Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2002, publiée 91ème session CIT (2003)

1. The Committee notes the Government’s report, received in June 2002, in which it refers briefly to the process known as National Dialogue 2000, which led to the preparation of a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper. This dialogue has also led to consensus on health, education, land ownership and support for the productive infrastructure. As a consequence, in June 2001, the international financial institutions made arrangements allowing Bolivia to benefit from the Enhanced Initiative for Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC), under which Bolivia benefited from a considerable lightening of the debt service (in the order of 2 billion US dollars until 2020). Indeed, some 58.6 per cent of the population of Bolivia is currently living below the poverty threshold. The Committee asks the Government to provide information in its next report on any measures taken to promote the objectives of full and productive employment set out in the Convention in the implementation of the Bolivian Poverty Reduction Strategy. In this respect, the Committee emphasizes the importance of having available statistical information on the size and distribution of the labour force, and on the nature and extent of unemployment, as an essential basic stage in pursuing an active employment policy, within the meaning of Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention.

2. The Government also refers in its report to the National Emergency Employment Plan (PLANE), launched in November 2001, the purpose of which is to create 73,000 temporary jobs over a period of two years. The Committee trusts that in its next report the Government will be in a position to describe the results achieved by PLANE in the creation of productive employment. Please also continue providing information on the results of the other projects undertaken to create lasting employment through micro-enterprises in the rural sector.

3. The Committee once again requests the Government to refer in its next report to matters relating to the coordination of education and vocational training policies with the employment policy, which is essential to ensure that all workers have opportunities to acquire the necessary training to find a suitable job and to make use of their training and skills in such employment.

4. Article 3. In reply to its previous comments, the Government states in its report that consultations were held only within the framework of National Dialogue 2000. The Committee recalls that the consultations required by the Convention must cover the measures to be adopted in relation to the employment policy with a view to taking fully into account the experience and views of the persons consulted and also to securing their full cooperation in formulating and enlisting support for such policies. Consultations with representatives of the persons affected must include, in particular, representatives of employers and workers, as well as representatives of other sectors of the active population, such as those who work in the rural sector and the informal sector. The Committee trusts that the Government will include in its next report the information requested in the report form under Article 3 of the Convention on the consultations required in relation to the employment policy.

5. Part V of the report form. The Committee notes with interest the proposals for employment and social protection policies and programmes made by the ILO Multidisciplinary Advisory Team and would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the action taken as a result of the technical assistance provided by the Office with a view to promoting the application of the Convention.