joceurope.org

MARCH 8th
International Women's Day

"Young Women Workers demand further inclusion in a human and equal society for all"

For more than 75 years, the International Young Christian Workers (IYCW) has rganised and trained young women workers and has considered their situation as one priority of action. Women are still the victims in so many different ways of exclusion and marginalisation in our society. We are excluded as women and as workers.

«My name is Pattrisiya. I'm 22 years-old and I live in Rajagiriya, near Colombo, Sri Lanka. In our culture, it is very difficult for young women to access the world of labour as our mother and family do not want us to work outside. Therefore I feel bad as I cannot express all my skills and talents. I'm not allowed to study and can only do those jobs which are usually assigned to women, i.e. sewing, cooking and all those activities which men do not want to do. Why is it like that ? When shall the situation change?

My name is Nalini Peries. I'm 21 and live in Negombo, in Sri Lanka. I have two sisters. My mother is a housewife and my father works in the informal sector. I did some work which is generally considered "typical women's jobs" ,i.e, sewing or embroidering. I had to produce 50 pieces a day. I was paid 2 Rs a day, that is 0.01 US$. I was earning 100 Rs/day (0,50 US$), and worked without any social or legal protection.

JOB SECURITY REMAINS A DREAM!

"My dream is to have a place of work - with a contract! I want to have a stable life!"

The dream of Maria, aged 20 years, is just one of an anticipated 50 dreams of young workers to be collected during the IYCW's International Week of Young Workers, from April 24th until May Day -the International Day of Workers on May 1st 2007.

Originally from the city of Negresti, Romania, Maria says most young workers find it difficult to find a job in her home city.

"Young people accept jobs without a contract just to have money. It's difficult to survive. The cost of food and rent is really high, so many live at home with their family and rely on support from friends. They are always in debt".

As a worker without a contract, Maria learnt of the difficulties facing many young workers in her home town.

The „Symbolic Action" of the JOC Europe asbl, "Young workers reinventing tomorrow's world of work!"  23-26.11. 2006 in Passau/Germany

1. Background and objectives of the activity

More than 100 young people from eight European countries met for four days in Passau to discuss about their visions and conceptions of the future work and life in Europe. This activity represented the climax of a three years process during which many projects and actions were organised and implemented at local, regional, national and European level.

2. Programme and results

2.1 The process in the national Movements

At the beginning of the meeting the three years process was briefly recalled and each national Movement got the opportunity to present actions/projects which had been implemented during this process. The presentations showed how much courage and energy young people develop when they try to find answers to their various problems on the training and labour market and gave the participants the possibility to get some small insight in the reality of the others which created a good basis for mutual understanding.