Actively shaping digitization - worldwide!
In cooperation with KAB (National Movement of WMCW-MMTC), the World Emergency Office and KönzgenHaus, a two-day symposium entitled "Global digitization: risks and opportunities of work in the future" was held in Cologne/Haltern, last December 2018. Can global digitization - in the world of work and in daily life - really put an end to extreme poverty, inequality and injustice and also initiate an ecological trend reversal?
Digitalisation eats up resources - an ecological time bomb
"Digitalisation does not reduce our ecological footprint; on the contrary, the introduction of autonomous driving alone would increase the energy demand extraordinarily due to the extreme growth of data streams," emphasised Sven Hilbig, world trade officer at the development agency Brot für die Welt. “The battery of an electric car contains 10,000 times as much lithium as a cell phone battery. The resulting increase in demand for raw materials from Africa and South America is a serious problem for social and ecological sustainability in the global South. Digital trade, as here with raw materials, also threatens to restrict the scope for developing and emerging countries; above all the digital supply chains increase the added value of globally operating corporations and platforms.”
The International YCW is concerned about young workers from all countries, on all continents. In the different moments and stages of the history of our movement, the organization of youth groups, from the initial awareness of their problems to the collective action to solve them, to finally the shaping of a specific identity of the Panafrican YCW, has always been a challenge.
Today in this issue of the newsletter, we thought it would be interesting to provide you with some information and analysis on Africa. It is also a call to solidarity from other continents, starting with the time you spend reading the articles in the following pages. We encourage you to get to know and understand a little more about the reality of that continent, the vision of the young people who contributed their testimonies and examples of the actions that are being carried out to reinforce the work of the YCW, the efforts to extend the movement to new countries, the role of former activists and leaders, in solidarity with the historical mission of the International YCW. In this respect, this special issue on Africa aims to strengthen the Panafrican YCW.
In addition, starting with this issue, the newsletter begins its journey towards the celebration of the YCW's centenary. We will keep you informed about the work of the organizing committee and the initiatives in the countries and regions to achieve the goals that we have set for the centenary activities. Enjoy reading the newsletter!
Work, Justice and Equality for a Dignified Life: Let's be the Change Young People Need for the Future
In this issue of the bulletin, we believe it is important to focus on the first priority defined by the IYCW International Plan of Action 2023-2026, i.e. unemployment and precarious work. While work has always been at the heart of the IYCW's action, unemployment is the other side of the coin, preventing young workers from meeting their most basic needs and fulfilling their deepest aspirations.
The articles that appear on the following pages deal with unemployment and precarious work, call for improvements from a political point of view, and highlight a line of action that the international YCW is gradually developing in various countries around the Social and Solidarity Economy (SSE). In addition to its vision and analysis of the major problems facing young workers, the bulletin continues to share experiences of action and to outline the collaboration being forged with adults who have a YCW activist background in order to consolidate processes.
Enjoy reading our bulletin!
For the IYCW, the 15th International Council in Peru was an opportunity to look back on a whole period of uncertainty on a global scale. This encounter between National Movements allowed them to exchange their views on analysis and action, relationships, common reflections and share moments of conviviality among participants. This issue of the BULLETIN is therefore dedicated to the International Council and the different themes it dealt with.
The Gender Challenge
The IYCW is a movement committed to young workers, which wants to respond to their needs and class aspirations and tries to represent all their diversity. Since 2016 in the framework of its campaign for Just Work with adequate Social Protection for all, the movement developed, among others, specific campaigns in the sector of precarious work (production chains, work in the maquilas/FTZ...), in the informal sector and the Social Solidarity and Economy.
Likewise, the IYCW has intensified the debates and actions on the gender dimension, because regardless of the situation in the different sectors of society, exploitation is still more pronounced towards women as a whole, and especially towards young women workers, whom we are reaching.
In the processes of action and organization we have carried out, we have become aware of the imbalances and inequalities that exist in society with regard to the rights of men and women, although the laws contemplate them, it is almost always "wet paper". At this point in the history of mankind, technical development and global progress in all aspects, has not been able to pass on the benefits of human development equally between men and women. Why is that?
In this issue we want to address the transversal nature of the gender dimension through an analysis of what is happening at the international level, recognizing the progress made and paying special attention to the activities and actions that the YCW movements are developing in the countries. We also collected testimonies on adult support for actions and programs in this sector.
In June 2022, the IYCW organized a webinar on the topic and this publication also makes the link to that activity. By focusing on this dimension, we want to make what is happening visible and bring elements to the debate in the society.
A celebration in memory of Joseph Cardijn in Namur
A mass was celebrated in memory of Cardinal Cardijn in the Saint-Nicholas church in Namur, Belgium, on May 8, 2022, on the initiative of former members of Catholic action movements who used the See-Judge-Act method created by the founder of the Young Christian Workers, a movement whose 100th anniversary will be celebrated in 2025 and which has branches in some fifty countries around the world and an international secretariat in Schaerbeek, Belgium.
At the request of Mgr Warin, Bishop of Namur, the mass was presided over by Fr Joseph Bayet, former JOC-F chaplain and former vicar general in Namur, assisted by Fr Jacques Hanon, IYCW collaborator, and Fr Pierre Dejardin, the parish priest.
During the service, the Philippine Leizyl Salem, treasurer of the IYCW, who was accompanied by the Brazilian Arlindo De Oliveira, in charge of the International Cardijn Association (ICA), recalled that Joseph Cardijn's parents had accepted that their eldest son study to become a priest instead of going to work in a factory, because he wanted to help young workers to find answers to their difficult living conditions, using the famous See-Judge-Act method that he proposed later on.
Quoting testimonies from members of different branches of the IYCW, the dynamic spokesperson showed how Cardijn's legacy is still relevant today and how important it is for those young people to be part of the movement which "since its foundation, has always been committed to the development and transformation of young people's lives and work."
- First Issue of IYCW Bulletin in a new format
- JOC Europe Publishes European Parliament Votes
- IYCW at UNESCO: Invest in Strong Social Protection
- IYCW at the ILO Conference: Who Profits Must Contribute to Ending Inequality and Discrimination
- Errol Samarista: All Fishermen to Receive Adequate Social Protection
- Paraguay YCW: 80 Years of Life, Struggle and Workers' Action
- Pope Francis to the YCW: Advance the Kingdom of God through the building of a more just and equitable society
- We Are Called to Act! We Are Connected! Act for Change and for Social Justice
- In Baudour, a small town in Wallonia (Belgium), former YCW members have kept the values of the YCW alive for over 40 years!
- Young Workers for Change Towards Decent Work and Fairer World
- 75th Anniversary of UNESCO: Youth to Take the Lead
- News from the ICA: Welcome to our New Members!
- Pope Francis to the ILO: Calls for Economic Reforms and Social Protection to be Strengthened for Every Worker to be Respected
- History is a dynamic and infinite process
- Uncertain Dreams of European Young Workers in the Shadow of the Covid-19 crisis
- CIOs Addressing the Impact of Covid-19: Young Workers, Informal Economy Workers, Migrants and Women are the Most Vulnerable
- The IYCW Stands Strong with Colombian People for Peace, Ending Human Rights Violations
- The IYCW Echoes the Workers’ Voice in ILO Conference: Act for Social Justice and Respect Everyone’s Dignity
- The IYCW called on 187 ILO Member States to Act in Solidarity for Stronger and Transformative Social Protection System
- The Impact of Covid-19 on Young Workers: an analysis by the International YCW