Six youth network coordinators together with three observers met in Jeju, Korea on 6th April 2010 for the 3rd Asia Pacific Youth Network meeting. The meeting was chaired by Ms. Tan Sze Wei, APYN Coordinator and attended by PSI General Secretary, Peter Waldorff, PSI AP Regional Secretary, V. Lakshmi, and Chidi King, PSI Equality and Rights Officer.

In his opening remarks, the general secretary congratulated the APYN on its growth and looked forward to seeing its work “Last year we saw the Global Financial Crisis and unemployment crisis. Now youth unemployment is rising and it’s a challenge, we need to take seriously. It is three times more likely that young people will use their job. There is also an ageing workforce and growth in the eldercare sector, which is a paradox”, stated Waldorff.

The Asia Pacific Regional Secretary added “unemployment in the region is forcing young people to migrate in search of precarious jobs where workers have no rights. Creating employment for young people has become one of the major challenges for unions.  There is a need for unions to be seen as supporters of young people’s issues and training them to be great leaders. The Asia Pacific has always been in the forefront in providing space and opportunity for young people and will continue to do so”

The main point on the agenda for this year was strengthening young workers’ voices in the region and how the network can actively participate and move forward on this issue. The network coordinators welcomed the newly created PSI East Asia Youth Network and its two coordinators, Mr. Tomohiro Hasegawa of JPSU (Japan) and Ms. Hong Soo Jung of KNEWU (Korea). Ms. Katie Rowsell was nominated by the network coordinators to fill the vacant Substitute position for AP Young Workers Representative.

The Network urged for the implementation of the international forum for young workers prior to the 2010 Quality Public Services Conference and needs further support from the APREC for their participation. The Network is also ready for the Asia Pacific Regional Conference (APRECON) 2011 and has submitted a proposal to the APREC for a 2nd Asia Pacific Youth Forum prior to the Conference. The theme has been decided “Creating quality sustainable public services: nothing about us without us is for us”.

For further information, please contact: indah.budiarti@world-psi.org

Related Files

Minutes of the 3rd APYN Meeting (Word Document)
Agenda of the Meeting (Word Document)
Program (Word Document)
APYN Member as per March 2010 (Word Document)
APY Rules and Procedure (Approved by APREC in 2008) (Word Document)