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Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Aruba

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Observation

Direct Request

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Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour market measures.The Committee notes the information provided by the Government with respect to the various programs established with the aim of placing more people in employment. The Government explains that, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it undertook to develop a National Action Plan for youth employment (“NAP for youth”). During the pandemic, however, it was compelled to focus on programmes for all age groups in the labour market. The NAP for youth was included in these broader programmes. The Committee notes that the Let’s Work Programme (Ban Traha) is replaced by the “Aruba kier Traha” programme, which is a pilot project to accommodate youth in social assistance and guide them in accessing the labour market. The steering committee for the programme is composed of governments, employers’ organizations, unions and youth organizations. Its mandate is to help unemployed persons get back into the labour market as soon as possible. The Government also refers to the Social Training Programme (“STP”) as an important programme for young people between the ages of 18 and 24 who want a new chance for a better future. The Government adds that all participants in the STP are school leavers, but that secondary school graduates (MAVO) who aspire to a career in the army can also register. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the programme includes only young men, but that young women will soon be allowed to participate. Participants who complete the entire process can count on access to job mediation services offered by the Social Affairs Department and the Labour Department. With respect to employment trends, the Committee notes that, as of the end of 2019, the overall unemployment rate in the country stood at 5.2 per cent, whereas the youth unemployment rate was more than three times higher, standing at 16.2 per cent. Moreover, the Government estimates that some 2,700 people lost their jobs between January and October 2020, estimating that the overall unemployment rate as of October 2020 had reached 12.8 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the nature, scope and impact of the employment measures adopted, including the “Aruba kier Traha” Programme and the Social Training Programme. Taking particular note of the Government’s indication that girls have been excluded from the Programme, the Committee requests the Government to take measures without delay to ensure that the employment measures taken for young persons as well as all other groups ensure equality of opportunity and treatment for both men and women, boys and girls. In this context, the Committee also reiterates its request that the Government provide detailed updated information on measures taken or envisaged to promote the employment of persons who face particular difficulties in finding lasting employment, such as persons with disabilities and migrant workers. It also once again requests that the Government indicate the manner in which active labour market measures are kept under review within the framework of an overall coordinated economic and social policy, and that provide updated information, including statistical data disaggregated by economic sector, sex and age, on the current situation and trends regarding the active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment.

Measures taken to address the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government reports that, immediately following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it introduced a number of policies to reduce the negative impact of the pandemic on the labour market. These measures include provision of: (i) temporary financial assistance to those workers whose employment contracts were terminated and whose working hours were reduced to zero; (ii) a wage subsidy to employers, subject to the condition that they could not then lay off employees; (iii) quarterly financial assistance to small and medium-sized businesses; (iv) a temporary pause in applications for dismissal requests; (v) fiscal relief measures; and (vi) assistance in the form of food packages. The Government adds that, to avoid massive layoffs, it temporarily offered flexible working conditions and financial emergency aid through the Social Assistance Emergency Fund (“FASE”) and the Wage Subsidy Scheme. It reports that, in October 2020, 1,590 companies made use of the Wage Subsidy Scheme offered by the government, thereby benefitting some 20,868 employees. Temporary emergency aid was also issued through the FASE which benefitted some 3,729 workers during this period. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information on the nature, scope and impact of the abovementioned support measures, including the FASE and the Wage Subsidy Scheme, as well as to provide information regarding any other labour market measures taken to address and mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employers and workers.

Education and training policies and programmes.The Committee notes the Government’s indication that people who receive financial support in the form of temporary FASE emergency aid will be retrained through a participation pilot project. It further notes that the Department of Social Affairs, the Department of Labour Progress and the Department of Labour and Research have introduced various programmes to train, retrain and provide guidance to teenage and single mothers aiming to enter the labour force. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of these measures on persons who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19. It further requests the Government to include specific information on the nature and scope of the abovementioned programmes, including on the manner in which they have contributed to improving access to lasting employment and decent work for the young women concerned. The Committee also reiterates its request that the Government indicate the manner in which the social partners and other stakeholders concerned are consulted with respect to the development of vocational education and training programmes that meet the current and evolving needs of Aruba’s labour market.

Promotion of women’s employment.The Committee previously requested the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to promote women’s participation in the labour market, including those without family responsibilities and those in non-traditionally female occupations, and to provide statistical information on the labour market situation of both women and men in the public and private sectors. The Government has not, however, provided the information requested. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide information on the nature, scope and impact of measures taken or envisaged to promote women’s participation in the labour market, including women without family responsibilities and those in non-traditionally female occupations. It also requests that the Government provide statistical information on the labour market situation of women and men in the public and private sectors, disaggregated by sex and age.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies.The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it carries out the consultations required by the Convention. Noting the absence of concrete information in this respect, the Committee requests the Government to provide additional detailed information on the manner in which it ensures that representatives of the stakeholders concerned are consulted on the formulation, implementation and review of employment policies, including information on the nature and outcome of such consultations.