Summary (English)

Argentina has several contributive and non-contributive programmes designed to address problems associated to the labour market. The international crisis created the need to strengthen and extend such programmes to face the consequences of reduced economic dynamism and consequently the creation of jobs. Year after year, young people continue to join the labour market presenting a significant challenge in terms of employment. According to data from early 2007, the number of unemployed young people not having completed secondary school amounted to 224,000, while the number of unemployed young people (to 24 years of age), irrespective of schooling completed, totalled 660,000. Hence, in times of crisis, programmes for protection from unemployment, together with others that also provide income for inactive people must face the twofold challenge of containing premature entry into the labour market, together with the need to provide resources to persons who, having joined the labour market, are unprotected. The paper discusses the position of an important programme tackling youth employment: “Young People with More and Better Work” (Jóvenes con Más y Mejor Trabajo). It was started in June 2008 and is co-fi nanced with funds from the National Budget and the IBRD loan. The programme is addressed to young people aged 18 to 24, with permanent residence in Argentina, who have not completed primary and/or secondary schooling, and are unemployed. Its aim is to create opportunities for social and labour inclusion for the young, through integrated actions enabling the latter to construct the professional profile with which they wish to work, complete their compulsory schooling, undergo training and skill-gaining experiences in work settings, start an independent productive activity, or get a job.