Solicitud directa (CEACR) - Adopción: 2009, Publicación: 99ª reunión CIT (2010)

1. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2009 in reply to the 2005 observation. The Government indicates that since 2007 the project to strengthen labour exchange and IT-based work permit systems established with international assistance has succeeded the One Stop Resource Centre, which had become dysfunctional in 2004. The Government further reports that it had organized job fairs in 2008 and 2009 aimed at bringing together labour demand and supply as well as to provide information about future vacancies, vocational education, and the labour-related institutions in general. Since August 2009, the public employment services’ focus no longer solely focuses on mediation but includes also training in skills. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on progress made in expanding the role of public employment services in employment promotion.

2. Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. Participation of the social partners. The Government states that since 2008 social partners have provided input to the establishment of the commission on labour exchange and development, which is charged with the revision and drafting of legislation. Draft legislation is further reviewed by the Workers Advice Board. Since August 2009, the national board for work opportunities, in which representatives of employers and workers participate, advises the Government on labour market policies and possibilities to increase job opportunities. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

3. Article 6, subparagraph (b). Activities of the employment service. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the manner in which the employment services provide services to jobseekers. The Committee invites the Government to provide details of the measures that have been taken by the employment service to encourage the professional or geographic mobility of workers, and to facilitate movement of migrant workers, including statistical data indicating the number of workers dealt with, particularly migrant workers.

4. Article 7. Measures for particular categories of applicants for employment. The Committee notes that, since August 2009, training for specialized professions are offered to jobseekers. The Government further reports that the promotion of women in the labour market has been initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Women Movement and that persons with disabilities have become a focal point of activities, inter alia, through job coaching workshops. The Committee asks the Government to also report on the impact of these developments in connection with this Article supported by statistics, if possible.

5. Article 8. Special arrangements for young workers. The Government indicates that the Foundation of Labour Mobilization and Development and the Labour Exchange Unit are continuing their cooperation to promote youth employment and have implemented new training modules aligned to the demand of the labour market. Further, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Netherlands aims at transforming the system of labour exchange to a system of guidance counselling. The MoU also forms the basis for the development of an action programme to increase the labour market potential of young workers. Through this action programme training and retraining programmes for young workers have been established. Public service employees conduct outreaches to vulnerable areas on a weekly basis. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the employment service in relation to youth employment and to give particulars of the outreaches and the number of young persons participating in the training and retraining programmes.