Arcos Dorados Invests in Employment and Training for Latin America’s Youth

  • Arcos Dorados is strengthening its position as a leading employer of youth across Latin America
  • New programs such as "My First Job" create pathways into the workforce for young people
  • Arcos Dorados’ program addresses a serious unmet need, as there are over 20 million youth between the ages of 15 and 25 in Latin America who do not study or work, according to the World Bank

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay--()--As part of its commitment to be a catalyst for social mobility, Arcos Dorados, the world’s largest McDonald’s franchisee, launched the "My First Job" program which aims to create employability and professional training opportunities for young people in Latin America, to address one of the great challenges of the region: youth unemployment.

The World Bank estimates that there are now more than 20 million young people between the ages of 15 and 25 who do not study nor work in Latin America1, a dynamic which contributes to rising inequality and, in some cases, violence and crime.

"Arcos Dorados is one of the main generators of first employment for young people in the region and we are focusing our efforts on this area, for its potential to have a transformative social impact. For several years we have worked in partnership with local governments and public and private institutions to promote the employment of young people. Now, this new program takes us to the next level – training focused on the development of skills needed in the labor market," said Sergio Alonso, CEO of the Company.

This initiative includes activities that incentivize participation and job training, as well as programs to assist the employment of people with disabilities and address gender equity. Arcos Dorados will continue to build partnerships with key players such as the labor departments in different countries and organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Forge Foundation, the Kuepa and the Global Fairness Initiative - with which the Company recently signed collaboration agreements to train young people in Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Mexico.

"Not only is training and development an essential part of the Company's DNA and we support and promote the continuous training of our staff at all levels, but we also want to generate greater social impact in the communities where we are present, through initiatives that help close the social divide and develop formal employment opportunities across Latin America. It is critical that companies and organizations across the private and public sectors work together on this issue," said Lyana Latorre, Arcos Dorados’ Senior Director of Corporate Social Engagement.

Of the more than 90,000 people Arcos Dorados employs across the region, approximately 90% are young people. At the beginning of their working life at McDonald's, young people learn the norms and methodologies of teamwork in a highly demanding operation, acquiring relevant experience and skills that make them well-equipped to face their professional lives.

To learn more about the work of Arcos Dorados with the community visit: www.arcosdorados.com

About Arcos Dorados

Arcos Dorados is the world’s largest McDonald’s franchisee in terms of systemwide sales and number of restaurants, operating the largest quick service restaurant chain in Latin America and the Caribbean. It has the exclusive right to own, operate and grant franchises of McDonald’s restaurants in 20 Latin American and Caribbean countries and territories, including Argentina, Aruba, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Ecuador, French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Trinidad & Tobago, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Company operates or franchises over 2,100 McDonald’s branded restaurants with over 90,000 employees and is recognized as one of the best companies to work for in Latin America. Arcos Dorados is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ARCO). For further information about the Company, please visit the Investors section on our website: www.arcosdorados.com/ir

1 https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/22349/K8423.pdf?sequence=5&isAllowed=y

Contacts

For Arcos Dorados:
Jane Searle, +1 (212) 710-9686
jane.searle@mbsvalue.com

Contacts

For Arcos Dorados:
Jane Searle, +1 (212) 710-9686
jane.searle@mbsvalue.com