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14 July, 2022Following the adoption of a youth resolution at IndustriALL’s 3rd Congress in September last year, young leaders from the MENA region met on 8 July to discuss its implementation in the region.
The network decided to concentrate its effort to demanding and ensuring that youth becomes part of union decision-making bodies, to ensure youth involvement in all negotiations concerning their future and that young workers get equal pay and equal rights.
The young leaders discussed how to best translate the demands into reality. Initial possible strategies were shared focusing on what is feasible and the role of their unions.
The MENA youth network work was launched after IndsutriALL’s 2nd Congress in October 2016, young members intervened, demanding increased youth participation and representation. Since then, the network has met on a yearly basis, exchanging challenges and opportunities in the world of work for young workers in their region.
Initially, the network had a high turnover of participants. But by empowering young leaders through a project funded by Union to Union, young leaders have emerged in most of the participating countries and they are regularly participating in network meetings.
Participants have started working on a platform for young workers that would bring and allow more sustainability in defending and representing the voice of young workers and their interests. A MENA youth steering committee was formed, and nominations have to be submitted by 1 August. Two more meetings will be convened this year to continue and finalize the role and objective of the steering committee, as well as the youth resolution implementation roadmap.
Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary, who joined the meeting and congratulated participants on Eid, said:
“We are looking forward to seeing efficient youth structures that can the influence the policy discussions and the policies themselves.”