The declaration was proposed by the Lithuanian presidency based on the observations presented by member-states in July at the informal ministerial meeting in Vilnius. The declaration sets an objective for the member-states to improve the quality and supply of apprenticeship schemes, involving employers, the authorities, and the social partners, the Lithuanian Social Security and Labor Ministry said.
Lithuanian Social Security and Labor Minister Algimanta Pabedinskienė says the main objective of the declaration is to enable young people acquire efficient and high-quality experience and skills.
Youth unemployment in the EU is currently above 23 percent, i.e., double the jobless rate of older people. According to the press release, the countries with deep-rooted workplace learning traditions report the EU's lowest youth unemployment rates. For instance, youth unemployment stood at 7.7 percent in Germany and 8.6 percent in Austria in August.
