Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 2001, Publicación: 90ª reunión CIT (2002)

1. With reference to its 1998 direct request, the Committee notes the statistical data contained in the Government’s report, which shows a decrease in unemployment between 1995 and 2000. The unemployment rate was 6.6 per cent (in 2000), a percentage point lower than the average registered over the period 1994-99 (7.6 per cent). Nevertheless, the problem of rural unemployment appears to be greater than urban unemployment, thereby reflecting, according to ECLAC, internal disparities in terms of poverty, income and opportunities. The Committee hopes that the Government’s next report will include the updated information required by the report form on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and, in particular, underemployment. In this respect, the Committee requests that the Government provide information on the manner in which unemployment and underemployment affect women, young persons and rural workers (and particularly on the employment impact of the alliance’s labour plan).

2. The Government refers in its report to the adoption of the Act respecting equality of opportunity for persons with disabilities (which will be examined in greater detail in relation to the application of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159)), and the legislative initiative for the adoption of a new apprenticeship law. The Committee requests that the Government provide information in its next report on the impact of these initiatives in obtaining lasting employment for persons with disabilities and young persons wishing to enter the labour market.

3. The Government refers in its report to the adoption of a National Competitiveness Programme which, through specific projects, seeks to increase the competitivity of enterprises so that they can operate in a changing and globalized world. Furthermore, attempts are being made to promote foreign investment with a view to generating 5,000 jobs and to developing a national high technology services industry. In this respect, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue indicating in its reports the impact on employment of the structural reforms which have been undertaken and if it would report on the labour market measures and programmes implemented with a view to matching labour supply and demand in order to ensure that the categories of workers affected by structural adjustments remain in the labour market.

4. The Government states in its report that the Act respecting industrial free zones and commercialization entered into force and is intended to broaden and diversify production and export markets. The Committee requests that the Government provide information in its next report on the manner in which the above export processing activities and zones have contributed to the creation of productive and lasting employment.

5. Article 2. The Government states in its report that, in accordance with the principles underlying the new culture of work, more effective mechanisms and procedures will be established to monitor and evaluate labour market statistics. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue providing information in its reports on the manner in which the principal employment policy measures are decided upon and kept under periodical review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

6. Article 3. The Government refers in its report to the three advisory bodies of the Ministry of Labour (the Higher Labour Council, the National Minimum Wage Council and the Consultative Commission). The Higher Labour Council is entrusted with developing recommendations on the implementation and revision of social policy, including employment policy. In this respect, the Committee once again requests that the Government provide in its next report examples of the recommendations or proposals made by the Higher Labour Council concerning employment policy so that it can examine the manner in which the full cooperation of the sectors consulted is sought in formulating employment policy and enlisting the necessary support for its implementation.