International Organization of Employers promotes youth entrepreneurship

 The President of the International Organization of Employers (IOE) Dato Azman Shah Haron gave a speech during the General Assembly of the IOE, held in Geneva, Switzerland. He presented three priority axes set by employers in order to overcome the world economic and financial crisis.

They include wide-scale distribution of information about the IOE policies on international level – among related organizations with the UN, other international organizations with similar scope of activity, international institutions and labour unions. Secondly, it was proposed to strengthen the support granted by IOE to its members – organizations of employers in order to more efficiently defend the IOE policies on a national level. According to Mr.


Haron support for enterprises must be strengthened in order for them to successfully operate on the global market. Each priority must be bound with specific measures. During the plenary session the issue of youth unemployment was also raised. The resolution of youth unemployment problems must involve helping companies to open new jobs. The topic is also related to granting support to youth entrepreneurship.

Additional information about the Session of the IOE General Assembly

As scheduled, on 29 May 2012 in Geneva, Switzerland the General Assembly of the International Organization of Employers (IOE) took place. The assembly was organized in two session – morning (plenary) session and afternoon regional sessions for Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and the Caribbean, which were held between 2:30 and 4:00 p.m.

At the plenary session, statements were given by the IOE President Dato Azman Shah Haron and the new Secretary General Brent Wilson. Accent in the statements was placed on the new priorities of the IOE, called for by the necessity of finding an adequate response to the challenges posed before businesses as a result of the world economic and financial crisis. 

The new strategic priorities of the IOE are grouped in 3 directions:

• Wide-scale distribution of information about the IOE policies on international level – among related organizations with the UN, other international organizations with similar activity to the one of the IOE, international institutions and labour unions. Some of the specific measures proposed to achieve this goal include expanding the cooperation and joint initiatives with the ILO, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Business Africa, ICC, World Economic Forum, UNICEF, G20, World Bank, World Trade Organization, etc.;

• Strengthening IOE’s support granted to its members – organizations of employers in order to more efficiently defend the IOE policies on a national level. Specific measures proposed for this strategic axis include organizing regional meetings to exchange experience and good practices, carrying out profound research with regard to specific themes, elaborating action plans in relation to issues that have to do with industrial relations, etc.;

• Supporting enterprises in order for them to successfully operate on the global market. Measures proposed for realization of this goal include focusing the work of the IOE in 4 directions: (1) corporate and human rights, (2) corporate social responsibility, (3) global industrial relations, (4) safety at work and healthy working conditions. For each of the directions forums and events will be organized for companies, research will be carried out, information bulletins will be published, and consultations will be provided to companies by the organizations of employers, members of the IOE. 

Mr. Daniel Funes de Rioja, Executive Vice-President of IOE also gave a speech at the plenary session and touched upon two important issues related to youth unemployment. According to him the current problem of youth unemployment must be solved in view of how to help companies create new jobs. Social benefits for unemployed young persons and creating new jobs in the administration are not an alternative solution to the problem and would only shift the focus from the real solution – namely, employing more young people in the private sector. 

The second important thing emphasized by the Vice-President was that the topic of youth unemployment must be considered only alongside the topic of youth entrepreneurship. Young people must be encouraged to secure their own employment by starting their own business, and not only as hired workers. 

At the end of the day, a meeting of the delegates of the employers’ organizations to the International Labour Conference was held. The Management of the employers’ group in ILC was elected, as follows: Chairperson - Daniel Funes de Rioja (IOE Executive Vice-President); Deputy Chairpersons – Lassina Traore (IOE Regional Vice-President for Africa), Kamran Rahman (IOE Regional Vice-President for Asia), Renate Hornung-Draus (IOE Vice-President for Europe), Ronnie Goldberg (IOE Regional Vice-President for North America) and Carlos Villegas (IOE Regional Vice-President for South America). Mr. Brent Wilson (IOE Secretary General) was elected as Secretary of the employers’ group in ILC. Mr. Blaise Matthey (Switzerland) was nominated for Vice-President of the ILC. 

30.05.2012