ETUC welcomes adoption of a Youth guarantee by EPSCO Council
The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) adopted the Youth Guarantee yesterday. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) welcomes this decision which guarantees that every young person will get the offer of a quality job, additional training, apprenticeship or an internship within four months of leaving school or after starting his/her unemployment period. The Youth Guarantee also offers some financial support, even if insufficient to cover all needs.
The adoption of the Youth Guarantee shows the priority given to fighting youth unemployment. The cost of doing nothing was estimated at €153 billion by Eurofound and this will make all stakeholders take their share of responsibility.
Patrick Itschert, ETUC Deputy General Secretary declared: “the adoption of the Youth Guarantee is good news. Europe spent hundreds of billions to save its banks; it was high time that it looked after its young people and their future. Another piece of good news: €6 billion will be allocated to measures for the benefit of young people. It is still not enough, but it is certainly a step in the right direction at a time when Europe is criticised from every quarter. The real problems nonetheless remain job creation and quality jobs. For that, investments and a social contract are needed".
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