CMNT_TITLE

1. Paid educational leave for the purpose of general education. The Committee notes the Government’s detailed report received in March 2009 including replies to the 2005 direct request. The Committee takes note of the amendments made in 2007 to the Employment Relationship Act adding employability to the purposes of employees’ education. It also notes that, under the Social Agreement concluded with the social partners for the period 2007–09, the Government has undertaken to encourage the retraining, additional education and employment of workers with inadequate, uncompleted or insufficient education. The Committee further notes the information provided in the Government’s report on a number of programmes for staff education and training co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund within the framework of an active employment policy focused on competitiveness, employability and lifelong learning. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken, within the framework of a national policy on paid educational leave, to contribute to the attainment of the objectives set out in Article 3 of the Convention as well as on the manner in which such policy is coordinated with general policies concerning employment, education and training (Article 4). Please continue providing information on how the arrangements for paid educational leave are financed (Article 7).

2. Paid educational leave for the purpose of trade union education. The Committee notes that the conditions for granting paid educational leave for the purpose of trade union education are set out in sectoral collective agreements under which the right to paid educational leave is granted only to trade union representatives. The Committee further notes that more favourable provisions in this regard may be provided under specific agreements with the employer. The Committee notes the provisions of the 2007 Workers Participation Management Act under which paid educational leave is also granted to workers’ representatives appointed as members of workers’ councils in order to acquire the knowledge required to perform their duties. The Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information on other measures envisaged to extend the granting of paid educational leave for the purpose of trade union education to workers other than those with trade union responsibilities (Article 2(c)).