Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

1. Coordination of employment policy and poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s report, received in September 2005, which contains the information requested in its 2003 observation. The Government provides information on the activities undertaken by the labour market observatory for the formulation of vocational training programmes, on the operation of the employment placement system and on programmes for underprivileged groups (young persons and women heads of households, persons with disabilities). The Government indicates that the underemployment rate is 34.6 per cent, with the national unemployment rate being 6.8 per cent (in 2004). Around 8,000 jobs have been lost in the export processing sector as a consequence of Asian competition in the textile sector. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the results achieved in terms of the creation of lasting employment and the reduction of underemployment in the framework of the national employment policy. The Committee asks the Government to include in its next report detailed information on the measures adopted in the context of the national employment policy. Furthermore, the Committee would be grateful to be informed of the infrastructure development measures adopted and their impact on employment creation, as well as the manner in which the trade agreements negotiated have affected the labour market (Article 1 of the Convention).

2. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government refers to the establishment of a standing tripartite employment forum to contribute to placing the objective of the generation of high-quality jobs at the centre of economic policy. Studies have been undertaken in the Higher Labour Council with a view to the formulation of a national employment policy. Furthermore, a national policy has been formulated for the promotion of youth employment. The Committee requests the Government to supply the documents adopted on the national employment policy and for the promotion of youth employment. It would be grateful if the Government would include detailed information in its next report on the employment created as a result of the implementation of the above policies. The Committee also requests the Government to give consideration to the manner in which the consultations required by the Convention can include representatives of the most vulnerable categories of the population, and in particular representatives of rural workers and workers in the informal economy, in formulating programmes and seeking support for the implementation of employment policy measures (Article 3).

3. ILO technical cooperation. The Committee notes the “Tripartite Declaration for the promotion of employment and decent work in Central America and the Dominican Republic”, concluded by the Ministers of Labour and representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations in Tegucigalpa in June 2005. In the Tripartite Declaration, among other significant policies, it was agreed to include the objective of the creation of worthwhile, lasting and high-quality jobs, in accordance with ILO parameters, as central to macroeconomic policy, with efforts focusing not only on controlling inflation and the fiscal deficit, but also and with equal priority on the promotion of investment and equitable growth. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on the initiatives taken with ILO support to promote, at both the national and subregional levels, the objectives of the creation of productive employment as set out in the Convention (Part V of the report form).