In a proactive move to lift up young working people across the twin-island nation, the Antigua and Barbuda Workers’ Union (ABWU) is preparing to welcome nearly 200 young laborers to Freedom Hall for its upcoming 2026 Youth Congress, scheduled to take place on November 10. This gathering is not an isolated event, but rather a core component of the union’s long-standing pledge to invest in its younger membership. The ABWU designed the congress to arm attendees with the practical knowledge and professional skills needed to adapt to a rapidly shifting global labor landscape, while also motivating more young people to engage meaningfully with trade union activity and modern labor relations. Blair Rose, president of the ABWU Youth Arm, emphasized that young workers today hold both an extraordinary opportunity and a critical responsibility to shape the trajectory of work for decades to come. “As the youngest demographic in the current workforce, and with governments across the globe raising the retirement age, our generation is set to spend more years in the labor market than any that came before us,” Rose explained. “That reality makes it essential that we take an active seat at the table when decisions about the future of work are being made – it is literally in our best interest to lead these conversations.” Rose went on to note that modern workplaces are in constant flux, driven by rapid technological innovation, shifting employment norms, and constantly evolving skill requirements. Against this backdrop, he said, it has never been more important for young workers to build a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities that affect them directly, and to add their voices to ongoing dialogues about what the future of employment should look like. Rose also confirmed that the congress will feature a dynamic, diverse lineup of guest speakers, with the full roster set to be revealed to the public in the coming weeks. “Every guest speaker joining us at Youth Congress 2026 is someone who refused to wait around for others to create opportunities for them,” Rose shared. “They took ownership of their own careers and their futures, and they’re coming to share that mindset with the next generation of workers.”
ABWU to Host Youth Congress Under the Theme “Lead the Change: Empowering Youth to Shape the Future of Work
