DAY #3: Youth Employment & Fair Wages – A Right, Not a Privilege

Demanding Economic Justice

The employment landscape for young people worldwide reveals a troubling pattern: despite their qualifications, creativity, and willingness to work, youth disproportionately face employment conditions that undermine their dignity and potential. Job insecurity, inadequate wages, unsafe working environments, and exploitative contracts have become normalized experiences for many young workers.

This isn’t just an inconvenience—it’s an injustice that demands immediate attention.

The True Cost of Poor Employment Conditions

When young people work in precarious conditions for insufficient pay, the effects ripple far beyond their individual circumstances:

• Skills deterioration occurs when talented youth take positions below their qualification level
• Psychological impacts include decreased motivation, confidence, and workplace engagement
• Delayed economic independence prevents young people from fully participating in the economy as consumers and investors
• Talent migration leads to brain drain as qualified young people seek better opportunities elsewhere

Most critically, poor employment conditions create a cycle where youth potential remains untapped, ultimately limiting economic growth for entire communities and nations.

I-GLOBE’s Approach to Employment Justice

The I-GLOBE Youth Week, through the comprehensive YOSCELD Initiative, is confronting employment inequality through multi-faceted approaches:

Employment Access Expansion

Breaking down barriers that prevent qualified young people from accessing quality job opportunities, with particular focus on disadvantaged youth.

Workplace Standards Advocacy

Collaborating with employers, labor organizations, and policy makers to establish and enforce standards for fair compensation and safe working environments.

Youth Labor Rights Education

Empowering young workers with knowledge about their rights and recourse mechanisms when those rights are violated.

Stand for Employment Justice

The right to decent work isn’t a privilege reserved for the few—it’s a fundamental component of human dignity and sustainable economic development. Young workers deserve employment that recognizes their value, compensates them fairly, and provides pathways for advancement.

Join the movement for youth employment justice by sharing your experiences and views on our social media platforms. Use #IGLOBEYouthWeek #YOSCELD #DecentWorkForAll to add your voice to this critical conversation.

When young people access quality employment with fair compensation, they don’t just improve their individual circumstances—they become powerful contributors to broader economic growth and social progress.