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With reference to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in the reports received in July and November 2009. Moreover, the Government sent a report containing statistical information relating to the period ending October 2010. In comments sent to the Government in September 2010, the Autonomous Confederation of Workers’ Unions (CASC), the National Confederation of Trade Union Unity (CNUS) and the National Confederation of Dominican Workers (CNTD) state that an employment policy does not exist as such but forms part of other policies formulated and implemented by the Government in the production, fiscal and social spheres.
Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Government indicates in the report received in November 2009 that the Dominican Republic economy achieved average annual real GDP growth in excess of 6 per cent between 1991 and 2000. A local financial crisis occurred in 2003 as a result of the bankruptcy of three banks. After 2005, growth in GDP was restored until the impact of the global financial crisis made itself felt. The Government also indicates that the rate of employment lagged behind the dynamic growth in GDP. During the 2000–08 period, the average annual growth rate in employment was 2.4 per cent, with the creation of 569,000 new jobs. The Government regrets that most people are occupied in precarious work and have few or no qualifications – some 1.4 million persons consider themselves as non-professional self-employed workers. In addition, in the report received in July 2009, the Government indicated that, by means of Decree No. 340/09 of April 2009, the National Employment Commission (CNE), made up of an inter-governmental technical team, was revived. The trade union organizations mentioned above point out that the CNE has not held any meetings since May 2010. The Committee understands that an Employment Plan 2009–10 is being drawn up. The Committee refers to paragraph 785 of the 2010 General Survey concerning employment instruments, which states that there are three fundamental steps to achieving full, productive and freely chosen employment. The first is to make a political commitment to achieve full employment. The Committee observes that Article 2 of Convention No. 122 states that member States shall establish a clearly defined framework for coordinating economic and social policies. The Committee therefore again requests the Government to indicate the manner in which an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment has been formulated. The Committee hopes that the next report will include up-to-date statistical information on the size and distribution of the labour force and the nature and extent of unemployment as a key component in the implementation of an active employment policy within the meaning of the Convention.
Article 3. Measures for tackling the crisis. Participation of the social partners. In the report received in October 2010, the Government indicates that the global economic crisis had an impact on the economy, with the GDP growth rate decreasing from 5.3 per cent in 2008 to 3.5 per cent in 2009 and the Dominican Republic peso having been devalued by 2.2 per cent. The Government refers briefly to the stimulus measures adopted in the area of taxation. The Committee notes the meetings of the Social and Employment Policy Round Table held in January and February 2009, in the context of the “Summit on national unity in the face of the global economic crisis”. In order to overcome the global financial crisis, the social actors and other parties involved discussed and formulated proposals mainly intended to promote employment, support micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, promote entrepreneurs and create new enterprises. The Committee underlines the importance of ongoing and genuine tripartite consultations for confronting and alleviating the effects of the global economic crisis (paragraph 788, 2010 General Survey). The Committee again requests the Government to supply detailed information in its next report on the consultations held with respect to formulating and implementing an active employment policy. The Committee also requests the Government to supply information on the consultations held with representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken in other sectors of the active population, such as rural workers and workers in the informal economy.
Articles 1(3) and 2. Coordinated economic and social policy. The Committee notes that the State Secretariat for Economics, Planning and Development, with the collaboration of the National Council for State Reform, has drawn up a proposal for the “National Development Strategy 2010–30”. The third component of the strategy proposes an articulated, innovative and sustainable economy which has a productive structure generating substantial sustained growth with decent employment and plays a competitive role in the global economy. One of the general objectives within this third component consists of reorienting the economic structure in such a way as to be more conducive to the creation of decent jobs in sufficient numbers. The Committee requests the Government to supply information in its next report on the manner in which the objective of creating decent work has been reflected in the formulation of economic and social policy. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the National Development Strategy has been coordinated with a national employment plan.
Compilation and use of labour market information. The Committee notes the indication in the Government’s report received in July 2009 that a first edition of the Dominican Republic Labour Overview has been drafted. The report states that an observatory has been set up to monitor the behaviour of general labour market indicators, general characteristics of the economy, population trends and other important aspects such as technical and vocational training and social security for the workforce. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the labour market as compiled by the labour market observatory in the Dominican Republic.
Vulnerable groups. The data on the labour market supplied by the Government in the report received in October 2010 indicate that the unemployment rate remained at 14.9 per cent of the population, while still showing a sharper increase for young persons and still remaining higher for women than for men. The Government recognizes that informal occupation remains high, with 57 per cent of people working in the informal economy. The Committee highlights the fact that the specific lines of action of the second component of the National Development Strategy include seeking to raise human and social capital, increasing economic opportunities for people living in poverty, and strengthening the labour training system in order to facilitate access to productive work for persons living in poverty. The Committee hopes that the next report will include information on the measures taken to strengthen programmes designed to facilitate the access of young persons and women to the employment market and on the results achieved through those measures. The Committee requests the Government to report in detail on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, indicating the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable sections of the population (women, young persons, persons living in poverty, rural workers and those working in the informal sector).
Migrant workers. The Committee observes that one of the specific objectives of the second component of the National Development Strategy is to restructure and modernize the legal and institutional framework in order to strengthen the system for the management and control of migratory flows, in line with the best international practices and respecting the rights of the migrant population. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in the context of an active employment policy to prevent abuses in the hiring of foreign workers and of those who leave the country to seek employment opportunities abroad.
Coordination of training policies with employment policies. The Committee observes that the National Development Strategy provides for the consolidation of a high-quality higher education system and a system of further training in order to facilitate entry into the employment market, develop entrepreneurial capacities and increase the productivity of the population. The Committee again requests the Government to include detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to coordinate education and vocational training policies with prospective employment opportunities, including a summary of the results achieved by the National Institute of Technical and Vocational Training (INFOTEP).
Small and medium-sized enterprises. The Committee notes the promulgation of Act No. 488-08 of December 2008 establishing a regulatory regime for the development and competitiveness of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises. The Committee recalls that the 2010 General Survey also underlined the central role played by micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in reducing poverty through job creation, in accordance with the Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189). The Committee requests the Government to include information in its next report on the impact of Act No. 488-08 on the creation of high-quality employment and the reduction of poverty.
1. In its direct request of 2006, the Committee requested the Government to prepare a report containing detailed replies to all the points that had been raised, and reminded the Government that the drawing up of a report would enable the Government and the social partners to evaluate the way in which the objective of full productive employment established by the Convention could be achieved. The Committee observes that the report received in August 2007 only contains brief replies which do not allow an examination of the way in which this priority Convention is being applied.
2. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Declaration of an active employment policy. The Government indicates that plans were laid between October 2004 and September 2007 for a new active employment policy, creating 345,777 new jobs, with 59,141 jobs created between October 2006 and April 2007. In its previous report, the Government mentioned two poverty reduction programmes (“Food First” and “Solidarity”), under the responsibility of the President of the Republic. According to data published by the ILO in Labour Overview 2007, the urban unemployment rate was still at 16.2 per cent in 2006, with the unemployed population comprised of 9.2 per cent men and 28.8 per cent women, and also nearly 32 per cent for young persons between 15 and 24 years of age. The Committee emphasizes the central role to be played by employment policy in economic, social and development policies for generating employment and reducing poverty. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the way in which an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment has been formulated. The Committee would like to analyse the results achieved in terms of the creation of lasting employment and the reduction of underemployment in the framework of a national employment policy. The Committee requests the Government to include up to date statistical data on the size and distribution of the workforce, and the nature and extent of unemployment, as an essential basic stage in the implementation of an active employment policy within the meaning of the Convention.
3. The Government indicates in its report that the Government Council has implemented an action plan for the active creation of jobs and increased productivity. The aim of the plan is to create 400,000 new jobs. The Committee therefore requests the Government once again to include in its next report a summary of the abovementioned action plan and of other programmes containing specific arrangements which are components of an active employment policy, in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee requests information which will enable it to ascertain whether particular difficulties have been encountered in attaining the employment objectives established in the Government’s plans and programmes and the extent to which such difficulties have been overcome.
4. Article 1, paragraph 3, and Article 2. Coordination of employment policy with economic and social policy. In its report, the Government mentions the courses offered by the National Employment Service in 2007. It also refers to the holding of a workshop on national employment policy for young persons and women. The Committee requests the Government to provide further details of the way in which adequate coordination is established between the Secretariat of State for Labour, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Office with a view to formulating and applying an active employment policy. In this regard, the Committee reiterates its interest in being informed of the manner in which employment objectives were taken into account when formulating the Government’s other economic and social objectives.
5. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. In the report received in August 2007, the Government refers to previous information. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the consultations held in the Labour Advisory Council on the formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. Please also provide information on the consultations held with representatives “of the persons affected by the measures to be taken” in other sectors of the active population, such as rural workers and workers in the informal economy.
6. Employment promotion for young persons and women. The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report quantitative evaluations of the creation of productive employment as a result of the measures taken by the Government in favour of young persons and women. Please also include statistical data on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, indicating the manner in which they affect particular categories of workers in the Dominican Republic who experience difficulties in finding lasting employment, such as women and young persons.
7. Migrant workers. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken in the context of an active employment policy to prevent abuses in the hiring of foreign workers and of those who leave the country to seek employment opportunities abroad.
8. Coordination of education and training policy with employment opportunities. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to coordinate education and vocational training policies with prospective employment opportunities. Please indicate the results achieved in terms of the placement in employment of beneficiaries of the activities of the National Institute of Technical and Vocational Training (INFOTEP).
9. Part V of the report form. ILO technical cooperation. The Government states in its report that the ILO Subregional Office has presented a plan of action. In its previous comments, the Committee referred to the Tripartite Declaration on the promotion of employment and decent work in Central America and the Dominican Republic, concluded by the Ministers of Labour and representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations in Tegucigalpa in June 2005. In the Tripartite Declaration, among other significant policies, it was agreed to place the objective of the creation of worthwhile, sustainable and high-quality jobs, in accordance with the parameters of the ILO, at the centre of macroeconomic policy, with efforts being focused not only on controlling inflation and the fiscal deficit but also, and with equal priority, on the promotion of investment and equitable growth. The Committee requests the Government to supply information in its next report on initiatives that have been taken with ILO support to promote, in the context of the Decent Work Country Programme, the objective of the creation of productive employment as set out in the Convention.
1. Declaration of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report of October 2005. The Government adds to its report the study undertaken in 2002 by the ILO and the report of the project for the institutional strengthening of the Secretariat of State for Labour carried out in 2005 with the support of the Inter-American Development Bank. In its 2004 direct request, the Committee referred to the study undertaken by the ILO on “problems and challenges for an employment and decent work policy” in the Dominican Republic. The Government refers to two poverty reduction programmes (“Food first” and “Solidarity”), under the responsibility of the President of the Republic. The Committee notes with concern that, according to ILO information in Panorama laboral 2005, the open urban unemployment rate reached 18.4 per cent in 2004, which is one of the highest unemployment rates in Latin America. The informal economy has become a last resort for the unemployed and those on low incomes, which has prevented an even greater increase in unemployment. It also notes the very broad gap between the income of the poorest and the richest households. Taking into account the central role that employment policy should play in economic and social policies, and of development policy in generating employment and reducing poverty, the Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the manner in which an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment has been formulated. The Committee would also be grateful to be provided with information on the results achieved in terms of the creation of lasting employment and the reduction of underemployment in the framework of a national employment policy. The Committee requests the Government to provide up to date statistical data on the size and distribution of the workforce, the nature and extent of underemployment, as an essential basic stage in the implementation of an active employment policy within the meaning of the Convention (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).
2. In its previous direct request, the Committee requested the Government to include in its report a summary of the development plans and programmes which contain specific provisions establishing an active employment policy, within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee once again expresses interest in examining information enabling it to ascertain whether particular difficulties have been encountered in attaining the employment objectives established in government plans and programmes and the extent to which such difficulties have been overcome.
3. Coordination of employment policy with economic and social policy. The Government indicates that all the Secretariats of State which are directly involved with employment policy have been associated in its implementation and the identification of direct sources of employment. The Committee would be grateful to be provided with further information on the coordination established between the Secretariat of State for Labour, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Office with a view to declaring and pursuing an active employment policy. In this respect, the Committee reiterates its interest in being informed of the manner in which employment objectives were taken into account when formulating the Government’s other economic and social objectives (Article 1, paragraph 3, and Article 2).
4. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government indicates that two formal consultation procedures have been established through the COPARDOM and the National Council of Trade Union Unity. Furthermore, the employment policy is consolidated through the meetings of the Labour Advisory Council. The Committee requests the Government to provide fuller information on the consultations held in the Labour Advisory Council on the formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. Please also provide information on the consultations held with representatives “of the persons affected by the measures to be taken” in other sectors of the active population, such as rural workers and workers in the informal economy (Article 3).
5. Employment promotion for young persons and women. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the initiatives adopted to promote employment for young persons and women. The Committee reiterates its interest in being informed of quantitative evaluations of the creation of productive employment as a result of the measures taken by the Government. Please also include statistical data on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, with an indication of the manner in which they affect particular categories of workers in the Dominican Republic who experience difficulties in finding lasting employment, such as women and young persons.
6. Migrant workers. The Government indicates that foreign nationals have been found work in the construction, tourism and services sectors. It is reported that 1,302 Dominican nationals have benefited from the agreement concluded with Spain on the regulation and structuring of labour migrant flows. The Committee notes that almost 700,000 migrant workers from the Dominican Republic are in the United States. Remittances from migrant workers account for between 10 and 20 per cent of the country’s GDP. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted in the framework of an active employment policy to prevent abuses in the hiring of foreign workers and of those who leave the country to seek employment opportunities abroad.
7. The Government refers in its report to the implementation of training activities for young persons, in which an appropriate gender balance is sought. The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information on the measures adopted to coordinate education and vocational training policies with prospective employment opportunities. Please indicate the results achieved in terms of the placement in employment of beneficiaries of the activities of the National Institute of Technical-Vocational Training (INFOTEP).
8. ILO technical cooperation. The Committee notes the Tripartite Declaration on the promotion of employment and decent work in Central America and the Dominican Republic, concluded by the Ministers of Labour and representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations in Tegucigalpa in June 2005. In the Tripartite Declaration, among other significant policies, it was agreed to place the objective of the creation of worthwhile, sustainable and high-quality jobs, in accordance with ILO parameters, at the centre of macroeconomic policy, with efforts being focused not only on controlling inflation and the fiscal deficit but also, and with equal priority, on the promotion of investment and equitable growth. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on initiatives that have been taken with ILO support to promote, at both the national and subregional levels, the objective of the creation of productive employment as set out in the Convention (Part V of the report form).
9. The Committee requests the Government to prepare a report containing detailed replies to all the matters raised in this direct request. The Committee recalls that the preparation of a report provides the Government and the social partners with an opportunity to evaluate the manner in which the objective of full and productive employment established by the Convention is to be achieved. The Government may consider it useful to refer to the 2004 General Survey on promoting employment and to the provisions of the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195).
1. Declaration of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention, received in September 2003, referring to certain provisions of the Labour Code and indicating that the State implements economic growth and development policies intended to promote productive employment. The Committee notes the assistance provided by the Office with regard to the formulation of employment policies, and particularly the holding in December 2002 of a tripartite workshop on employment policy options in the Dominican Republic. In this regard, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the manner in which an active policy to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment has been formulated. Please also indicate whether action has been taken as a result of the technical assistance provided by the ILO in this field (Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention).
2. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would include in its report a summary of the development plans and programmes which contain specific provisions envisaging an active employment policy, within the meaning of Article 1 of the Convention. Please state whether special difficulties have been encountered in attaining the employment objectives set out in the plans and programmes and indicate how far these difficulties have been overcome.
3. Coordination of the employment policy with economic and social policy. The Government states that the General Directorate of Employment is a titular member of the National Planning Committee for the Vocational Education System (COMPLAN), the objective of which is to examine the progress made by the Secretariat of State for Labour in combating unemployment. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the coordination established between the Secretariat of State for Labour, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance and the National Planning Bureau for the declaration and perusal of an active employment policy. In this respect, the Committee would be grateful to be informed of the manner in which employment policy objectives have been taken into account when establishing the other economic and social objectives of Government policies (Article 1, paragraph 3, and Article 2).
4. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government states that it is its prerogative to hold consultations on any matter related to employment policy with the representatives of employers and workers. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the outcome of the consultations held, and particularly on the manner in which the full cooperation of the representatives of employers and workers is sought for the formulation and implementation of employment policy. Please also provide information on the consultations held with representatives "of the persons affected by the measures to be taken" of other sectors of the economically active population, such as those working in the rural sector and the informal economy (Article 3).
5. Please indicate whether formal consultative procedures have been established for the matters covered by the Convention.
6. The Committee notes that a large part of the population is under the poverty line, particularly in rural areas. The Committee trusts that in its next report the Government will also be able to indicate the manner in which employment policy measures contribute, in consultation with the representatives of the persons affected, to combating poverty.
7. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on overall and sectoral development policies, the development of infrastructure and industrial development, including quantitative evaluations of the productive employment created as a result of the measures taken by the Government. Please also include statistical data on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment and the extent to which they affect specific categories of workers who often encounter difficulties in finding lasting employment, such as woman, young persons, foreign workers seeking work in the Dominican Republic and those emigrating from the country in search of employment opportunities abroad.
8. In this respect, the Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the following points:
- education and vocational training policies - indicating the measures adopted to coordinate vocational education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities: in this regard, the Committee would be grateful to be provided with information on the results achieved in relation to the vocational integration of beneficiaries of the activities of the National Institute of Technical - Vocational Training (INFOTEP) and the programmes referred to by the Government in its report ("Youth and Employment" Vocational Training and Modernization Programme, Dominican Vocational Training Plan);
- the manner in which employment creation is promoted through small and medium-sized enterprises;
- the measures adopted for the creation of employment in the rural sector; and
- the manner in which free trade zones contribute to the creation of productive and lasting employment.
9. The Committee requests the Government, when preparing its next report on the application of the Convention, to also take into account the matters raised in the 1995 observation on the application of the Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88), and the evaluation of policies for the labour market integration with persons with disabilities (Convention No. 159). The preparation of a detailed report containing replies to the matters raised in this direct request will undoubtedly provide an opportunity for the Government and the social partners to evaluate the manner in which the objective of full and productive employment set out in the Convention is being achieved. The Government may consider it useful to refer to the General Survey of 2004 on promoting employment and the provisions of the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195).