For CYPCC in particular, we remain very concerned that many of the Commonwealth Caribbean’s development challenges such as unemployment, social exclusion and economic disenfranchisement are having a profound and disproportionate impact on young people.

Once again as workers of the world commemorate International Labour Day on May 1, 2007 we at the Commonwealth Youth Programme Caribbean Centre (CYPCC) take the opportunity to extend happy and productive Labour Day greetings to all workers in the Commonwealth Caribbean but in particular to those young workers and professionals who continue to make a significant contribution to the development of their communities and societies in various fields of endeavour.  

We are mindful of the fact that the major contributing factor, which led to the 1886 Haymarket riots in Chicago and which forms the basis for the commemoration of May Day was oppressive working conditions and struggle for improved socio-economic status of workers.

Therefore, on this very important occasion while we celebrate the significant contribution workers have made to the political, social and economic development of Caribbean societies, we also have an obligation to reflect upon and become active participants in the struggle to address the various issues affecting workers of today.

For CYPCC in particular, we remain very concerned that many of the Commonwealth Caribbean's development challenges such as unemployment, social exclusion and economic disenfranchisement are having a profound and disproportionate impact on young people.

UNEMPLOYMENT

Recent information from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) states that, "youth unemployment has skyrocketed worldwide over the past decade to some 88 million, reaching an all time high with young people aged 15 to 24 now representing nearly half the world's jobless."

JOB SECURITY AND RISKY BEHAVIOUR

There is a growing number of young people whose challenging economic and social circumstances have increased their involvement in risky activities as a means of alternative employment and survival. According to reports from The Global Employment Trend for Youth 2004 by the ILO, "the rising worldwide unemployment has hit young people hard, especially young women. Young people are thus increasingly dependant on their families and more susceptible to illegal activities." 

Drug trafficking, commercial sex work and illegal security and enforcement involving body guard details and other forms of protection and rackets for criminal activities are among the "illegal activities" attracting the socially disenfranchised youth of the region.

This trend also has worrisome repercussions for our ability to attract and retain a healthy youth turn-over in the regional labour force. According to the 2004 ILO Report, labour force participation rates for young people overall worldwide decreased  almost 4 percent points over the last decade, while partly some young people stayed in education longer, many other young people become so frustrated with the lack of employment opportunities that they simply dropped out of the labour force. 

ECONOMIC DISENFRANCHISEMENT AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION

Even with young people who are employed, there is a high tendency of under-employment or informal employment. This situation severely limits young people's social mobility, particularly their ability to acquire a decent home and property. According to the International Labour Organization, "Those who can find work often face long working hours, short-term or informal contracts, low pay and little or no special protection such as social security or other social benefits." These challenges and related issues are major contributing factors in the creation of volatile social and political environments.

Consequently, Governments, Trade Unions, development agencies and other civil society organizations have a moral responsibility to demonstrate the requisite political will and social responsibility in creating an enabling environment for more effective management of these development challenges.

There is need for greater job security for young people in the work force. There is also need for governments to create an enabling environment which will facilitate ownership of land and property by young people and in particular their access to credit to establish their own businesses. It is well known that many young people have successfully turned to micro enterprise to sustain their livelihoods and this is being further encouraged in several countries.

Mindful of the rights of all people to employment and especially the rights of young people to employment as a means of their holistic empowerment, the Commonwealth Youth Programme has a nine-point action agenda to promote the economic enfranchisement of young women and men in all circumstances.  We recommend that Governments:

Review and assess macro-economic planning and trade regimes, and address their impact on young people while seeking to mainstream youth development across all sectors of the national economy.

Engage with the education sector, the private sectorand labour unions to increase access to education, vocational training and soft skills to meet the needs of the employment market.

Integrate entrepreneurship, savings and investment culture and educationinto the education system at appropriate levels.

Promote and support an integrated approach to self-employment, micro-enterprise and credit schemes.

Research and develop poverty alleviation and employment programmes for marginalised young peopleincluding young men and women in depressed areas, indigenous youth, rural youth and young people at risk.

Formulate appropriate policies to address such issues as the age and experience criteriain order to facilitate the entry of young people into productive employment.

Establish national schemes and apprenticeship/internship programmesto enable young men and women to acquire a range of skills they will need to be employable.

Provide support to young people in gaining access to land, as a means of building their economic and social base.

Promote awareness of the role of international financial institutionsand other multilateral agencies in mainstreaming youth development and investment across the national economic development spectrum.

We believe that all stakeholders - governments, the trade unions, development partners, the private sector and young people themselves can together build a new and better platform of development that offers new and better opportunities for young people.

CYPCC remains committed to engage with partners in strategic partnership in helping to address these and other issues relevant to youth workers.

We wish all a happy and progressive Labour Day 2007.

Mr. Henry Charles, Regional Director