Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

1. Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. Vocational training programmes. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes the report received in August 2008 containing information responding to the direct request of 2005. The Government recalled that, under section 1 of the Federal Act on Vocational Training (LFPr) which came into force in January 2004, organizations in the world of work are invited to participate in the process of formulating and implementing vocational guidance policies and programmes. The Committee also notes with interest the measures taken in the context of the “Modell F” label to enable training institutes to offer training courses with a degree of flexibility. It also notes the support measures for young people who are seeking entry into the labour market. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the consultations held with representatives of the professional organizations in order to obtain their cooperation in the formulation and implementation of human resources development programmes and measures. It asks the Government to include detailed information on the results achieved by the measures taken to promote youth employment, particularly those with few or no qualifications.

2. Article 3. Vocational guidance. The Committee recalls, as it did in its direct request of 2005, that the Convention provides for the gradual extension of systems of vocational guidance, including continuing employment information, “with a view to ensuring that comprehensive information and the broadest possible guidance are available to all children, young persons and adults” (Article 3, paragraph 1, of the Convention). The Committee requests the Government once again to indicate the measures taken to ensure that such information and guidance are made available to all persons concerned and relate to the areas covered by Article 3, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Convention.

3. Furthermore, the Committee invites the Government to include, in its next report, its own observations on the points raised by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions in the communication transmitted in September 2008.

[The Government is requested to reply in detail to the present comment in 2009.]