No.
6/YTY/February/2012
Public Services International is the global trade union federation representing 20 million working women and men who deliver vital public services in 160 countries. PSI champions human rights, advocates for social justice and promotes universal access to quality public services.
Asia and Pacific Regional Organisation 295 Upper Paya Lebar Road, Singapore 534929 Tel: +65 62823219 Fax: +65 62804918 Regional Secretary: Ms. V. Lakshmi E-mail: [Link]@[Link]
Meeting strengthens Indonesia Youth Network
Thirteen young workers representing five PSI-affiliated unions in Indonesia participated actively in the Consolidation Meeting Strengthening Indonesia Youth Network at Santika Hotel Jakarta on 8 December 2011. There were three main discussions during the meeting: (1) PSI and its policy for young workers; (2) young people, public sector and challenges in the workplace in Indonesia, and; (3) strengthening Indonesia Youth Network. Jobs and actively involved in union were also topics they seriously discussed. Heavy workload became a challenge to them for being active in the organization aside of a fear that their professional career would be affected. However, they realized that job security, terms and working conditions could only be managed to if they have strong and independent unions. Precarious work also became a hot topic in their discussions, especially as there were many contracted workers in state-owned enterprises and members of FSP FARKES/R in pharmaceutical companies who did work of equal value but received a low wage. This topic was hot because paying workers with a low wage and without social security such as pension allowance and health insurance has been a trend. To encourage young workers to be actively involved in a union was not solely an effort of the youth but also the union, providing opportunities and channels for young workers to grow and move forward along with the union and, in turn, strengthen the union. Therefore, strengthening the Indonesia Youth Network along the theme move forward, same network - new blood became their i strategic plan ncorporatedwith their unions. Participants also elected two new coordinators of IYN who are Fandi Setia (PP IP) and Alita Dwi K (SP PJB). Consensus was made that coordinators would be elected based on rotation among unions affiliated to PSI. Further information, please contacts Mr. Fandi: Setiafansmooth@[Link] and Ms. Alita Dwi K: alita_dewi@[Link]
Philippine Youth Network: Strategic planning workshop
The Public Services International Philippine Youth Network (PYN) organized a Strategic Planning Workshop for 2012 on 29 November 2011 at the Bacolod Chicken Inasal Restaurant QMC Branch. The participants came from various affiliates of PSI in the Philippines and were updated on the past and current undertakings of PYN and the Asia-Pacific Youth Network. Mr. Aristotle Francis Sanchez of AFW National Coordinator and his co-coordinators are Mr. Mike Angelo Batac of MWSA and Mr. Ryan Evangelista of CIU were elected. New PYN National Coordinator, Mr. Aristotle Francis Sanchez facilitated the planning workshop, and the outgoing National Coordinator, Mr. Jeffrey Quodala of CIU, and SEA YN Coordinator, Mr. Eross Ocampo of PGEA, were made advisers. Also appointed was Ms. Anna Melissa Domingo of CIU as the network's Secretary. For further information, please contact: aristotlefrancissanchez@[Link]
Generation scarred by youth unemployment crisis
The ILO has released a report showing that young people face a dangerous level of high unemployment. RadioLabour interviewed Juan Somavia, ILO Director General and Jos Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, Executive Director of the ILO Employment Sector. Listen to the interview online at: [Link] A related ILO video reported that the collective frustration among youth has been a contributing factor to the protest movements around the world over the past year, as it becomes increasingly difficult for young people to find anything other than part-time and temporary work. The report adds that in the Middle East and North Africa, over the past 20 years approximately one in four youth have been unemployed despite progress made in the education of girls and boys. Watch the video: [Link] For further information, please also read Global Employment Trends 2012, the report that offers the latest global and regional information and projection on several indicators of the labour market, including unemployment, youth employment and working poverty: [Link]
NZPSA Youth National Conference
PSAY New Convenors (from left): Daneille Berntsen, Tauranga City Council, Andrea Fromm, Stats NZ, Natasha Micheletti, Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP and Rachelle Boulton, Community Law Canterbury (photo by PSAY)
Participants of PSA Youth National Conference November 2011 (photo by PSAY)
Ms. Andrea Fromm, PSAY New Convenor, reported that around 50 young people working in public services actively participated in the PSA Youth National Conference in November 2011. The young people working with public services were motivated to discuss their workplaces and New Zealands economy and society; young people are keen to share experiences and to learn from each other. The two day conference was filled with a busy agenda in which they learned about their union history, politics and the PSAs strategic direction and possibilities of participation and engagement. For further information, email Andrea: [Link]@[Link] and visit PSAY webpage: [Link]
EPSU holds the first meeting of its youth network
More than 30 young workers from 22 European countries attended the EPSU youth meeting on December 12-13 in Brussels. It was a great opportunity for young workers in the public sector to debate and take stock of the current state of affairs in the public sector across Europe. In this meeting, the members of the network decided to continue the work to defend decent jobs for young people in the public sector. For a full report, please see: [Link]/a/8276
Video: Youth demand climate action
400 youth gathered in Durban, South Africa, for the International Youth Climate Change Forum Movement as part of the 7th Conference of Youth. They made a video about the urgent need for progress at COP17 (the 17th Conference of the Parties) to the United Nations Framework on Climate Change in November 2011. Please watch the video: [Link]
Podcast: Youth employment and gender
In December 2011, ILO Asia Pacific Youth Employment Network members and panellist discussed the topic Youth Employment and Gender in Asia Pacific Closing the Gap. Three panellists discussed that the general challenge of the lack of adequate education background cause disadvantage of young female workers to seek decent jobs. Meanwhile reproductive age and no maternity protection guarantee for young female workers makes finding decent work difficult. Please follow the link to listen to the show: [Link]
Blog: The voice of women workers at the UN
Union women from around the world are gathering in New York for the United Nations 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (UN CSW56), starting on 27th February [Link] theme for this session was: The empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges. A trade union delegation of some 90 sisters -and brothers - called on governments to commit to concrete measures to ensure that women living and working in rural areas enjoy opportunities for economic, social and human development. Join us at UNCSW 56 through our interactive blog! Post your comments, add your stories, share your views: [Link]
PSI
29th World Congress 27-30 November
Every five years, PSI holds a World Congress where discussions and decisions strengthen our activities and organising ability. PSIs 29th World Congress will be held in Durban, South Africa from 27-30 November 2012. The theme is In the Peoples Interest. Please see the PSI website for regular updates: [Link]
PSI APRO welcomes your views and comments. Please send news and information on young workers in your union to: [Link]@[Link]