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Unemployment Convention, 1919 (No. 2) - South Africa (RATIFICATION: 1924)

The Committee refers to its general observation and to its earlier comments on this Convention. It notes that the Government's report does not contain substantive new elements in reply to its previous comments, except for the question concerning unemployment insurance for non-national workers, and asks the Government to furnish detailed information on the following points:

Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee has noted that the information concerning unemployment supplied by the Government does not cover the areas of Transkei, Bophuthatswana, Venda and Ciskei. It requests the Government to provide, in its next report, all available information, statistical or otherwise, concerning unemployment in the whole of the national territory including these areas, and details of any measures taken or contemplated to combat it.

Article 2(1). (a) The Committee has noted the information concerning the network of free public employment agencies under the Guidance and Placement Act, 1981 (GPA), which is now in force. It has understood that the Black Labour Act, 1964, referred to in its earlier comments, has been repealed by the Aliens and Immigration Laws Amendment Act, 1984. However, it appears that the effect of the new legislation continues to be to limit the access of "Black" workers to these free employment agencies, in so far as they have no residential rights in the particular areas covered by the agencies. At the same time, it appears that people in rural or so-called "homeland" areas must register at Black Administration (Development) Board Offices in order to qualify for "requisition" work in those urban areas. The report also refers to placement services offered by magistrates' offices on behalf of the Department of Manpower. The Committee hopes the Government will clarify the nature of the system of public employment agencies operating in all parts of the country, in terms of the requirements of the Convention; indicate whether there are free agencies throughout the country which are under the control of a central authority; and give a general account of the working of the system throughout all areas of the country.

(b) Please indicate whether a system of advisory committees including representatives of employers and workers has been formed to advise on the operation of the public employment agencies (for example under GPA sections 9 to 14) and, if so, indicate the membership of the committees.