The Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) hosted the First G20 Employment Working Group (EWG) Meeting in Gqeberha from 18 to 21 February 2025. Chaired by Acting Director-General Viwe Mlezana, the meeting facilitated South Africa presenting its employment policy priorities for feedback. The First EWG Meeting focused on Inclusive Growth and Youth Employment (Priority I) and Social Security and Digitalisation for an Inclusive Future of Work (Priority IV). The Second Meeting will take place on 8 – 11 April 2025 and will address Priorities II (Gender Equality in the Workforce) and III (Addressing Inequality and Declining Labour Income Share). The third and fourth meetings in June and July will build on these discussions in preparation for the declaration to be considered by Employment Ministers in early August 2025.
The First EWG Meeting discussed strategies for addressing the high NEET (youth not in employment, education or training) rates in G20 economies. Presentations by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), for example, highlighted youth unemployment trends, gender disparities, skills mismatches and job market instability. In alignment with the Antalya Goal’s objective of reducing NEET rates by 15% by 2025, the G20 Member Countries detailed their specific targets while concurrently focusing on strategic approaches to facilitate youth transition into decent jobs in the digital economy, both in wage and self-employment, with a particular emphasis on intermediation and the development of essential digital, entrepreneurial and transferable skills.
Furthermore, Brazil, the International Social Security Association (ISSA) and the ILO launched the G20 Social Policy Portal to facilitate knowledge sharing. The meeting also explored the impact of digitalisation on social protection, particularly for platform workers, emphasising their reclassification to ensure mandatory coverage. Innovative models, digital literacy and cybersecurity, were highlighted as key to addressing youth unemployment and evolving labour market needs. The initiatives outlined offer G20 Member States crucial opportunities for enhancing their employment policies. The focus on digital skills development, the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within labour frameworks and the targeted support for marginalised worker demographics, such as gig economy participants, provide a foundation for collaborative approaches. These strategies seek to cultivate a more inclusive and future-oriented workforce, addressing emerging challenges and opportunities in the labour market.
Outcome: Recognising the expiration of the Antalya Goal this year, the South African Presidency proposed the G20 Nelson Mandela Bay Target on Youth Employment, aiming for a 5% reduction in the NEET rate by 2030 for a further five years. Aligned with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this target acknowledges persistent youth labour market challenges and extends the 2015 Antalya Goal. Further discussion and potential adoption are slated for the Second EWG Meeting.
