Poverty still exists because the system of world trade has determined that poor countries will not have access to knowledge and technology, the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) said on Tuesday.
”We have poverty all over the world, not because we do not have resources to deal with it, but simply because the resources have been used to sideline the majority of the people while a few lead a conspicuous-consumption lifestyle,” said ANCYL president Fikile Mbalula.
Mbalula was speaking at the World Social Forum in Nairobi, Kenya.
The forum focused on decent work, which covers more and better jobs with welfare protection and equal opportunities.
Mbalula said the attainment of decent jobs and poverty alleviation is related to various other issues such as access to knowledge, investment, technology and entrepreneurship.
”Therefore, it is crucial to facilitate agreements and partnerships that would implement our concept of solidarity between the affluent and the poor and those who own investment capital and those who need jobs.”
He said Europe has countries endowed with productive knowledge and technology, which, if transferred to poorer parts of the world, can help alleviate poverty.
”The problem with the global-market economic system is that it is premised on the logic of the survival of the fittest.”
Mbalula said unemployment and poverty affect the whole world.
”While we may appear divided by race, nationality, ethnicity, gender or class, the truth is we are all fighting for common ideals when it comes to poverty alleviation and decent work.
”It is for this reason that upon the analysis of the concerns dominant in the majority of the world’s people, this issue of decent jobs and decent life gives hope for a decent work alliance.”
Mbalula called on young people to fight for their right to work in a decent environment.
The European Union Council on Tuesday endorsed European Commission proposals to strengthen its policies, actions and programmes to promote decent work both within the union and worldwide.
The council said although the United States, Japan and China have agreements with Africa, they will bear no fruit for as long as there are no progressive forces in those countries agitating for the rapid implementation of those agreements. — Sapa