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

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report received in November 2005.

1. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Government indicates that Order No. 10 of 18 December 2003 on placement services has been implemented, aiming at providing free services nationwide for the unemployed and at improving the development of the labour market by strengthening professionalism and mobility. The main tasks of the placement services are to assist workers to find suitable employment while matching the labour force demands of the employers and to provide training and vocational guidance services. The Government also indicates that it expects its statistical analysis instrument, Suliaq, to be fully operational in 2006. However, as its electronic job bank, Isikkivik, has not produced the expected results, the Government is currently experimenting with a Danish electronic job bank service.

2. The Government further indicates that the percentage of women in the labour force is slightly higher than that of men (84.7 per cent compared with 82.5 per cent), while the unemployment rate stands at 6.3 per cent. The Government explains that, following the implementation of Order No. 10 of 2003, it is signing agreements with municipalities concerning the establishment of supervision centres. These centres, which were planned to start their activities at the beginning of 2006, will receive all enquiries from persons seeking employment, education, training or other social services. These centres should also provide the Government with more accurate data about the labour market. The Committee asks the Government to supply data regularly on labour market trends and information on the impact and the progress achieved through its placement services and its new statistical analysis instrument. It also requests the Government to keep providing details on how employment policies and programmes are kept under review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government indicates that the National Labour Market Council was abolished in 2004 and replaced by the National Council for Capacity Building in the Labour Market and Education. The Government indicates that the Council is composed of workers’ and employers’ representatives, representatives of the municipalities of Greenland, as well as representatives of vocational schools. Since its establishment, the Council has made a number of recommendations to the Home Rule Government concerning, in particular, ways to improve the educational system and increase training initiatives and opportunities. The Committee notes this information with interest and asks the Government to continue suppling information on the activities of the Council and on how its recommendations are taken into account in formulating, implementing and evaluating employment policies and programmes (Article 3).