By KHALID HASSAN
Director, ILO Country Office for the Philippines

What lies ahead for young people in the Philippines after they graduate? In many countries in the world, the situation for youth is more complex. It requires looking beyond unemployment, but on how they move between work, training, and education.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) refers to this as youth who are not in employment, education, or training (NEET). It better reflects the realities that young people confront.

Globally, one in five young people, or 20.4 percent, were NEET in 2023. Two in three of these NEETs were female. High NEET rates and insufficient growth of decent jobs are causing growing anxiety among today’s youth based on the new ILO Global Employment Trends for Youth 2024 (GET for Youth).
Singapore is doing well in South-East Asia, while other countries, such as the Philippines, are still dealing with NEETs. Unfortunately, there has been little development in the last 15 years.

It is much worse and painful to see children and youth trapped in extreme poverty and child labor. The chance to transform their lives and transition into education or employment remains a distant dream.

Those living in conflict affected areas such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) or members of indigenous peoples’ groups confront unique challenges in breaking free. Imagine being stuck in a dark room, where it is difficult to see and survive.

However, a tiny spark like that from a candle can illuminate a dark room. It is better to bring light and hope than to stumble in the dark. An elected youth official of the Sangguniang Kabataan in Maguindanao sheds light on this issue.

She crafted a local resolution to provide education to children and youth, the majority of whom work in child labor and are members of an indigenous group, the Teduray. She spent her childhood husking and harvesting corn.

Her hardships extend beyond the farm, as she faced discrimination based on her gender preference and as a Teduray, but it never stopped her from becoming a beacon of light and hope in her community.

She has spurred innovation and collaboration using the ILO’s Supporting Children's Rights through Education, the Arts and the Media (SCREAM) into not just the legislation she proposed and implemented, but also the future of youth in her community. A project focused on reducing child labor in agricultural communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) with the Government of Japan spearheaded the initiative.

Her experience proves that with the right support and opportunities, even the most disadvantaged can spark transformative change. Even young people can help enhance access to education and improve policy responses.

August marks the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and the International Youth Day. Let us be reminded that the barriers our youth and indigenous peoples face require collective action. Each of us can help bring that tiny spark to drive change and create solutions.

Investing in quality education and skills development, including labor market information open pathways for youth to transition into decent work. In doing so, we help build a better future with social justice and leave no one behind.