Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the detailed and informative report submitted by the Government concerning the implementation of the National Job Creation Strategy and evaluation of the various programmes. The Government states that the major source of growth of employment has been part-time employment, although growth of full-time employment picked up in 1997 and 1998. According to the OECD Employment Outlook 1999, a persistently high proportion of female labour force participants are in part-time employment (40.7 per cent in 1998). Although many of these part-time jobs are permanent, the growth in casual part-time work has increased more rapidly. The OECD Employment Outlook 1999 also indicates that there has been a substantial increase in the long-term unemployment of men, from 24.4 per cent of male unemployment in 1990 to 36.5 per cent in 1998. During this same time, there was a substantial decrease in public expenditure on labour market training for the unemployed, from 0.16 per cent of GDP in 1994-95 to 0.06 per cent in 1997-98, and the participation rate of the unemployed in training schemes fell from 3.7 per cent in 1994-95 to 1.6 per cent in 1997-98. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment as they affect various categories of workers, such as part-time workers seeking full-time work and the long-term unemployed, as requested in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee also notes with interest the decline in unemployment among older workers, despite an increase in the participation rate for this cohort. It would appreciate receiving further details on the specific policies underlying this change. Lastly, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would include in its next report information on policies to promote balanced regional development and assist areas with particularly high levels of unemployment.