Today in Brussels, the 8th Youth Conference of the Pan-European Regional Council (PERC) of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) commenced. The conference’s primary theme is “Youth Employment in the Digital Age — Challenges and Opportunities for ‘Fair Digitalization’.” The chairman of the Youth Council “Keleshek” of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ayan Salimgereev, who also represents the Youth Council of the Council of Trade Unions of the Central Asian Countries (CTUCAC), is participating in the forum.
In her welcoming speech, the General Secretary of PERC, Esther Lynch, addressed the conference delegates. She emphasized the importance of the work done by young trade union leaders in resolving issues faced by young workers worldwide. Lynch also highlighted PERC’s priorities, noting the relevance of integrating AI (artificial intelligence) technologies in drafting collective agreements.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the PERC Youth Committee, Yuri Varlamov, presented a report on the committee’s activities from 2022 to 2024.
During the event, international experts Bodson Zeiri and Knut Dethlefsen shared the experiences of Belgian trade unions and the Ebert Foundation regarding collaboration with trade unions on relevant social projects.
Ayan Salimgereev, chairman of the Youth Council “Keleshek” of the FTURK, presented Kazakhstan’s young trade union leaders’ stance in his speech. Salimgereev stated that the activities of young trade union leaders from Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region focus on supporting youth in the labor sector and further strengthening and developing the trade union movement.
“Our region is actively developing and seeking integration with PERC. Collaboration and experience sharing with European colleagues are significant steps toward achieving sustainable development and prosperity in our countries. Central Asia has immense potential, and we are ready to harness it to improve the quality of life for our citizens and strengthen economic ties. Currently, the main goal of the Youth Council is to engage youth in the trade union movement and develop solutions to protect young workers’ interests. One of the key events organized by the Youth Council of the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan was the International Youth Forum for Skilled Trades titled ‘The Evolution of Work: Climate, Skills, Code.’ The forum gathered participants from all regions of Kazakhstan, as well as international guests, providing an opportunity to discuss crucial topics related to the future of work in the face of global changes,” Salimgereev noted.
To further develop the PERC Youth Committee of the ITUC, the young trade union leader from Kazakhstan proposed several initiatives aimed at creating new jobs in “green” sectors of the economy, taking into account global environmental challenges.
“Our stance is clear: ‘No jobs on a dead planet.’ It is crucial to develop programs that promote sustainable development and reduce the adverse impact on the climate,” emphasized Salimgereev.
In his opinion, amidst rapid technological advancements, special attention should be given to training youth in skills relevant to working with technologies, including artificial intelligence and digital tools. Incidentally, the Federation of Trade Unions of the Republic of Kazakhstan has already initiated work in this direction by implementing an AI assistant for trade unions and is prepared to share these developments with colleagues.
According to the speaker, conducting educational events and training sessions for young activists and organizing programs to teach leadership skills and project management will help young people become more effective in their activities and more engaged in the trade union movement.
“The Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan initiated the organization of the PERC ITUC summer school in Kazakhstan, and we propose establishing youth quotas so that representatives from each country can participate in this event. We suggest creating a website for the PERC ITUC Youth Committee, allowing all member countries to share their work and achievements, fostering cooperation and learning from each other. This will serve as a platform for knowledge sharing and collaborative work for the benefit of all our nations,” concluded the FTURK representative.
The conference will also include elections for the new composition of the PERC Youth Committee. Each PERC member organization has the right to nominate a candidate for the Youth Committee positions: president, two vice-presidents, and six members. Ayan Salimgereev, chairman of the Youth Council “Keleshek,” is among the candidates. The election results will be announced on the second day of the Conference.
FTURK Media Center