What this report is about Caritas Cares Poverty and social exclusion among young people France Report September 2017 This report describes the main challenges related to poverty and social inclusion among young people in France and provides recommendations for policy makers to address these challenges. The recommendations are based on an analysis of the grass-roots experience of Secours Catholique, which is compared to the official data. About Secours Catholique-Caritas France The mission of Secours Catholique - Caritas France forms part of the charter of solidarity and the diaconia of the Church in France. Based on the Gospel, Secours Catholique - Caritas France s mission is one of love and awakening solidarity, in France and all over the world. Our actors call upon everyone to embrace encounters; mutual assistance and the joy of fraternity; enhance the capacity of all to work towards everyone being able to live in dignity; combat the causes of poverty, inequality and exclusion and propose alternatives for the common good. Our values are: Confidence - an attitude that believes in and counts on everyone and values their abilities; Commitment - a willingness to serve, to give and to receive, to strive for justice; and fraternity - good relationships which show respect, affection, mutual assistance and the joy of being together. Our guiding principles for service mean that we work with people living in poverty; devote attention to the spiritual dimension of all; take time over relationships and take long-term action; and act in partnership and in local and global networks. We have a network that has gathered 67,900 volunteers throughout the French territory. In 2016, the organisation reached a total of 1,438,000 beneficiaries in France, which corresponds to 590,000 households. Percentage of families with children that are beneficiaries of our services: 53% of all households Percentage of young people that are beneficiaries of our services: 8% Women: 56% Men: 44% 1
Programmes that we carry out aimed at families with children: Income support Access to employment Access to education and training (VET, informal education, early school leaving, drop-outs, etc.) Programmes that we carry out aimed at young people: Income support Access to employment Access to education and training (VET, informal education, early school leaving, drop-outs, etc.) Recent publications by Secours Catholique: Secours Catholique: Statistical Report 2010 Secours Catholique: Défi jeunes outre-mer: Plaidoyer en faveur des jeunes d outre-mer: About the situation of young people living overseas Statistical report published in 2016 http://www.secourscatholique.org/sites/scinternet/files/publications/rs15couv-bd.pdf Institutional representative: Name Bernard Thibaut, general secretary Email secretariat.general@secours-catholique.org Press contact: Name Sandrine Verdelhan Email sandrine.verdelhan@secours-catholique.org 2
France s main challenges related to poverty and social exclusion among young people: 1 INCOME POVERTY: Minimum Income is not available for young people under 25. Living costs for youths are high. Benefit schemes do not cover basic needs. Young migrants are facing additional Youth population: 11.8 million challenges because of the lack of legal status. EDUCATION-TO-LABOUR TRANSITION: the Young people: 17.7% current school system is rigid and does not facilitate (EU average: 17.4%) employability. France has a very high dropout rate of pupils. The Youth Guarantee has not yet brought dynamism into the education system in order to connect the curricula to active labour market policies. Early school leavers: 8.8% (EU average: 10.7%) Youth Unemployment: 18.5% (EU average: 14.7) HOUSING: Youths have difficulties in emancipating from their parents home. The housing market does not offer a segment for youths. National policy, primarily, does not support enough youth. SOCIAL EXCLUSION: Poor opportunities are offered for marginalised youth Whilst the risk of entering into cycles of social exclusion through early school leaving is high, insufficient guided pathways are offered to reintegrate these young people as productive citizens within society. Housing cost overburden: 31.0% (EU average: 40.4%) NEET: 6.9% (EU average: 8.0%) At risk of poverty: 23.8% (EU average: 28.1%) Young people, Migration, Unemployment & School leavers: 2016; Housing cost, 2013. Latest available data - accessed 18/05/2017 Policy recommendations: 1. Guaranteed access to an adequate minimum income starting at age 18 (once they are no longer provided for by their parents). 2. Use the personal activity account to create a right to lifelong learning, with resources from the age of 18, guaranteeing everyone the benefit of years of training. 3. Provide legal status for young migrants when they turn 18. 4. Extend the experimentation of rent regulation to the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods. 1 For the purpose of this report, young people are considered people aged 18 to 29, in line with the criteria of the European Commission. The source of the data in the box is from Eurostat, consulted on 16/05/2017 from the latest available data. 3
1. Poverty and social exclusion among young people in France: the reality behind the data The problems of most concern in France Long-term unemployment/access to employment Access to housing Insufficient income Limited access to social protection systems Long-term unemployment Access to employment is the main difficulty for young people and an issue of concern for Caritas France. The youth unemployment rate is 24%. Of the 15-29 year olds, 15% are not in employment, education or training (NEETs). According to the Study and Research Centre on Qualifications (Centre d' étude et de recherche sur les qualifications- CEREQ), 1 in 5 young workers is still unemployed 3 years after leaving the education system. The consequence is immediate: according to the National Institute of Statistics (INSEE), 1 in 5 young people (18 to 29 Testimony "We are afraid of unemployment, what we want to do is work, find a real job." Young people living in Overseas France, Défi jeunes survey launched by the SCCF, 2016 years old) ) live below the poverty line, which represents nearly 1.93 million young people. Young people who are unemployed or in precarious jobs encounter difficulties in living independently. Two-thirds of the young people who have left the education system still live with their parents. Access to autonomy is thus made difficult, as various studies show. The situation is particularly difficult in Overseas France. In Mayotte, for example, 56% of young people aged 15 to 29 leave school without diploma or certificate. Our society is struggling to make room for its youth in the world of work. This leads to a societal paradox: young people at the start of their working life are not able to offer their potential and energy and instead become a burden on society and their families, while pension and social protection schemes as well as society in general need their contribution. Young people from all walks of life are affected: residents in rural areas or neglected urban areas, young people with a migrant background or long-term unemployed families, plus young people recently recognised as refugees and/or considered as vulnerable. 4
In October 2016, a report by the French Court of Auditors found that the 10 billion spent on supporting young people's access to employment was inefficient. It notes that short-term and targeted measures are the most effective, such as the Youth Guarantee or the Second Chance School. Yet, less than a third of financial endeavours are directed towards this type of approach. 2 A report by France Stratégie, on the labour market integration of youth, looks at the structural difficulties of the labour market (disfunctionality, precarious employment, etc.). 35% of all youth are on a temporary contract. 27% have benefited from assisted employment channelled through the private sector. However, small and medium enterprises could be engaged more effectively in these kinds of schemes, including the Youth Guarantee. 3 A recent report from the Economic, Social and Environmental Economic Council (CESE) on "Securing the pathway for young people's integration" lists the mechanisms and rights available to young people, and the figures revealing the precarious situation of young people in employment. It calls for establishing wider guarantees in contracting arrangements. 4 Access to housing According to the latest statistical report of Secours Catholique, 5 nearly half of all young people have been living in their current housing for less than 6 months. Young people are much more likely to be living in alternative or precarious accommodation (with close relatives, in shelters or on the street), but also in collective housing (homes, residences, reception centres for asylum-seekers) and in private rental accommodation. Young people, on the other hand, have limited access to social housing (Habitation à Loyer Modéré). Overall, their housing is of lower quality. Very often they have been in this type of housing for a short period of time. Their rents are slightly lower than those of older households, but a relatively bigger share of their budget goes to housing costs. According to the Association of the Student Foundation for the City (AFEV), 70% of young people experience difficulties in accessing housing. Of these, 30% have no other option but to stay with their parents. 6 The Federation of Solidarity Entities publishes a regular barometer on accommodation issues and recently reported that: "Between 10 June and 10 July 2017, the number of 2 Report by the Court of Auditors, 2016: L accès des jeunes à l emploi http://www.ladocumentationfrancaise.fr/var/storage/rapports-publics/164000630.pdf. 3 France Stratégie, 2017: "L' insertion professionnelle des jeunes", Paris. 4 CECE, 2017: Sécuriser les Parcours D insertion des Jeunes. 5 The report will be available in November 2017. 6 AFEV, 2015: "Access to housing for young people, determining their autonomy", Report, January 2015. 5
people aged 18 to 24 years requesting accommodation increased by 17% compared to the same reference period in the previous year. In all, over this same period, in 2017,13,205 requests for accommodation concerned 3,389 young people aged 18-24. [...] This increase in the age group of 18-24 year-olds highlights the sharp deterioration ofthe social and economic situation of this group, which has been impacted in particular by the difficulties of access to social benefits, the disruption of pathways out of residential childcare services and the lack of adequate housing solutions. 7 Access to minimum income schemes Currently, minimum income schemes or other related benefits that are available to young people are: Minimum income (Young people under 25 do not have access to the minimum income, (except in exceptional cases). Unemployment benefit (Young people who finished their studies do not have access to unemployment benefits if they haven t worked yet. Scholarship support Housing benefit Disability benefit Child allowance Alimony Young people, however, have limited access to these schemes and benefits. Legal residence is a requirement in order to have access to the benefits, and the minimum income is not accessible for people under 25 (except in exceptional cases). Concerning unemployment benefit, they need to have worked to have access to this. For the remainder of the benefits, there is no age limit. The minimum income schemes or benefits available are also inadequate to cover basic needs, since they are not high enough. The minimum income only concerns those over 25, which is too late. Finally, there is no real support for young people who have broken away from their families. Access to employment 7 Fédération des acteurs de la solidarité, 2017: Baromètre du 115, Paris. 6
The major problems related to the access of young people to employment are: Inadequate or poor quality education (early school-leaving or school dropouts) High levels of unemployment Availability of jobs Current services to fight poverty and social exclusion among young people The following services that could lift young people out of poverty and social exclusion are generally not available: Access to affordable housing Access to education and training (formal, non-formal or informal) Access to affordable childcare Transmission of poverty The transmission of poverty from childhood to young people is a problem in France. According to Alerte (a network of associations to which Secours Catholique belongs), "pupils from disadvantaged families are three times more likely to fail at school. 8 The same report points out that at the end of secondary school, only 35% of pupils in the most disadvantaged schools were proficient in French, compared to 80% in the most advantaged schools. 9 This reveals the challenges, derived from ethnic and social segregation, facing the French education system in bridging these very wide disparities. This also creates negative consequences in relations between families and the school system with real mistrust or even splits. Young people at higher risk of poverty Young immigrants Young homeless people Young Roma 8 CNESCO, Social and Migration Inequalities, Sept. 16, 2017. 9 ALERTE is a network of associations to which Secours Catholique belongs. See the report Inégalités sociales et migratoires : comment l école les amplifie? 7
The most vulnerable populations in Ile de France are: - The youngest: 18.5% of Ile-de-France households, whose head of household is under 30 years of age, are poor, - Tenants: a quarter of renters in the Ile-de-France region are poor (private and social housing combined), - Single-parent families: one-quarter are poor, in Seine-Saint-Denis even 34% of single parent households are poor, - Households with at least 2 children: 19% are poor; and larger families are even more badly affected. Young immigrants Among the young people we welcome at Secours Catholique (figures from 2016), most of them are young foreigners without administrative status, mostly from sub-saharan Africa (52%). They have recently arrived in France (38% for less than 6 months). They are most often single men (51.7%), who do not speak French well and who have difficulty reading and writing. They are awaiting formal status or documents, have no resources and are only entitled to state medical aid (AME). They come to the Secours Catholique especially for the activities concerning "listening, advice and reception" (78.4%) because they find themselves in a situation of isolation and lack family support networks both in economic and social terms. Testimony "I joined the Jeunes Solidaires de l' Essonne network in June. I planned to set up a project around the sub-prefecture, where immigrants line up all night long. I know the situation well. I myself am of Cameroonian origin. I had had about the same experience as they had before my naturalisation a few years ago. I had to miss classes in high school to fill out my application form at the prefecture. I remember seeing mothers and fathers in tears in the queue. Some had lost their jobs because of this waiting. It touched me, I wanted to help them. A young service user, Secours Catholique Young homeless people With regard to homeless youth, there are young French people without a family or who have broken away from their families. These young people live on the streets, in squats or with relatives, often in overcrowded housing. They cannot expect any help, even emotional, from their nuclear families. They mainly ask for food aid (66%) from Secours Catholique. The vast majority of them have dropped out of school. Young Roma Secours Catholique is a member of a national collective called Romeurope 10 and the Collective for the right of Roma children to education. According to a study published 10 www.romeurope.org 8
in 2016, more than half of adolescents aged 12-18 who are living in slums and squats in France do not attend school 11 : These are young people forced to live in extreme precariousness in slum or squats, mostly from Romania and Bulgaria, who often identify as Roma or are designated as Roma. Their life course is varied. Some of them have just arrived and have been educated e.g. either in their country of origin, or in another country when they arrived there. They speak three or four languages. Others have been in France for many years, without having been in school. They are, sometimes, parents themselves. Their common experience is their exclusion from the education system, their stigmatization and socio-economic insecurity. Rights that young people have more difficulties in actualising Right to education Right to work Right to housing Young people in France have more difficulties in securing the following rights: Right to education Right to work Right to housing The main problems related to not being able to actualise these rights are generally rooted in the marginalisation and the exclusion of citizens who are relegated to the fringes of society. The areas most affected by poverty evidence the greatest inequalities. The situation of the Ile de France region reveals this. As an INSEE study from June 2015 indicates, "Ile de France was, in 2012, the region where the median standard of living was the highest in the metropolis, but also the region with the greatest disparities in living standards: the standard of living above which the richest 10% of households were situated was 5 times higher than that below which the poorest 10% were located. In Rhône-Alpes, the second most unequal region, this ratio was only 3.5". 12 For Secours Catholique, the region's economic wealth should encourage harmonisation and the rebalancing of solidarity schemes. 11 Collectif pour le droit des enfants Roms à l éducation, 2016 Ados en bidonvilles et en squats, l école impossible? http://romeurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/2.-ados-en-bidonvilles-et-ensquats-l%c3%a9cole-impossible-rapport-du-cdere-publi%c3%a9-en-septembre-2016.pdf 12 Study by Secours Catholique, February 2016, La fracture territoriale https://www.secourscatholique.org/sites/scinternet/files/publications/fractureterritorialeidf.pdf. 9
BOX 1. Ratification and implementation of the European Social Charter related to young people FRANCE has ratified all Articles of the 1996 Revised European Social Charter. France has ratified the Additional Protocol providing for a System of Collective Complaints. This allows parliament and civil society to monitor effectively the obligations in fulfilling and providing basic social rights. More information on the provisions accepted by France can be found at this link. 10
How effective are France s policies to fight poverty and social exclusion among young people? Policies that are having a positive impact Policies Youth Guarantee Education policies combating early school-leaving and early drop-outs Access to affordable housing Reasons why they are being effective The implementation of the Youth Guarantee in France is a good example of an effective support system. This right to receive job counselling and placements for employment, training or further education is open to young people aged 16 to under 26 who are in a precarious situation and who are not in employment, education or training, and that favours their integration through intensive support. In France, there are education policy measures to prevent early school-leaving and early drop-outs. Amongst these are Second Chance School, access to training courses, etc. This is contributing to reducing poverty and social exclusion among young people, however, the measures affect only a small number of children - those who are still in the educational system - and do not attempt to reach those who have already left the system. And the tendency is to reduce the number of young people who have access to those measures According to the Ministry of National Education, 140,000 young people leave the education system every year without a diploma. The cost of dropping out of school is estimated at 230,000 per child over the course of his working life, of which 130,000 is lost tax revenue for the state. 13 In France, there are policies to ensure access to affordable housing for young people. The two most important housing benefits paid to young people are Personalized Housing Help (APL) and the Social Housing Allowance. For both there is no age criterion but you cannot have both at the same time. Unfortunately, the new government announced in early July 2017 that it has decided to reduce the APLs available to help low-income households pay their rent. 13 Ministry of National Education, November 2014, Partnership Assessment of the Policy to Combat School Failure. 11
Informal education and civic participation In France, there are policies on informal education and civic participation. These contribute to the reduction of poverty and social exclusion of young people. Civic service is an important tool to enable young people to engage in a project of general interest (in 6 years, 130,000 young people have been involved). The local centres of the public employment service also have a role to play in the social and professional integration of young people in order to guide and support them in their efforts to find a job. Unfortunately, this type of structure is not sufficiently developed and lacks the means to be of real help. This is also the case with subsidised contracts, which are a tool to encourage employment for the most vulnerable people - especially young people. However, the Government has announced a reduction in subsidised contracts (from 459,000 to 320,000 in the first year and then they will continue to reduce it). Thus, it suppresses the prospects of labour market integration for many people in situations of exclusion. Access to affordable childcare Childcare is offered, though it only partially contributes to reducing poverty and social exclusion. With regard to early childhood, it is necessary to continue efforts to create early childhood care places and to reserve 10% of nursery places for children from families in precarious situations. We must continue to pursue the State s announced objective of welcoming children under three years of age into school by ensuring that qualified personnel are hired, ensuring that for this mechanism enjoys good coordination between the National Education and the Child Benefits Office (Caisse d Allocations Familiales - CAF) in particular by the departmental family service scheme, when it is set up. 12
Example of an effective policy or programme related to young people Youth Guarantee: Labour Ministry - Access to employment A measure of the Multi-annual Plan against Poverty and for Social Inclusion is the "Youth Guarantee" which is aimed at young people in a precarious situation who are neither students nor employees. It provides an allowance to 18-25 year olds as part of an intensive pathway to employment and training. It involved 10,000 young people in 2014 and 100,000 in 2017. As the Collectif Alerte points out, it is important to open up the legal arrangements and administrative procedures of the "Youth Guarantee" to voluntary operators. This would allow experimentation, subject to evaluation, in order to cover the whole field of "neither students, nor employees, nor trainees (NEETs)", for both those eligible for the Youth Guarantee, and those who are excluded from it and who are sometimes the most precarious and vulnerable. Example of an ineffective policy or programme related to young people Access to minimum income for under-25s: Income support is insufficient: Today, the Revenu de solidarité active (RSA) represents only half of the poverty line for a single person and does not allow someone to live in dignity. We ask for a guaranteed minimum income (or single benefit) of 850, which corresponds to the threshold of 50% of median income. This income must be accessible to young people from the age of 18, plus those who are neither students nor trainees nor employed. The RSA is not a horizon for young people, but a means of subsistence that must be accompanied by training and support for employment. 13
2. The response of Secours Catholique: promising practices that combat poverty and social exclusion among youth Young Caritas summer university http://www.secours-catholique.org/young-caritas Description The Summer University is an event that brings together young people involved in Secours Catholique-Caritas France. It takes place annually at the end of August in Saint-Malo. The event is an opportunity to exchange views on the meaning of commitment and to discover the diversity of actions proposed by the association. This recurrent event gives young people a voice. It allows them to learn, exchange ideas, compare, deepen or reflect on a project or a theme within a framework combining teaching, conviviality and celebration. It is an opportunity to meet other young people who are working against poverty as well as those involved in foreign Caritas organisations. The target group is all young people aged between 18 and 30 years old who are involved in Secours Catholique, whether they are volunteers, employees, volunteers, trainees, etc. But it also aims to raise awareness beyond its ranks: young people who are not involved in the association and who want to reflect on and exchange ideas for 3 days can also participate. Problem addressed Giving a voice and space to young people. Results This year Young Caritas University brought together 700 young people involved in Catholic Relief on intercultural and inter-religious issues. Innovative features & success factors More and more young people participate in this gathering every year and want to get involved in activities as key actors of solidarity in France but also in other countries. It is an opportunity to meet other young people from around the world involved in projects of solidarity. Family Home 14
http://www.maisondesfamilles.fr/ Description The Maison des Familles offers an open space where families can come without registration, to experience times of exchange, meetings or meals with other families. Priority is given to families living in precarious circumstances but not exclusively so, in order to preserve a true social diversity. Actions are selected and prepared with the parents. It is about helping them to regain their self-confidence and their ability to act. These houses are staffed by employees and volunteers. They are established in Grenoble, Annecy, Le Havre, Mulhouse and very soon in Ermont, Vaulx en Velin, and Toulouse. Problem addressed The isolation and loss of confidence of parents when they live in precarious conditions. This isolation can make it more difficult to take up their role as parents and to educate their children. Results Parents re-connect with others, have other people with whom they can talk about their lives and their children's education, and regain self-confidence. Innovative features & success factors The development of parents within homes, the role they play in relation to newcomers. 15
3. Recommendations to address the described problems Recommendation 1: Guaranteed access to a minimum income starting at age 18 Problem addressed if implemented: Today, nearly 9 million people live below the poverty line in France, or 14.3% of the population, according to the latest INSEE estimates. Children and young people are particularly affected by poverty: 1 in 5 children and young people live in poverty and 1 in 4 are unemployed. The amount of the minimum social benefits, which vary greatly, does not provide people with sufficient resources to lead a decent life and enable them to integrate socially and professionally into society, and young people do not have access to the minimum income (Revenu de solidarité active the amount is 535 per month). This is why we want to introduce the RSA from the age of 18 and increase it to an amount of 850. Governmental department or responsible institution that measure: could lead this The Ministry of Labour (Ministère du Travail). Formulation of the recommendation A guaranteed minimum income (or single benefit) of 850, which corresponds to the threshold of 50% of median income, provided automatically and without any obligation to work. This income must be accessible to young people from the age of 18, for those who are not students or in training or employment. Main arguments supporting this measure: The dual observation that poverty particularly affects this age group, and that the 25-year threshold no longer has any real significance in relation to the reality of the labour market. The minimum income (Revenu de Solidarité Active- RSA) alone does not open perspectives for young people but is only a means of subsistence which must be accompanied by training and support for employment. Policy framework: This measure corresponds to the following targets of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): 1.2 reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions and 1.3 Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems ( ). How the European Commission could support this measure: Issue country specific recommendations regarding the provision of integrated services. 16
Recommendation 2: Use the personal activity account to create a right to lifelong learning, with resources from the age of 18, guaranteeing everyone the benefit of years of training. Problem addressed if implemented: To fight long-term unemployment, we must give people the rights they need to train and regain their place in this turbulent economy. The creation of a personal activity account (in 2016) is a way to leverage for effective training of low-skilled people. The personal activity account (CPA) includes the Personal Training Account (CPP) and the Citizen Engagement Account (CEC). We need to develop the implementation of the CPA to include more hours of training for the low-skilled unemployed. Governmental department or responsible institution that measure: The Ministry of Labour. Formulation of the recommendation could lead this Use the personal activity account to create a right to lifelong learning, with resources from the age of 18, guaranteeing everyone the benefit of years of training. Main arguments supporting this measure: Maintain a personal activity account to enable all low-skilled job seekers to receive at least 400 hours of training. To finance the measure with credits other than unemployment benefit in order to preserve the resources of the unemployed and prevent them falling into poverty. Policy framework: This measure corresponds to the Target 4.5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): By 2030, ( ) ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations. How the European Commission could support this measure: By ensuring sufficient funding for the ESF in the next Multi-annual Financial Framework and setting it as a priority for the French Programme. Recommendation 3: Provide legal status for young migrants when they turn 18 Problem addressed if implemented: A lot of young migrants arrive in France between the ages of 16 and 18. Until they turn 18 they are supported by child welfare (Aide sociale à l enfance). They become undocumented once they turn 18 (for those who arrive beyond 16 years of age). 17
Governmental department or responsible institution that measure: The Ministry of Home Affairs. could lead this Formulation of the recommendation Access to foarmal legal status automatically for young migrants when they turn 18 (no matter whether or when they were supported by child welfare). Main arguments supporting this measure: A lot of young migrants are living in a very precarious situation because they don t have formal legal status and they don t have access to training and they cannot work. Most of them arrive in France when they are minors (between 16-18 years old) and they become undocumented once they turn 18. Policy framework: This measure corresponds to Target 8.8 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers, in particular women migrants, and those in precarious employment. Recommendation 4: Extend the experimentation of rent regulation to the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods Problem addressed if implemented: Young people have difficulty in accessing housing, especially because of particularly high rents. As from 2015 in Paris and 2016 in Lille, rents must comply with the limit values set by prefectoral decree; what we call rent regulation. For Secours Catholique it is necessary to extend the regulation to additional disadvantaged areas and to measure its effects. Governmental department or responsible institution that measure: The Ministry of Social Cohesion. could lead this Formulation of the recommendation Extend the experimentation of rent regulation to the most disadvantaged areas so more people can have access to this trial regulation. Main arguments supporting this measure: Lower rental prices in the private sector, and increase security of rental risks. Through this experiment, young people - who are the public that is paying more expensive rents - can benefits fror this regulation. 18
Policy framework: This measure corresponds to Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and, in particular, its Target 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality. Disclaimer The information contained in this publication does not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission. Caritas Europa reserves the right to not be held responsible for the accuracy and completeness of the information provided in this publication. Liability claims regarding damage caused by the use of any information provided, including any information which is incomplete or incorrect, will therefore be rejected. This publication has received financial support from the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation "EaSI" (2014-2020). For further information please consult: http://ec.europa.eu/social/easi 19