8th PERC Youth Conference

The 8th PERC Youth Conference took place on 06-07th of November in Brussels. During two days the delegates from different parts of Europe debated Youth employment in the age of digitalization – challenges and opportunities for “Just digitalisation” and developed guidelines priorities of work for the 2024-2026.

The conference was opened by the PERC general Secretary, Esther Lynch, who underlined the importance of organising in platform economy, to stay in contact with platform workers to be able to move forward the right set of demands in the rapidly evolving digitally mediated working conditions. Thierry Bodson, the President of FGTB, welcomed participants in the FGTB premises and outlined the union landscape and struggles in Belgium, particularly fight against austerity measures and for better distribution of wealth. He made a special point of having regular contacts with grassroot union members at the workplaces. The Conference was also addressed by Knut Dethlefsen, Director of the FES Competence centre for Future of Work.

The key thematic sessions were around platform economy: closing the justice deficit, legal provisions, organising cases and AI influence on working environment.

Inga Sabanova from FES Competence centre Future of Work offered an overview work done by the center and recources available. FGTB youth presented their initiative together with other Belgian union youth structures on setting up a “safe and welcoming” space for platform delivery workers, underlining the diversity of backgrounds and needs within this category of workers, that has to be taken into account while organising. Marieke Koning, ITUC took a deeper look into organising of platform economy worker and potential strategies, while calling to illustrate her messages with national examples.

Monika Tepfer from ITUC legal department briefed the participants on the upcoming standard setting process in ILO on platform economy and the necessity to interact with the government so that workers get the maximum support for adopting the respective Convention and Recommendation at ILC in June. Maria Tsirantonaki introduced ITUC Youth Committee priorities, work and plans for upcoming period.

The PERC Youth Conference also approved the report of the 7th PERC Youth committee and adopted changes in the Terms of Reference.

The Delegates of the Conference elected the 8th PERC Youth Committee:

Nikola Bobic (CATUS, Serbia) as a President of 8th PERC Youth Committee, Aleksandra Zdanowska (FNV, Netherlands) and Vedran Jurisic (KSBiH, Bosnia and Herzegovina) as vice-presidents, Dirida Nikollaj (KSSH, Albania), Eshgin Aliyev (AHIK, Azerbaijan), Yauheni Dzenisenka (BKDP, Belarus), Vasil Todorov (CITUB, Bulgaria), Kafia Hashi Mohamud (LO, Norway), Khrystina Levchenko (FPU, Ukraine) as members of Committee.