CMNT_TITLE

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Iraq (RATIFICATION: 1970)

Other comments on C122

Observation

Direct Request

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Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. Coordinating employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report received in October 2013 concerning efforts of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA) to modify the institutional approach to employment. Consequently, the National High Commission for Employment and Vocational Training was set up under the chairmanship of MoLSA. With regard to the implementation of the National Employment Policy 2011–14, the Government indicates that some of its achievements include supporting small projects for numerous categories of unemployed persons, including persons with disabilities, supporting the private sector and providing institutional support to the vocational training centres and employment offices. With regard to poverty reduction, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government that 168 billion dinars (IQD) were allocated to the MoLSA under its poverty reduction strategy in order to provide small loans to targeted groups of the poor and socially vulnerable population to support small income-generating projects. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of its active employment policy in terms of job creation and poverty reduction. It also invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures adopted to promote the integration into the labour market of the unemployed, including women, young persons and persons with disabilities.

Education and training policies. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the expansion of training activities, including information on the number of training centres which has reached 34 in addition to three training centres that are under construction. It also notes that packages of training curricula were completed and additional ones are being developed. Moreover, the “Know About Business” programme was launched to provide the unemployed with skills and information to establish their own projects and encourage self-employment. In June 2013, there were 382 trainees who completed the programme. Furthermore, a training programme at work was launched with over a thousand private sector job and training opportunities available to individuals with lower qualifications. The Committee notes however that the programme has stopped, pending the promulgation of a special regulation. Referring to its comments on the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), the Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report on Convention No. 122 information on the manner in which it ensures effective coordination between training programmes and employment. Please also provide further details on training programmes and supply disaggregated data on the number of participants obtaining lasting employment once the training is completed. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to ensure that educational curricula and training content is coordinated with existing and anticipated employment opportunities.

Article 2. Collection and analysis of employment data. The Committee notes the statistics provided regarding the situation of unemployment as at 31 July 2013. It notes in particular that 579,649 persons were registered at the employment centres, out of which 116,318 were illiterate. The Committee invites the Government to provide updated statistics, disaggregated as much as possible, on the situation and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment in both the formal and the informal economy.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government indicates that the National High Commission for Employment and Vocational Training consists of more than 16 bodies which represent relevant ministries and employers’ and workers’ organizations. It adds that the National High Commission plays a guiding role in following up on the aims of the National Employment Policy. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on consultations held with representatives of employers and workers, including within the National High Commission for Employment and Vocational Training, on the formulation and implementation of employment policies and programmes.