Preparing for and obtaining decent work
Adolescence is a crucial period of human capital formation that is closely linked to schooling. The information revolution and the technological development of production and consumption are changing the nature of education, training and workplaces: “Continual learning” seems to be the current watchword.
Adolescents bring energy, talent and creativity to the workplace. They want to contribute, and the work environment brings them into contact with adults other than their teachers and parents, providing opportunities for mentoring and exposure to alternative role models.
BYND 2015: 2013 Costa Rica DeclarationSpecial considerations in the workplace. However, in many countries adolescents work for the economic survival of themselves and their families, and frequently they do not work in safe or remunerative settings. As the International Labour Organization indicates, “young workers deserve special consideration because they are:
- still growing, and their organs, muscles, and bones are still developing
- more sensitive to certain chemicals, toxic fumes, or noise than adults
- quick to move—sometimes without thinking—and more likely to take risks
- less experienced and need supervision and training
- bored more easily and may let their attention wander ”.28
Although generally strong, clever and eager, young workers must be kept away from jobs or parts of the work where they will be put at particular risk: When young workers and adult workers are doing the same tasks, the young workers are more likely to get injured.29 Working with the labour sector to develop regulations and to monitor the health and safety of workplaces is a key contribution that the health sector can make.
Many countries are concerned about young people who are not in education, employment, or training—often a large part of the youth population. When young people lack contact with the education system and the labour market, they cannot develop skills for meaningful employment. Across countries with available data, more young women than young men are in this category.30
During economic downturns the impact is greatest on young people. The 101st Session of the International Labour Conference in 2012 issued a call for action to address the situation of approximately 75 million young people worldwide who are out of work, many of whom have never worked, and the many more under-employed, mired in low-wage and insecure jobs. The ILO has an ambitious youth employment programme to take young people off the generation-to-generation “poverty trail” of inadequate education and training and poor jobs, aware not only of the damage to economic development but also to the health and well-being of young people that subsequently has impact across the life-course.
Preventing child labour. Adolescence is a period when “child labour” needs to be prevented. Child labour is defined as work that is harmful to physical and mental development and that threatens the potential and dignity of young adolescents. Prevention is particularly important at this age because this is when competencies, attitudes and connections with the working world are developing and need to be nurtured.
The health sector has important contributions to make: assessing the extent of health problems associated with hazardous labour, advocacy to highlight the adverse impact of child labour on adolescent health and development, mobilizing support for protective policies and legislation (and monitoring their implementation) and providing health services for young workers, particularly those in the informal sector and in hazardous work.
What is child labour?Working with the criminal-justice system. Many of the most marginalized adolescents come into contact with the criminal justice system, either because of the illegality of risk behaviours that they adopt (for instance, drug use and sex work) or are forced to adopt (as in the case of adolescents who are trafficked), or because of the strategies that they have had to use to survive. Reaching these young people with prevention, treatment and rehabilitation services requires close collaboration between the health sector and the criminal justice system in order to facilitate the implementation of evidence-informed interventions (for example, needle-exchange programmes).31
Working with the police can also help to identify young people who need particular attention from the health system, including adolescents who are abused or who are subjected to interpersonal violence.
United Kingdom
School stresses me out, and as a result I have been careless with my health, my diet, etc.
female, 18-19, Peru
Through school, as it is where we spend a lot of time, government initiatives of school wide health awareness should be somewhat compulsory, such as having speakers come to your school, organised by the government to choose from what organisation they come from, or your school, to speak about relevant health issues to students, from an understandable viewpoint. It is more effective than reading a pamphlet.
female, 15-17, Australia
For me, to be in good health means above all to have a family. I think that health is not only a physical thing but also mental because if you are surrounded by family or by people who love you, that can allow you to always be in good health (to smile, to be in a good mood)
female, 18-19, Gabon
Wide-scale action promoting sport: built-up of the network of bicycle paths and bicycle rents, discounts to sports centres, support from teachers to students who participate in sport competitions, varied and more inclusive physical education classes (overweight or disabled students too frequently find excuses to avoid exercises) 2) Increasing the awareness of importance of physical health and its relation to mental condition - by school education and social campaigns 3) Creating alternatives - youth needs to understand that getting drunk or taking tobacco/other drugs is not a good way to build up one's position among peers.
female, 18-19, Poland
I don’t talk about my difficulties. I use sports as a way to feel relief from all the bad things that have happened and happen to me, etc.
male, 18-19, Chile
When someone in my family, especially my mother, or a close friend shows their support for me.
female, 15-17, Paraguay
I think the way we know about the issues that affect us should be much better done, like at schools and on internet instead of just on hospitals.
female, 18-19, Brazil
I think that schools should do more than sport classes to improve their students health. Teaching the students how to cook healthy meals would be one of those things.
female, 18-19, Germany
Life is difficult, especially when you’re young and you have to be sitting down all the time. I feel that my body is being destroyed at school because I am forced to stay seated all day.
male, 18-19, Canada
I do not find enough time to perform sports and I find handy, unhealthy food in front of me
female, 18-19, Saudi Arabia
Adolescents on what can be done to improve health services: Improve and create more facilities, such as more primary health care centres in schools, community centres (that work well); encourage sports and extracurricular activities to help adolescents clear their minds.
female, 18-19, Venezuela
Through school, as it is where we spend a lot of time, government initiatives of school wide health awareness should be somewhat compulsory, such as having speakers come to your school, organised by the government to choose from what organisation they come from, or your school, to speak about relevant health issues to students, from an understandable viewpoint. It is more effective than reading a pamphlet.
female, 15-17, Australia
Ensure sexual education in all schools and give out contraceptives for free, as sexual issues are the biggest health problems faced by adolescents, venereal diseases, unwanted pregnancies, HIV.
Gender not specified, 15-17, Chile
