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Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Switzerland (RATIFICATION: 1977)

Other comments on C142

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Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. Vocational training programmes. Collaboration with the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending in May 2013 and the observations made by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (USS/SGB), received in October 2013. In reply to the 2009 observation, the Government indicates that the Federal Department of the Economy, Training and Research (DEFR) launched the consultation procedure in November 2011 concerning the preliminary draft federal Bill on further training. The supporting message for the Bill was approved by the Federal Council in May 2013 and forwarded to Parliament. The Committee also notes the measures adopted in the framework of the initiative launched by the DEFR in 2011 to combat the shortage of skilled personnel. The Government specifies that, at the round-table meeting held on 21 May 2013, the federal and cantonal representatives and the social partners expressed support for the strategy. Each partner proposed measures to combat the shortage of skilled labour and four fields of action have been identified: raising the skills level to respond to enterprise needs; encouraging innovation with a view to increasing productivity and thereby attenuating the shortage of skilled personnel; creating good working conditions for older workers; and improving the reconciliation of work life and family life. The USS/SGB reports a decrease in contributions by the federal Government to the financing of training grants. In 1990, this contribution covered secondary II education (education after the completion of compulsory schooling), as well as higher education and vocational training, and accounted for 40 per cent of the investment, while in 2011 the contribution only covered higher education and vocational training and only accounted for 8 per cent. The USS/SGB also points to a lack of coherence between cantons and an approach based on place of residence, which results in an unacceptable unequal treatment of those receiving grants. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the results achieved by the measures adopted with a view to promoting youth employment, including the numbers receiving education grants and of low-skilled young persons and those without qualifications. Please also continue to report on the consultations held with the social partners, with a view to ensuring their collaboration in the formulation and implementation of human resources development programmes and measures.

Article 3. Vocational training. The Committee notes that, in accordance with the Federal Act on vocational training, the cantons are responsible for providing vocational, university and career guidance and that, in order to do so, each canton administers guidance services. These services provide guidance to users, help them to take decisions concerning the choice of an occupation, and provide information, documentation and expertise. The Government adds that the Confederation does not centralize information on the measures taken by the cantons to ensure the provision of information and guidance to all the persons concerned. Nevertheless, it refers to several websites, including that of the Swiss Media Institute for Education and Culture. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken with a view to ensuring to all persons concerned comprehensive information and the broadest possible guidance on systems of vocational guidance and continuing employment information.