WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1449/96 by Christine ODDY to the Commission. 'Underworked and underpaid' - a TUC report on young people's labour market experiences in the 1990s
Date: 1996-06-12
Institutions: European Parliament, ODDY
Subjects: Structural Funds, exchange of information, labour market, pay, unemployment, young person













EUR-Lex - 91996E1449 - EN






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91996E1449

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1449/96 by Christine ODDY to the Commission. 'Underworked and underpaid' - a TUC report on young people's labour market experiences in the 1990s  


Official Journal C 305 , 15/10/1996 P. 0100 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1449/96 by Christine Oddy (PSE) to the Commission (12 June 1996)Subject: 'Underworked and underpaid' - a TUC report on young people's labour market experiences in the 1990sIs the Commission aware that the TUC published on 14 February 1996 a report on young people's labour market experiences in the 1990s?Is the Commission further aware that according to this report the gap between unemployment rates for all ages and unemployment for the under-25s is greater in the mid-90s than in the mid-80s?Is the Commission also aware that young people's relative pay has also fallen in the same period, so that young men now earn 73.9% of the hourly average compared to 82.8% in April 1984, while young women's earnings are now 66.3% of average hourly earnings compared with 70.5% in April 1984?Given these alarming figures what steps does the Commission intend to take to alleviate the hardship faced by young people?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (12 July 1996)The Commission is well aware that young people have been among the worst hit by unemployment. In the Community the unemployment rate among young people has risen from 19.6% in 1988 to 21% in 1996. There is no single reason why the unemployment rate for young people is so high. It requires a wide range of measures to address the very distinct nature of the underlying problems, and concerted action by the widest possible range of actors at local, regional, national and Community level.The conclusions agreed at the Essen European Council, further endorsed by the Cannes and Madrid Councils, highlighted the needs of the young as a priority for action in the Member States. In adopting the single report from the Ecofin and social affairs Councils, heads of state and of government issued a clear mandate for action in favour of young people, and the Commission will continue to monitor actions and measures in the Member States to the benefit of all disadvantaged groups in the labour market. The Commission's proposal for a Confidence Pact ((CSE(96)1 final. )) also urges a joint initiative by the social partners for the integration of young people into the labour market, including better interaction between the beginning of working life, and innovative forms or organisation of working time.In addition, the Commission will continue to fund a wide range of activities in favour of young people through the structural funds and in particular through objective 3 of the European social fund. It has also developed a particular strategy to promote youth employment through its Youthstart programme, which is designed to underpin financially Member State efforts and specific measures for young people. It encourages them to explore new options in the fight against youth unemployment, especially through the transnational exchange of experience and support for local projects which are not part of existing national programmes.