Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

1. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee has taken note of the statistical data provided by the Government in its report received in September 2005 on labour market trends. The Committee notes that while the unemployment rate has remained relatively stable in 2004 (11.67 per cent compared to 11.4 per cent in 2003), the unemployment rate of women is still more than double that of men and the youth unemployment rate stands at 26.4 per cent. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide disaggregated data on labour market trends, including labour force survey statistics, particularly for youth, people with disabilities, older workers and the long-term unemployed.

2. The Committee regrets that the Government has not provided in its latest report updated information concerning its active labour policy measures. It hopes that in its next report, the Government will be in a position to provide detailed information on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is at the heart of macroeconomic and social policies. The Committee also requests that the Government communicate its forthcoming reports any evaluation available of the impact of the programmes and measures described in previous reports on activity and employment (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Committee asks the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the manner in which consultations on the matters covered by the Convention are ensured, including any examples of the questions addressed or the decisions reached through the tripartite boards and committees that exist in the country. Please also provide information on whether consultations are carried out with representatives of rural and informal sector workers, as requested in the report form under Article 3.

4. Finally, the Committee recalls its 2003 direct request and asks again the Government to report on the following issues:

-  The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the work accomplished by the Planning Institute of Jamaica in the field of employment policy and on how statistical information on the labour market is used in deciding on, and reviewing, employment policy measures.

-  The Committee would appreciate receiving information on labour market policy reforms and the Government’s strategy for ensuring that the flexibility and casualization of jobs help fulfil the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment. Please also include information on programmes and/or projects developed with the assistance of the ILO and the outcomes of this cooperation.