, education, social security and labour, supported by a strong military and police system.

The government's latest attempt at fiscal reform, the cynicism of the ultra-right imposing their neoliberal measures, unleashed a massive popular rebellion, highlighting the structural crisis that the country is going through and the failure of this model on the continent. The government's response to demonstrations has been more than distressing: armed repression, human rights violations, disappearances of social leaders, sexual abuses and real urban massacres in different regions of the country.

The Young Christian Workers (YCW) of the Americas, the International YCW, and the Latin American Network for the Right to Social Protection (Inspir) express unconditional support to the entire Colombian people, their social movements and political organizations that are courageously demonstrating their discontent through permanent mobilization day after day, making their demands for the transformation of the country heard.

“We are in solidarity with all the Colombian people, especially young workers who are in permanent struggle and resistance in the frontline against the repressive government and human rights violator, led by Ivan Duque,” stressed the IYCW secretary general, Orlando Machado from the IYCW headquarters in Brussels.

Furthermore, Orlando confirmed that the IYCW supports and joins the peaceful actions of the Colombian people in search of equal social rights and equity.

“We call on all our activists, allies and all institutions to stand strong with Colombian people against the grave violations of human rights that the Colombian state is carrying out.  For the disappeared, for the tortured, for the assassinated, for the political prisoners in the hands of the government of Ivan Duque, we will not rest until the demands are met and carried out. We young workers do not make the revolution. We are the revolution underway," said Orlando.