Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2007 indicating that a framework document on employment policy is currently being formulated under the supervision of the ILO. A committee composed of the representatives of the various social services and organizations concerned has also been established with a view to facilitating the collection of data that can provide the basis for a true employment policy coordinated with training, social security and retirement policy. The Committee notes the poverty reduction and growth strategy paper (October 2005) which indicates, among other matters, that the registered unemployment rate is 14.3 per cent. It notes that this rate fluctuates in an irregular manner between and even within islands, and that it is high in urban areas. Almost two-fifths of the economically active population and the majority of the rural population work in the primary sector. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the measures adopted to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is placed at the heart of macroeconomic and social policies. It hopes that the Government will be in a position to indicate the concrete measures adopted and implemented in consultation with the social partners with a view to promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment.

2. The Committee once again emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for the compilation of labour market data so that policies can be based on an accurate appraisal of labour market conditions. The Committee once again requests the Government to keep it informed of any progress achieved in this field and to provide information on the employment policy measures adopted as a result of the establishment of new labour market information systems.

3. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. In the absence of any new information from the Government on this subject, the Committee recalls that it is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the General Survey of 2004 on promoting employment). The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the consultations envisaged by Article 3 of the Convention, which requires the consultation of all the persons affected, and in particular representatives of employers and workers, when formulating and pursuing employment policies.

4. Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. Finally, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the action taken for the implementation of an active employment policy within the meaning of the Convention, following the technical assistance received from the ILO .

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2008.]