CMNT_TITLE

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report for the period 1 June 1998 to 30 May 2000, as well as the comments provided by the Confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (TÜRK-IS) and the Turkish Confederation of Employers’ Associations (TISK).

Article 3 of the Convention. The Government states that consultations with employers’ and workers’ representatives take place through the Central Consultation Committee and consultation committees established in 12 villages. The social partners actively participate in the planning and organization of vocational guidance and training courses. The Economic and Social Council also is tripartite and discusses broader issues related to employment. It met once during the reporting period to discuss a macroeconomic programme. TÜRK-IS believes that the consultation machinery is not being used, and TISK advocates giving the Economic and Social Council a legal status and making it responsible for developing national employment policy. The Committee notes this information and would be grateful if the Government would provide further details on the manner in which representatives of workers and employers are consulted concerning employment policies and programmes, and whether any formal consultative procedures have been established. The Committee also requests information on the outcome of these consultations and on how the views expressed were taken into account in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of employment policies and programmes. Lastly, please provide information on the manner in which other groups affected, such as rural and informal sector workers, are consulted.

Article 1. TISK states that unemployment is one of the most critical problems in the country. It also draws attention to the high rate of underemployment, at 6.9 per cent, in addition to the problem of unemployment. The TISK considers that measures are needed to support production, investment and entrepreneurship. It expresses particular concern about the need to ensure that legislation, wage policies and collective bargaining are all sensitive to the need to promote employment. It questions the value of compulsory employment obligations, which harm productivity. Lastly, it supports the establishment of private placement agencies.

In the opinion of TÜRK-IS, the Government’s employment policy exacerbates unemployment, public investment does not create jobs, and no employment promotion criteria are applied in supporting the private sector. It also considers that many older workers are forced to retire at an early age and no measures are being taken to deal with widespread dismissals in the private sector.

The Government recognizes that unemployment increased from 6.7 per cent in 1998 to 7.3 per cent in 1999. The participation rate went down, from 72 per cent for men and 28 per cent for women in October 1998, to 70 per cent for men and 27 per cent for women in October 1999. Unemployment among youth has not changed. It is highest in the cities for men (at 25 per cent compared with 19 in rural areas), highest in rural areas for women (at 38 per cent compared with 33 per cent in cities). The difficulties in promoting employment were due in part to the earthquake on 17 August 1999 at the highly industrialized Marmara Region. To encourage investment, the Government is granting tax holidays for setting up an enterprise in cities considered in urgent need of development; and the National Employment Agency has channelled about 10 million dollars into training with employment guarantees and to developing enterprises in the regions affected. In general, unemployment is higher in urban areas (10.4 per cent) than in rural areas (2.9 per cent). The Government states that its biggest problem is urban migration with insufficient employment openings to absorb the jobseekers. Underemployment increased from 5.9 per cent in 1998 to 10.2 per cent in 1999, and was as prevalent in rural areas as in cities. The new unemployment insurance system has resulted in an increase in the number registering with the employment placement services as a condition for receiving benefit.

The Committee notes this information. It would appreciate receiving further information on progress made in promoting employment, particularly in light of the comments made by TISK and TÜRK-IS. The Committee has also raised other points concerning employment promotion programmes, education and training, and a new methodology for collecting labour market data in a request addressed directly to the Government.