Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 1993, publiée 80ème session CIT (1993)

1. The Committee took note of the Government's report. With reference to its previous observation, it notes that, following the failure of the stabilization programme adopted in March 1990, the Government's main priorities are still curbing inflation, public sector adjustment and opening up to the international market, in a context of constraint caused by the external debt. The Government stresses the inequitable consequences of inflation and considers that policies to end it, despite the short-term sacrifices they require, are essential for the establishment of monetary stability and expansion in the longer term of production and employment. It admits, however, that the restrictive monetary policy and reduction in public expenditure since 1991 have given rise to a labour market situation in the period under consideration which is very far removed from the objective of full employment.

2. The Committee notes that the employment and unemployment data provided by the Government are not complete, that they differ considerably depending upon the institution which compiles them and do not make a clear distinction between employment in the informal sector, underemployment and unemployment. Moreover, unemployment statistics are only drawn up for the large urban areas. There are no data on rural employment. There are few or no indications concerning the employment of specific and underprivileged groups of the population. The Committee is bound to point out in this connection the need for sufficiently accurate and reliable statistical data on the situation and trends in employment, underemployment and unemployment in both the modern sector and the informal sector (where 50 per cent of the active population appears to be employed), in order to design and implement appropriate employment policy measures. It asks the Government in its next report to indicate the measures taken or under consideration to ensure that decisions on employment policy are based on adequate knowledge of the nature and extent of unemployment and underemployment and their trends. International recommendations on labour statistics could usefully be taken into account in this context.

3. The Committee also notes that, in addition to its placement and vocational guidance activities, the National Employment System (SINE) is responsible for planning, coordinating and monitoring the employment programmes of the different States. The Committee would appreciate information on the objectives and implementation of these employment programmes in the next report, so that it can better ascertain the functioning of the system.

4. The Government indicates that employers and workers are represented on an equal footing in the Tripartite Deliberating Council of the Workers' Protection Fund. The elaboration of employment policy does not, however, appear to be within the scope of the authority of the above body. Furthermore, the Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires not only representatives of employers' and workers' organizations to be consulted on employment policy, but also representatives of other "persons affected" by the measures to be taken, "with a view to taking fully into account their experience and views and securing their full cooperation in formulating and enlisting support for such policies". In view of the fact that they account for a large proportion of the active population, it would be appropriate for workers in the rural sector and the informal sector, amongst others, to be involved in the consultations on employment policy.

5. The Committee is aware of the constraints on the Government's choice of economic policy. However, it is bound to express concern at the Government's indication that, in accordance with the priorities established, it is determined to pursue a stabilization policy which it realizes is an obstacle in the short term to the objective of full employment. Moreover, the Government provides no information on employment policy measures which it might implement concurrently with its economic policy so as to attenuate the latter's effects on the least privileged categories of the population. The Committee hopes that the Government will consider the possibility of reviewing, in accordance with Article 2, within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy, the measures to be adopted for attaining the objectives set out in Article 1. It trusts that the next report will contain new information demonstrating that the Government pursues "as a major goal" an active policy designed to promote employment, in accordance with the Convention.