CMNT_TITLE

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period August 1998 to November 2000. The Government refers to the changes that have occurred since 1998, when employment growth slowed down as a result of the international financial crisis. The national unemployment rate reached 8.9 per cent at the end of 1999, with young persons between 15 and 19 years of age (26.8 per cent) and between 20 and 24 years (18.8 per cent) being particularly affected. The Committee notes that resources were allocated for programmes of urban enhancement, the upgrading of slums and the Ministry of Housing. Furthermore, employment termination subsidies were doubled and the level of resources for training increased. Nevertheless, according to an analysis by the Multidisciplinary Advisory Team in Santiago, economic growth did not generate sufficient employment, which may be attributed not only to difficulties in achieving an economic recovery, but also to the situation of small enterprises. It is reported that major enterprises are once again recruiting significant numbers of workers, but employment levels in small enterprises remain constant. The Government concludes that the economic crisis affected Chile less than the other countries in Latin America in terms of growth, inflation and the size of the public deficit. Nevertheless, since 1999 the effects of the economic crisis have been felt on employment. In these circumstances, the Committee hopes that the provisions of the Convention will continue to be taken into account and that an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment will be declared and pursued as a major goal and as an integral part of a coordinated economic and social policy, in consultation with all the categories of the persons affected. In this respect, the Committee trusts that the Government will in its next report address the following matters, which were raised in its 1997 direct request:

(i)  Please continue to provide information on the programmes implemented and the results achieved in meeting the employment needs of special categories of underprivileged workers, such as women, young persons entering the labour market, workers in precarious forms of employment and workers affected by restructuring measures;

(ii)  Please indicate the employment policy measures which have been pursued and the programmes which are being carried out, and the extent to which initiatives designed to promote economic development or achieve other economic and social objectives have taken into account their impact on the labour market.

2. The Committee notes that, according to the National Training and Employment Service (SENCE), enterprises used only 35 per cent of the resources earmarked for the training of workers. Please indicate the extent to which the objective of training 1 million workers annually as of 2005 is being achieved.

3. Article 3. The Committee refers to its previous comments, in which it indicated that the consultations required by this provision of the Convention should cover all aspects of economic and social policy which affect employment and, in addition to representatives of employers and workers, should involve representatives of other sectors of the economically active population, such as those working in the rural sector and the informal sector. The Committee once again requests that the Government provide detailed information on the manner in which their experience and views are taken fully into account, their full cooperation is secured and the necessary support of the social partners is enlisted in formulating employment policy.

4. Part V of the report form. The Committee notes with interest the studies prepared by the Multidisciplinary Advisory Team in Santiago on employment policies and recruitment subsidies and requests that the Government indicate in its next report the action taken as a result of the assistance provided by the ILO concerning employment policy, and on any factors which may have hindered or delayed such action.