BWI Youth Statement on World Day for Decent Work
All these have been exploded by the negative impacts of Covid-19 pandemic. And it is obvious that the world will not offer any better options and opportunities to young people in a close future unless we fight for them.
The BWI dedicates 07 October World Day for Decent Work for young workers to be the shout-out-voice of all workers in demanding decent working conditions all around the world. And today 07 October 2022, it is a marvellous opportunity for BWI young delegates to mark this year’s World Day for Decent Work on the Congress stage.
Organise young workers
We are here to say that decent work for BWI youth includes seven corner stones. 1st is to organise young workers. As said, there must be a new period for labour movement with powerful and energetic inclusion of young workers in unions, their decision making and campaigning structures. Organising young workers will not only for securing the future of unions but also securing the building of a liveable future for all workers by young workers in action.
Life before profit
The second corner stone of decent work is health and safety at work. Thousands of workers got killed at work every year. It is unacceptable! We are here once again to shout out our slogan “Life Before Profit” to emphasise that nothing can come before workers’ lives and we need to stop workers’ deaths with immense actions immediately.
Respect for rights
As we are witnessing the fierce attacks on democracy and rise of far-right voices, authoritarian practices and policies to oppress voices for workers’ fights, freedom and democracy in developing and under-developed countries from east to west, we are also seeing that oppressing workers’ voices are coming along with deterioration of working conditions, all kinds of blockages against exercising workers’ rights to be used for organising and negotiating for decent working conditions. So for decent working conditions we need to fight for respect for fundamental rights!
Fair wages
Our fourth corner stone is fair wages. All workers, men and women, deserve to meet the cost of essentials. With rampant inflation rates, downturned economies and increased corporate greed, workers are suffering from being swallowed by poverty caused by inadequate level of wages to live a decent life. We want fair and equal wages for all and put an end to poverty traps!
Social and economic justice
We see that with pandemic, the inequality gap between the richest and poorest, let it be people or countries, is growing vastly. We have to stop this! For ensuring decent working and also living conditions for all, BWI Youth believes that all people should have equal access to wealth, health, well-being, privileges, and opportunities. And with this belief, we are ready to take action on the grounds to lay the foundation of safeguarding principles and practices of social and economic justice.
Equality
Our sixth corner stone is “equality and gender equity”. We are calling BWI affiliates to promote a change in the mindset of workers and union members in the field of gender equality in workplaces, unions, and society. We are supporting the BWI main demand on equal pay and benefits for women, fair remuneration of undervalued job roles that are dominated by women to end economic discrimination and stopping gender-based violence at work and at homes.
Vocational training
Our seventh corner stone is Vocational training as we have been calling for implementation of quality skills training and apprenticeship schemes to make the future ready for young workers. We are calling governments to increase investments in these training schemes and unions to continue negotiating for this to put a right balance for transition from education to employment. Quality training schemes are also crucial to increase interest of young people to engage in BWI sectors.
We demand decent work for youth and for all not only it is vital for the humane living conditions but also because we believe that it is already there to be claimed by us. It is there ready as we are ready for the future. Let’s make the future ready for us!”