Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Colombia (Ratification: 1967)

Other comments on C088

Observation

Direct Request

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The Committee notes the observations of the Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CTC), the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and the Single Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CUT), received on 1 September 2021. The Committee also notes the observations of the National Employers Association of Colombia (ANDI), received on 31 August 2021. The Committee requests the Government to send its comments in this regard.

Articles 1–3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes with interest the adoption of Decree No. 1823 of 2020 amending Decree No. 1075 of 2015 (Single Decree regulating the labour sector), which regulates the administration and provision functions of the Public Employment Service (SPE). Decree No. 1823 of 2020 establishes measures to strengthen basic employment services, and also specialist services aimed at improving conditions of employability, continued presence in the formal labour market and human talent management procedures. Among other measures, the Decree modifies the procedure and extends analysis and reply times with respect to the authorization of service provision by the Public Employment Service with the aim of enhancing efficiency in the review of authorizations for service provision and more comprehensive follow-up with respect to the authorized provider network, and with a view to better coverage of the provider network by the SPE Unit. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the SPE has extended its coverage and presence in the national territory. In this regard, the Government states that, as at 31 July 2021, the SPE comprised 448 public provider network service points in 194 municipalities, with a maximum capacity to cater for over 3 million persons per year, and also 254 private provider service points which offer employment management and placement services. The Government also reports on the implementation of the programme entitled “Strengthening employment and training policies for national work (2020-24)”, which provides for the introduction of technological, institutional and management improvements to enhance the SPE information system with a view, inter alia, to consolidating a single employment exchange that enables access and management with respect to all vacancies throughout the SPE provider network, strengthening services aimed at eliminating obstacles to labour market entry, and facilitating placement in employment for the public. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing detailed, up-to-date information on the measures taken to ensure efficient functioning of the Public Employment Service. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing detailed, up-to-date information on the numbers of existing public employment offices, applications for employment received, offers of employment notified, and placements effected by Public Employment Service offices.

Articles 4 and 5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that even though the regulations regarding the SPE do not incorporate employers’ and workers’ representatives in its structure and operation, these actors may be consulted in the context of dialogue forums, such as labour sector committees or subcommittees, headed or convened by the Ministry of Labour. The Government also indicates that the labour market entry model implemented by the SPE with a focus on bridging gaps provides for establishing closer contacts with employers in order to identify their needs, with the aim of providing candidates with appropriate knowledge and skills and reducing the obstacles to entry into employment. The Committee notes the indication by the ANDI that the employers’ organizations participate in various bodies for employment promotion, job placement and vocational training through partnerships with public and private entities such as the executive committee of the SPE Unit and the National Training Service (SENA). The Committee requests the Government to provide examples of the manner in which the social partners participate in the activities of the Public Employment Service. The Committee recalls that Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention require the establishment of advisory committees with a view to ensuring the full cooperation of employers’ and workers’ representatives in the organization and operation of the Public Employment Service.

Article 6. Measures to facilitate labour market entry. Vocational training. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government regarding the measures implemented by SENA between 2015 and 2021 to reinforce vocational training for workers and facilitate their entry into the labour market, as well as the impact thereof. The Government refers, inter alia, to measures for comprehensive vocational training and the certification thereof, and for technical vocational training, virtual training and life-long learning. The Committee requests the Government to continue sending detailed, up-to-date information on the impact of the measures implemented to enhance vocational training for workers, including persons in situations of vulnerability, and to facilitate their entry into the labour market.

Article 7(b). Particular categories of applicants for employment. The Committee notes that the Government, in its report on the Unemployment Convention, 1919 (No. 2), indicates that certain population groups have been identified which face difficulties in entering the labour market, such as young people, women, persons with disabilities, and migrants. The Government indicates that the SPE has established two levels of intervention: (i) a basic level, comprising basic job management and placement services; and (ii) a specialized level, comprising additional services aimed at alleviating obstacles for jobseekers based on identification of their needs. The Government states that the SPE, as at July 2021 in the context of its services, had placed 385,950 persons in employment (including 170,210 women, 157,303 young persons, and 1,196 persons with disabilities). The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the type and scope of services provided by the Public Employment Service for priority groups in vulnerable situations, such as women, persons with disabilities, and migrants. The Committee also requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information, including statistical information disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of such services.

Article 8. Special measures for young people. The Committee refers to its comments on Convention No. 2, in which it notes the various measures adopted to tackle the high rate of youth unemployment. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on the efforts made to promote jobs for young people in local and departmental entities on the basis of formal employment opportunities offered through the SPE. In this regard, the Government states that action has been taken to strengthen dual training initiatives which alleviate young persons’ lack of work experience, technical assistance has been provided for the development of methodologies for the identification of employment opportunities for young people, and guidance has been given to students with regard to vacancies and occupational profiles required by the productive sector. The Committee also notes that the CTC, CGT and CUT refer in their observations to the study entitled “Youth employability in economic recovery in Colombia” produced by the University of Rosario and the Alianza Efi (partnership for the formal and inclusive economy), which determines the intervention systems with different focuses that are needed to stimulate the stable recruitment of young persons and schemes that link available training with job applications. The Committee requests the Government to continue sending detailed, up-to-date information on the type and scope of measures adopted by the Public Employment Service to provide assistance to young people seeking lasting employment.