Fundación Telefónica

Youth Congress Peru

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Jóvenes Fundación Telefónica

During the months of March and April, the International Labour Organisation will hold meetings in 46 countries around the world to talk with youngsters concerning the situation of youth employment. Fundación Telefónica took part in one of them.

Lima, 16 April 2012.- Jóvenes Fundación Telefónica Perú was one of the participants in the debate organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on youth employment. The goal of the discussions, which will take place in 46 countries, is to listen to opinions on how to tackle the unemployment and informality problems affecting young people throughout the world.

The national forums, which started on 6 March, reached Peru two weeks ago. The discussion, in which we took part, yielded some interesting insights on the current youth unemployment situation. Peru is one of 11 Latin American countries taking part in the forums.

This initiative is a prelude to the 101st Session of the International Labour Conference to be held in Geneva. The ILO wants to know what youngsters have to say about the situation they are facing in the labour markets and the possible solutions to this problem.

Problem: a threat to social cohesion

According to ILO data, there are currently 75m youngsters in the world out of work and more than 150m live on less than $1.25 a day. The Organisation has warned that this situation might lead to a “lost generation” and has remarked that this poses a threat for social cohesion.

In Latin America and the Caribbean the position of youngsters is also a source of worry. The urban youth unemployment rate stands at 14.9 percent, which more than doubles the overall 6.8 percent rate and triples the current 5 percent adult unemployment rate. On the other hand, it is estimated that 6 out of every 10 youngsters that manage to get a job are stuck in informal jobs with poor working conditions and low wages.

The ILO's national consultations will culminate in an important Forum on Youth Employment to take place in May and in which almost one hundred kids belonging to employers', workers' and youth organisations from all over the world will take part.

Jóvenes Fundación Telefónica tries to offers alternatives and support for those who are transitioning into adult life. Our objective is that our youngsters acquire professional skills, develop an enterprising attitude and learn how to work online.