Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Burkina Faso (Ratification: 2009)

Other comments on C122

Direct Request

2022
2018
2014
2013

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Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. Collection and use of employment data. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information so that it could examine the extent to which the employment objectives set out in the national employment policy have been or are being attained. In this regard, the Government indicates that the National Employment Policy (PNE) is based on four strategic objectives. The first is the reinforcement of the linkages between the PNE and other national policies (both transversal and sectoral), with a view to the integration of employment into these policies. The Government indicates that significant progress has been made in this respect in the National Economic and Social Development Plan (PNDES) 2016–20, which focuses, among other objectives, on the development of human resources and increasing the dynamism of leading sectors for the economy and employment. It adds that this progress takes the form of the improved consideration of employment in certain sectoral policies, such as those concerning industry, commerce and artisanal enterprises (POSICA) through the PNDES. The second objective of the PNE relates to the reinforcement of employment creation. For this purpose, the Government indicates that financing funds have been reinforced and employment creation projects and programmes implemented. The third objective is the improvement of employability through targeted training, initiation courses for young graduates and skilled workers, training in trades, training in entrepreneurship and enterprise management and the placement of young persons in voluntary work. The Committee notes that this action has been carried out within the framework of the programmes and projects referred to above. The fourth strategic objective of the PNE relates to improving the organization and operation of the labour market. In this context, the Government reiterates its previous comments, with the indication that the restructuring of the National Employment and Vocational Training Observatory (ONEF) has been commenced to improve its capacity through the implementation of a mechanism for the collection of data on employment and skills, and the establishment of a list of enterprises to be used to identify the skills and training needs of their personnel. Furthermore, the National Employment Agency (ANPE) is currently undergoing reform to enable it to perform its function of employment placement effectively. The Government nevertheless reports significant progress in the information system through the preparation of statistical yearbooks, brochures and periodic reports on employment. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the objectives of the PNE have been implemented. However, it adds that a review of the PNE has been commenced with ILO support in view of certain inadequacies related to current challenges relating to employment. With reference to updated labour market data, the Government indicates that the latest data are those of the continuous multisectoral survey (EMC 2014) and the mapping of youth employment undertaken in 2014 with the support of the ILO and the African Development Bank. According to this data, unemployment was 6.6 per cent in 2014, and affected 8.6 per cent of young persons between 15 and 24 years of age. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the outcome of the review of the PNE commenced with ILO support and the impact of the sectoral policies that have been undertaken. It reiterates its request to the Government to provide updated information on the labour market. In this regard, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the reform of the ANPE on the number of persons placed in employment and to provide updated statistical information, disaggregated by sex and age, on employment, unemployment and underemployment rates. Furthermore, it requests the Government to continue indicating the progress achieved in the compilation of employment data and once again requests the Government to specify the employment policy measures adopted as a result of the restructuring of the ONEF.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that several programmes have been adopted to promote the vocational integration of young persons. In 2016, the Informal Sector Support Fund (FASI), the Vocational Training Support Fund (FAPE), the Support Fund for Youth Initiatives (FAIJ) and the National Support Fund for Retrenched and Retired Workers (FONADR) financed 3,008 projects. The Government adds that 4,077 young persons have been trained through the Entrepreneurship Training Programme. The Committee notes that over 3,000 young persons trained in trades were provided with support for the creation of micro-enterprises during the period 2014–16, and 1,099 young persons have been placed in internships for initiation in working life within the framework of the Special Job Creation Programme for Young Persons and Women (PSCE/JF). It adds that 15,950 young persons have been placed in the labour-intensive works programme (THIMO) and 100 young school drop-outs have been trained to drive heavy vehicles in the context of the Youth Socio-Professional Integration Programme (PISJ) and the Youth Employment and Skills Development Project (PEJDC). In this context, 3,519 young persons were recruited in 2016 to teach at the post-primary level and 3,500 are being recruited in 2017. The Government adds that financing has been provided for 500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the Burkina Economic and Social Development Fund (FBDES). The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information, disaggregated by sex and age, on the impact of the programmes adopted for the integration of young persons into the labour market. It also requests the Government to provide detailed information on the content of training programmes and to provide statistical information, disaggregated by sex and age, on the number of persons who have participated in training courses and internships, and their impact on youth employment.

Employment of women. The Government indicates that 6 per cent of women are in employment, although 93.8 per cent of employed women are affected by employment vulnerability. The Government adds that 37 per cent of women who have work are very affected by poverty. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the programmes implemented to promote the lasting integration of women into the labour market and their impact.

General and sectoral development policies. In its previous comments, the Committee invited the Government to report the results achieved by the measures adopted to promote regional development. In reply, the Government indicates that 13 regional employment strategies (RES), accompanied by plans of action, have been prepared and approved. However, the Government refers to inadequacies in their implementation arising out of the inadequacy of the resources transferred for their implementation, difficulties encountered by regional actors in mobilizing funds and the instability of regional councils since 2014, followed by their dissolution in 2015. The Government plans to hold meetings with the various regional councils with a view to finding solutions. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of the outcome of the consultations held with the regional councils. In this regard, it requests the Government to indicate the measures planned or adopted to remedy the shortcomings in the implementation of the regional employment strategies and their plans of action.

Informal economy. The Committee notes the Government’s indications that formal employment only accounts for 6.6 per cent of total employment. The Government reports training sessions and the provision of financial support to micro- and small enterprises for those engaged in the informal economy. It adds that the training was provided within the context of the Informal Sector Grand Prix and that it covered enterprise organization and management, occupational safety and health, and the social projection of informal economy workers. The Government specifies that, between 2011 and 2015, a total of 844 informal economy actors benefited from training. During that period, the FASI also financed 7,564 projects, which created 1,942 jobs and consolidated 18,277 jobs. The Burkina Economic and Social Development Fund (FBDES) also contributed to the financing of social measures and the SME Financing and Promotion Agency through the PSCE/JF in the context of financing for informal economy actors. The Government indicates that the data from the national employment and informal economy survey undertaken in 2015 is not yet available. The Committee requests the Government to provide data from the national employment and informal economy survey carried out in 2015. It also requests it to provide detailed information, including statistics, disaggregated by sex and age, on the impact of the measures taken to assist informal economy actors, and particularly women, older workers and persons with disabilities, in terms of the creation of productive jobs and to facilitate their transition from the informal to the formal economy, taking into account the guidance contained in the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation, 2015 (No. 204).

Education and training policies. The Government indicates that the employability of labour is low in Burkina Faso. According to the 2014 data from the continuous multisectoral survey (EMC), 75.2 per cent of active persons have no educational level, 12.8 per cent have the primary level, 10 per cent have the secondary level and 2 per cent the higher level. In this context, 54 per cent of young men between the ages of 16 and 35 years have no educational level, compared with 71 per cent of young women. The Government indicates that only 4.9 per cent of these young persons have received technical of vocational training. It adds that the training profiles of the labour force are not matched to skill needs, particularly in the agricultural sector, in which only 0.2 per cent of the workforce has received training in agricultural, forestry and stock-raising trades. The Government reports a vulnerable employment rate of 89.7 per cent for the whole of the active labour force. However, it indicates that employed women are the most affected, with a percentage of 93.8 per cent, compared with 84.9 per cent for employed men and 89.2 per cent for employed young persons. The Government adds that women and young persons account for 4.3 and 5.9 per cent, respectively, of the formal economy, and that 36 per cent of workers in the country live below the poverty threshold. In this context, the Government recognizes that efforts are still required in relation to the employability of the labour force with a view to improving the quality of employment. The Committee refers to its 2014 direct request on the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), in which it requested the Government to provide information on the implementation of programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training, closely linked to employment needs, and it requests the Government to continue providing information on the impact of the education and training policies implemented in terms of the lasting integration of the most vulnerable categories of workers in the labour market, and particularly women and young persons. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted or envisaged to ensure coordination between education and vocational training policy and labour market opportunities.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the preparation and implementation of policies. The Government indicates that, within the framework of the National Employment and Vocational Training Council (CNEFP), consultations have been held with the social partners. They essentially covered the issue of the review of the PNE and the restructuring of the CNEFP. The Government adds that it was decided with the social partners to commence the review process in order to take into account the current requirements and challenges in relation to employment. With regard to the restructuring of the CNEFP, consultations were held in the Standing Technical Committee, which called for the establishment of a technical committee including the social partners. The Government reports the consultations held on various issues, such as the approval of thematic employment studies and the views expressed on specific action to promote employment and vocational training. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing updated information on the consultations held with the social partners in the context of the CNEFP. It reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the representatives of workers in rural areas and the informal economy with a view to securing their collaboration in the development and implementation of employment policy programmes and measures. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments in relation to the establishment of the technical committee including the social partners, as well as examples of the consultations held on various issues.