Impacts of job insecurity affecting young workers intensify during the pandemic
May 27, 2020
Uncertainty regarding the future in terms of access to the world of work is a central concern for young workers who, already suffering high levels of job insecurity, have experienced a severe aggravation in the context of the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis.
For this reason, the Interamerican Regional Young Workers’ Committee of Public Services International (PSI), which met virtually to discuss the pandemic, pointed out the urgent need to fight for decent work and pressure governments to take immediate action in this regard.
The participants in the meeting decided, with the support of PSI, to create a platform to monitor changes in labor legislation in the countries of the region, since some governments are taking measures that increase precarization of labor relations, with reductions in salaries and staff cuts in the public sector, a situation that is contradictory to the broad discourse of congratulating and thanking the public sector workers that are working to combat the coronavirus throughout the world.
Having agreed that the crisis intensifies the inequality and the fragility of public services, the Committee articulated concern about unequal access to education for those who have access to a good quality internet and those who are in a very different situation, without this access, a reality of many young people in Latin America and the Caribbean. Thus, committee members defended the struggle for the implementation of policies that ensure that all young people have access to necessary electronic equipment and a good internet connection.
In spite of all the difficulties, the Young Workers’ Committee continues to function with frequent virtual meetings at the subregional level, which has contributed to excellent preparation for regional meetings. Young workers also decided to organize regional monthly virtual meetings to continue exchanging experiences and to monitor the implementation of their collective work plan.In turn, PSI Interamerica reaffirmed the priority of quotas for young trade unionists in all training processes to be developed in the future.
Finally, participants of the meeting expressed their satisfaction with the confirmation of the continuity of the international project between PSI and the German Labour Central, DGB, which allows for training and for participation in the meetings of the SUBRACs. Finally, PSI's global and regional struggles and the regional action plan for 2020 were discussed and received wide support.