YCW Demands Decent Work as a Sure Way of Fighting Global Poverty

As part of its resolutions from the WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK on 7th October, IYCW has urged its members around the world to heighten their efforts to raise awareness and take action in this critical area for workers internationally.

‘Decent work for all is part of our fundamental vision,’ said Geethani Peries, International President of YCW. ‘Economic and social protection for all workers is at the heart of YCW’s struggle for human dignity and equality for all. We have been proud to join with the International Trade Union Confederation to promote its themes: rights at work and solidarity, and decent life for women.

‘Of course, as a young woman worker I have a particular passion for the rights of women for decent work and a decent life. Equality for all, just work and conditions, are part of our international campaign of Social Protection for all, and so in joining with the mobilisation and thematic and electronic activities of WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK, we have been proud to endorse the resolutions of the ILO and the Trade Union confederation.

‘Young people in YCW are making a difference because they are one in their vision of just work for all,’ asserts Ms Peries. ‘Our members in Paraguay, Pakistan, Gabon, Philippines, Thailand, India and Australia have been actively involved in campaigns such as this for the past five years.

We know from the experiences of our members that many young workers do not enjoy just working conditions, wages or hours, even in post-industrial countries. Participating in events such as the WORLD DAY FOR DECENT WORK enables us to highlight the experiences of young workers such as Larysa from Ukraine, Jesus from Spain, Rasial from Ecuador and young workers in the Philippines.

"At first, I thought I would be working there for just a short time, so I accepted the work without contract, and within 2 years there was no proposal from the boss to transform this into a contract, until the law came in." Larysa, 24 years, Ukraine

“The conditions I face every day include false work, de-professionalisation, the abuse of debutants, formation that doesn't exist, no vacation, lack of materials and staff; and if this doesn't seem already precarious, we can speak about contract and salary....well, not about contract, because there was no contract, and for 30 euro it's possible that you are doing an activity in your street or in a lost village.” Jesús Redondo Navarro, 27 years, Spain

“ I'm working in a flower plantation and working 14 hours per day. I don't have any day off, in or working place we working with chemicals, but we don't have enough tools like masks, glows,..etc. There are no formal working contract. IN the working place, the toilet workers needs to use are really bad and unhealthy. I don't know what is my rights, for me no choice, So I continue work.” Rasial, 19 years, Ecuador

“We are workers in a sugar cane plantation belonging to one of the 5 most powerful sugar-plantation owners in Negros. During the off-season, our work consists in pulling up weeds, ploughing the fields, cultivating the soil, planting sugar cane and irrigating. We are paid by the day. When there is no work on the farm, we look for other jobs in the building sector, fisheries, packaging, as dockers, etc. Our wages are too low to meet the basic needs of our families: food, education, electricity, water, health, etc.” Young workers in the Philippines

IYCW intends to continue to work with young people such as these to argue for opportunities for social protection for all young workers and for their undeniable rights to just and decent work, quality education and gender equality at work and in life.

For further information, contact: Geethani Peries, IYCW president