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

1. Coordination of employment policy with economic and social policy. The Committee notes the report received in September 2005, to which was attached a summary of the General State Budget by sector for 2005. The Committee notes the amounts allocated to labour matters and social development. The Government also briefly enumerates the six priority programme objectives which comprise its immediate plan of action for employment for 2005 and 2006. According to information from the Subregional Office, due to the lack of financing, the above plan was not initiated in 2005. The Committee notes that, although there was an increase in GDP and the volume of exports, the rise in the unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2005 in Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca was followed by a more significant decrease in the second quarter in relation to the same period in 2004, with the result that the average unemployment rate for the first half of 2005 was 11.1 per cent, which was slightly lower than the 11.3 per cent recorded in the same period in 2004. As indicated by the ILO in Panama laboral 2005, the low rate of generation of quality employment is also a cause of concern. During the period under consideration, informality on the labour market continued to rise (and affects around 60 per cent of the population), as did poverty, leading to great pressure on emigration. The Committee refers to its 2004 observation in which it requested the Government to provide detailed information on the manner in which employment policy objectives are related to other social and economic objectives. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment in the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers), who tend to experience most difficulty in finding lasting employment. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the statistical data compiled has served as a basis for the establishment of economic and social policies which give priority to the creation of productive employment (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

2. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. In response to the 2004 observation, the Government indicates that the experience of Peru has been a significant influence on Ecuador agreeing to establish the National Labour Council. Following two tripartite meetings, the National Labour Council was established and has held various consultations. The Government indicates that the participation of citizens through the people’s assemblies also provides opportunities for views to be expressed on the various economic and social issues. The Committee welcomes the examination carried out of good practices that have been established in the subregion and reiterates the importance of the Government providing information in its next report that is sufficiently full and detailed to offer a basis for assessing whether the measures adopted in relation to employment policy have taken fully into account the experience and views of the representatives of organizations of employers and workers, including the representatives of those working in the rural sector and the informal economy. In particular, the Committee would be grateful to be provided with information showing the manner in which the National Labour Council has participated in the formulation and implementation of an active employment policy, as required by the Convention (Article 3).