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Sixth month consecutive rise in EU unemployment

Tuesday, 13 October 2020 11:39 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 14 October 2020 2:30 AM ]

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Jerome Hughes

Press TV, Brussels

Young people living in the European Union are wondering what the future will hold. Youth unemployment was very high even before the pandemic, especially in countries like Greece, Spain and Italy.

EU employment ministers have held a video conference to discuss the COVID-19 crisis. During a virtual press conference we asked why we should trust their support plans now given that measures taken after the 2008 economic crash appear to have failed.

One of those who participated in the ministers' videoconference admitted many young people who are enticed into the EU to work are being exploited. Since COVID-19 took hold in the 27-nation EU, unemployment has grown every month for the past six months.

The statistical office of the EU, Eurostat, says in August 15.6 million men and women were unemployed in the bloc. It is believed official data is not providing the full picture. The situation is almost certainly much worse, experts suggest.

Workers' unions warn that 45 million part-time jobs in the EU are at risk of being lost permanently unless the European Commission's €750bn COVID-19 recovery fund is utilised quickly and, crucially, that the money is invested wisely.

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