On this May 1st, International Workers’ Day, we, the young people of the International Young Christian Workers (IYCW/JOCI), raise our voices together across the world.
We speak from our concrete realities — from factories and homes, from streets and digital platforms, from rural communities and urban neighbourhoods. We are part of a living history of more than a century of struggle, where generations of young workers have organized not only to defend the dignity of work, but to transform society through solidarity, collective action, and hope.
Today, we face a global system that continues to place profit before people. Wars, economic instability, forced migration, and the climate crisis are not abstract issues — they are daily realities shaping our lives. Millions of young people are trapped in unemployment, informal work, and exploitation. Many are forced to migrate in search of survival, only to encounter discrimination, insecurity, and exclusion. Young women workers continue to bear the weight of inequality, violence, and invisibility in workplaces and communities.
This reality threatens not only our present, but the possibility of a dignified future.
Yet we refuse to accept this as inevitable.
As young workers, we are not victims — we are protagonists of change. Through our movement, we analyse our realities, build collective consciousness, and take action to transform unjust structures. Our strength lies in our unity, our diversity, and our shared commitment to dignity, justice, and solidarity.
Our voices are echoed in the lived experiences of young workers around the world:
- “I work long hours as a delivery rider with no contract or protection. If I get sick, I earn nothing. Through the YCW, I learned that this is not just my problem — we are organizing to demand rights for platform workers.”— A young worker from Indonesia.
- “I left my country to support my family, but as a migrant worker I face exploitation and fear speaking out. In the movement, I found a space where my voice matters and where we fight together for dignity.”— A young worker from Mexico.
- “In the informal market, we work every day without security or recognition. Before, I thought this was normal. Now, we organize other young workers to defend our rights and improve our conditions.”— A young worker from Congo Brazzaville.
- “Even in Europe, many young people are stuck in precarious jobs with short-term contracts and no future. Being part of the YCW gives us the strength to act collectively and challenge this system.”— A young worker from Belgium
These voices remind us that our struggles are interconnected — and so must our actions be.
Therefore, we demand:
- Universal social protection for all young workers.
- Dignified work with rights, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
- An end to labor exploitation, especially in the informal economy and emerging forms of work.
- Full respect and protection of the rights of young migrant workers.
- The eradication of gender-based violence in all workplaces.
- Access to quality education and training linked to decent work.
- Urgent and just action on the climate crisis, ensuring a fair transition for workers.
- Peace and an end to armed conflicts that destroy lives and communities.
- Recognition and strengthening of youth-led worker organizations.
We reaffirm our commitment to continue building a global movement of young workers rooted in solidarity and action. We will continue to organize, raise awareness, and act — in our workplaces, our communities, and our societies — to ensure that work serves life, and not the other way around.
On this May Day, we not only raise our voices in protest — we raise them with determination, unity, and hope.
For dignity, for justice, for a future where every young worker counts — we will continue the struggle!
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