Canada’s jobs minister used an international labour meeting in South Africa to announce new funding for youth employment programs and reinforce the country’s workplace equality goals.
Patty Hajdu, minister of jobs and families, wrapped up Canada’s participation at the G20 Labour and Employment Ministerial Meeting in George, South Africa, on July 31. The two-day gathering focused on inclusive growth, youth employment and gender equality in workplaces.
New international funding announced
Hajdu announced a $7-million project called Green Growth – Empowering Youth for a Green Future, developed with SOS Children’s Village Canada. The three-year initiative will operate in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Somalia to help disadvantaged youth, particularly young women, gain skills for green economy jobs.
The funding came on behalf of Randeep Sarai, secretary of state for international development.
Canada supports G20 employment targets
Canada backed several employment targets proposed by the G20 presidency. The Nelson Mandela Bay Goal on Youth aims to reduce rates of youth not in employment, education or training by five per cent by 2030.
The Brisbane-eThekwini Target seeks to cut the gender gap in labour force participation by 25 per cent by 2030. A new G20 target would reduce the gender wage gap by 15 per cent by 2035, with a review planned in five years.
Domestic programs highlighted
Hajdu discussed Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, which received an additional $351.2 million in 2025-26. The program involves 12 federal departments and will create more than 90,000 job placements for youth in sectors including green technology, artificial intelligence, skilled trades and advanced manufacturing.
She also mentioned Canada Service Corps, which creates up to 20,000 volunteer opportunities over three years, and the expansion of student grants and interest-free loans.
The minister highlighted domestic equality initiatives, including equal pay enforcement, the Equi’Vision pay transparency website, and the Canada-wide early learning and child care system being built with provinces, territories and Indigenous communities.
Bilateral meetings held
Alongside the G20 meetings, Hajdu met with counterparts from Brazil, Germany, Ireland, Lesotho, Singapore, South Africa and the United Kingdom to discuss economic ties and best practices for helping workers adapt to changing job markets.
“Building the strongest economy in the G7 means working together across borders and across generations,” Hajdu said. “At the G20, we’re tackling the challenges ahead, and securing opportunities that are essential to building a more inclusive, and resilient global economy.”
The G20 represents 19 countries and two regional unions, accounting for more than 85 per cent of global GDP, over 75 per cent of global trade, and more than 66 per cent of the world’s population.
Canada’s early learning and child care system supports creating 250,000 new spaces by 2026, with families of about 900,000 children already using affordable child care across the country.
