By REGINALD KANYANE
21 February 2025- The G20 First Employment Working Group (EWG) came to an end on Friday, with a commitment by governments for a further five-year target called the Nelson Mandela Bay Target on youth unemployment, aiming for a 5% reduction in the not in employment, education, or training (NEET) rate by 2030.
South Africa’s Employment and Labour Attaché based in Geneva, Siyabonga Hadebe, told delegates at the G20 EWG that the Nelson Mandela Bay Target was aligned with the conclusion of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets in 2030. Hadebe said the G20 Summit in Antalya Türkiye in 2015, focused on achieving a number of targets.
He further said findings of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) report, showed on its progress in 2022, that the goal towards achieving the Antalya target, to reduce the share of young people risked being permanently left behind by 15% by 2025.
Hadebe added that since the adoption of the G20 Antalya Goal in 2015, the past decade has been a period of unprecedented transformation in the world of work.
“The rise of remote and hybrid work models, breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation, and the rapid growth of the gig economy have fundamentally reshaped labour markets.
“These shifts have redefined the experience of young workers, presenting both new opportunities and complex challenges. The Nelson Mandela Bay Target is not merely a continuation of past efforts but a transformative step forward,” he said.
Hadebe said it builds on the progress and lessons learned from the Antalya Goal, while addressing the evolving realities of the global labour market. He said the new commitment calls on G20 members to reduce the proportion of youth (ages 15–29) not in employment, education, or training (NEET) by a further 5% by 2030.
“Address gender disparities and expand access to quality jobs for young people, focusing on empowering young women. The Nelson Mandela Bay Target on Youth Employment is a call to action to scale up investments in youth employment by operationalising comprehensive youth employment strategies.
“These strategies must prioritise the creation of more and better jobs for young people to ensure that they are not only employed but also engaged in work that offers dignity, security and opportunities for growth,” he said.
According to Hadebe the presidency is flexible and amenable to adjustments, counter-proposal and enhancements, aiming at introducing our joint and genuinely consulted Nelson Mandela Bay Target and its elements at the Meeting of Ministers in August and the Leaders’ Summit later in the year.
Meanwhile, the Department of Employment and Labour Acting Director General, Viwe Mlenzana, welcomed the constructive engagement by G20 member States and invited countries during the meeting. Mlenzana said youth unemployment in some G20 countries remains high at rates above 10% and inputs provided by delegates provide G20 with crucial tools for enhancing employment policies.
“The Nelson Mandela Bay Target builds on the Antalya goals and sets a clear goal on reducing NEETs, enhancing youth transitions through decent work and ensuring no young person is left behind.
“The strong support expressed by member States and invited countries today reaffirms our shared reality to turn this vision, inclusive growth, targeted skills development, and robust social protection systems,” he said.
The Guardian 