Initiative For Poverty Reduction Presentation (following).
 SOME TRENDS ON YOUTH'S SITUATION IN THE LABOUR MARKET (2006 ILO Report)
- As much as 89 per cent of the world's youth were living in developing countries in 2005.
- Most regions in the world saw increases in the number of unemployed youth between 1995 and 2005. The largest increase of 85.5 per cent (from 5.2 to 9.7 million) was in South East Asia and the Pacific, followed by 34.2 per cent (from 13.0 to 17.4 million) in sub-Saharan Africa .
- As to youth unemployment rate en 2005, sub-Saharan Africa is third with 18%.
- Working poverty among youth is most alarming for sub-Saharan Africa , the only region which has s een a sharp and continuous increase of the total number of youth working poor at the US $ 1 a day level (from 36 million to 45 million between 1995 and 2005).
THE CONSEQUENCES OF YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN AFRICA
While showing that youth unemployment is at the same time a check for the countries' economies and a waste of their most precious resources (3), the Report lays emphasis on the dangers around this unemployed youth population tempted by delinquency, violence and illicit activities. I note that clear signs of such situations may be seen in several African countries through the solutions adopted by idle youths for their survival :
. the most lucky ones , if they are degree-holders, manage to leave their countries in more or less favourable conditions for western countries where they find a job, if their profile is in demand in these countries (brain-drain),
. the most fatalist resign themselves and accept « anything » to survive « for the time being » and increase the size of the informal sector,
. the smartest and most reckless ones start being involved in illicit activities (various smuggling, drug selling, hold-ups …) and adopt wrong social status improving-models (local or international prostitution, young females searching on the Internet, as an almost full-time activity, the “white husbands” who will put an end to their poverty etc.) (4),
. the most desperate are ready to face any danger to reach the « Earthly Paradise » through North-African countries, and have to face such situations as a capsized dugout canoe and other similar accidents.
The adoption by youth of such models is just a disaster in an environment distorted by unbridled materialism imposed by the « wealthy » to the needy trough the exhibition of all their properties. These models are indeed the only compasses for youths with no landmarks nor any prospects, wishing to « make it » at all costs, and who are certain that this is the “only way”. If you happen to be willing to lecture them, they will definitely be impervious to your speech since you have no alternative to propose nor any concrete example to show them.
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(3) As emphasized in the Report « Idle youth is a costly group. They are not contributing to the economic welfare of the country – quite the contrary. The loss of income among the younger generation translates into a lack of savings as well as a loss of aggregate demand. Some youth who are unable to earn their own income have to be financially supported by the family, leaving less for spending and investments at the household level. Societies lose their investment in education. Governments fail to receive contributions to social security systems and are forced to increase spending on remedial services, including crime or drug use prevention efforts. All this is a threat to the development potential of economies. Focusing on youth, therefore, makes sense to a country from a costs-benefits point of view ».
(4) These situations are very well reported by Mrs Amely James Koh-Bela in her important work on African prostitution in Europe (afrik.com files …) where are notably described the activities of « the ladies from Switzerland » involved in very well organized and lucrative prostitution activities, part of the income of which is sent “back home” through various channels …
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