Ambassador Wayne and Secretary Velez Discuss Youth Employment Opportunities

Mexico City, January 17, 2012– U.S. Ambassador Anthony Wayne met with the Secretary of Labor Rosalinda Velez to discuss youth employment, worker training, and the G-20 labor ministerial, among other topics.

“The United States and Mexico can learn from each other in solving our shared challenges,” Ambassador Wayne said.  “Among the most pressing challenges for both our countries is the creation of job opportunities for our youth.  I was impressed to learn what the Ministry of Labor is doing to address this issue in Mexico by way of the Becate job training scholarship program.  Education and youth employment are key for both our countries to take advantage of our young demographic and to keep young people out of the ranks of organized crime.  And, of course, creating jobs for young people will be a topic for discussion among all G-20 governments during Mexico’s presidency of the group this year.”

Other topics discussed by Ambassador Wayne and Secretary Velez include efforts towards labor reform, the creation of jobs in the formal sector, and worker inclusion for the handicapped population.