The Food and Allied Workers’ Union commemorates a somber Youth day and month in South Africa in light of the raging worldwide pandemic that we are currently experiencing. We live in challenging times while the world is waiting with uncertainty about what the future holds.
Upon reflecting on the youth today, it is disturbing to note that around 40 percent of the 20.3 million young people between the age of 15 and 34 in South Africa are not in employment, education or training of some sort.
It is even more distressing that COVID-19 has dashed the hopes of so many of our youth who were looking forward to embark on new work opportunities and projects or to simply enter the job market. This is not a good situation in a country where the majority are unemployed, unskilled and is trying to survive on minimum wage.
Some of our youth with small start-up businesses in informal settlements were forced to lock down and put an end to their operations, which, in most cases relied on social contact with customers. Those who have finished school and tertiary education and had dreams of job opportunities were confronted with companies clear that they are not hiring during this troubling time.
Despite all the gloominess surrounding us, we should remind ourselves that the youth is the building blocks of tomorrow and they are resilient and determined to overcome the struggles of today to create a better tomorrow.
FAWU hopes that COVID-19 does not totally derail plans by the South African government, as was announced during the 2018 Jobs Summit to expand job creation for the youth and to create more vocational and technical learning institutions. It is encouraging to see the Youth Employment Service providing a platform for young unemployed persons to gain entry and experience in the job market.
Whilst we navigate our way through this gruelling pandemic and adjust to the fact that tomorrow cannot be guaranteed- we have to hang on to hope – for without hope we have nothing. Although we commemorate the intense sacrifices and the struggles that the youth of 1976 had to endure during this month of June 2020, one is painfully aware that we still have a long way to go particularly in terms of economic emancipation.
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