News

Nyon, February 6 ─ UNI Europa Youth is currently organizing an exciting conference from February 6-7, held in Albufeira, Portugal, with more than 100 young unionists from all over Europe.



“Given the current Europe crisis, these young unionists face strong fights for their rights back home. They fight against attacks by employers and politicians alike that tend to think more in economic terms than in social ones, but UNI youth are there to remind them that it is all about people. The committee meeting will allow young union activists to get connected, share experiences and talk about the tendencies of the youth labour market.” Said Ms Martina Hartung, UNI Europa Youth President.



The working living conditions for young people in Europe are alarming. In spite of good education or university degree, this generation is faced with the highest level of unemployment. According to latest figures from the ILO:

• Worldwide, nearly 75 million youth aged 15 to 24 are unemployed.
• In Europe, 5.5 million youth are unemployed. That represents 22 per cent, more than double the rate for adults.
• Long-term unemployment affects nearly 30 per cent of unemployed youth in Europe.
• Some 14 million young people, or more than 15 per cent of European youth aged between 15 and 29, are NEETs - neither in education, employment or training. The number of NEETs has almost doubled over nearly two years.

Young people are struggling with fixed term contracts, have to agree on temporary agency work, or underpaid jobs. Therefore, the motions that will be discussed in Portugal will focus on European politics and austerity measures and their effects on young people. The conference will also allow the participants to discuss the reduction of working time as a key tool to fight youth unemployment, internships that replace regular jobs, and the right to strike.



"Everyone needs security, quality and stability in their jobs and in their lives. The European trade union movement’s role is also to try to make these working conditions more decent. Union actions and agreements must not only concentrate on the labour market and its needs, it should also pay close attention to what the society needs as well as young people’s perspectives and choices." added Ms Hartung.