The Unione Sammarinese Lavoratori (USL) — San Marino’s Workers’ Union — has sounded the alarm over the condition of the younger generation and the growing number of young people giving up on both education and employment. The union points out that the phenomenon is not fully captured by official employment statistics, but has become increasingly visible in the daily lives of many families. USL has announced plans to tackle the issue through the creation of a Youth Observatory.
In its statement, USL explains that “from the very first days of her mandate, USL’s Secretary General, Francesca Busignani, strongly pushed for the creation of a Youth Observatory. This is a category of people who have, for some time now, become increasingly exposed to risk.”
The union also reiterates the urgent need to move forward with the approval of the Family Law (Legge Famiglia), describing it as an issue that can no longer be postponed. “It is right, then, to move quickly on approving the Family Law — an approval that can no longer be delayed — and to try to reverse the declining birth rate trend. But we must also focus on protecting young people, so as not to risk losing them,” the statement reads.
According to USL, the employment figures risk painting an incomplete picture of the situation. “Looking at the numbers that capture our country’s employed population, everything would seem fine. The fact that this isn’t the case isn’t shown by statistics, but by the people — parents and grandparents dealing with young people who don’t appear on unemployment lists because they don’t want to study, work, or even leave the house,” the statement highlights.
In support of this analysis, USL cites the “Ri-Attivi” project, launched through an agreement between the Secretariat of State for Labour and the InVolo cooperative, aimed at young people who are neither studying nor working. For USL, “‘Ri-Attivi’ (…) gives a sense of just how widespread the problem is.”
The union also notes that the issue is not confined to San Marino alone. “Not even in neighbouring Italy are young people doing well, since inactivity is rising there too: while employment among those over fifty is increasing, it is unfortunately declining among 15- to 24-year-olds,” the document states.
USL goes on to invoke the concept of a “reverse generational relay,” explaining that it “sees increasingly older people staying in work while young people drop out.” Among the causes identified, the union points to a shift in priorities among the younger generation. “Young people now put their own time first and are unwilling to work in environments that leave them no room for themselves or for caring for their loved ones. This is something we will gradually need to come to terms with, or risk finding ourselves, in the not-too-distant future, without any workers left,” the statement affirms.
The statement also touches on the possible effects of social media use. According to USL, “the misuse of social media fosters isolation among young people, especially those who, having experienced bullying, retreat into their homes and replace the real world with a virtual one. This self-imposed isolation doesn’t just represent a loss for the labour market — it also causes serious conditions affecting young people’s physical and mental health.”
The union concludes by reaffirming its commitment to the issue: “In the current debate over these pressing concerns, the role of the union is crucial. USL doesn’t have ready-made solutions, but drawing on the many cases it has long followed closely, it stands ready to play its part and offer a constructive contribution.”
