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Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Jamaica (RATIFICATION: 1975)

Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's report for the period 1986-89. It appreciates the helpful documentation attached to the report, concerning a number of points raised in the previous direct request. It hopes that the Government will regularly provide reports containing full details for each part of the report form for the Convention approved by the Governing Body, with particular reference to the following matters in the next report.

1. The Committee notes that according to the Economic and Social Survey, Jamaica, 1988 (ESSJ) attached to the Government's report, job creation continued in 1988: the level of employment increased by 3.8 per cent in 1988, in spite of a decrease in part-time employment. Consequently the unemployment rate went down from 25 per cent in April 1986 to 21.2 per cent in April 1987 and to 18.4 per cent in April 1988. The survey indicates that the focus of government policy in 1988-89 was expanded to address the adverse impact of the structural adjustment and stabilisation programmes on the population. A new economic programme, which was supported by a Stand-By Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund, was approved in September 1988, and the Government refers in its report to the preparation of the Five-Year Development Plan (1990-95). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the extent to which employment objectives included in the development plans and programmes have been or are being attained. Please also indicate whether special difficulties, in particular resulting from the implementation of structural adjustment policies, have been encountered in attaining the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment; and indicate how far these difficulties have been overcome (Article 1 of the Convention).

2. Please describe the procedures adopted, in conformity with Article 2, to ensure that the effects on employment of measures taken to promote economic development or other economic and social objectives receive due consideration.

3. The Committee again notes that education and training policy-makers and employers' and workers' representatives serve on the Board of Directors and the Advisory Committee of the HEART (Human Employment and Resource Training) Trust. In this connection, the Committee would like to recall the wider scope of the Convention concerning appropriate consultations to be held on the matter. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken (including representatives of those working in the rural sector and the informal sector) are consulted concerning employment policies and their various aspects to ensure that their views and experience are taken into account and their co-operation secured (Article 3).

4. The 1988 Economic and Social Survey, prepared by the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), points out that:

The reduction of the unemployment rates of both young and adult women reflect the expansion of initiatives which have been implemented to address the needs of these vulnerable groups within the labour market. However, the persistence of the relatively unfavourable experience of women and young people makes it imperative for further measures which will stimulate economic growth to be introduced thus creating more jobs. Specific emphasis should be placed on expanding non-traditional employment opportunities for women, as well as the expansion of both formal and non-formal training to meet the requirements of the development of the Jamaican economy.

Please refer to measures taken to respond to the needs of persons having difficulties in finding lasting employment, in particular women and young workers; and other vulnerable groups such as disabled persons, older workers, the long-term unemployed and workers affected by structural change.

5. The Committee also noted from the 1988 Economc and Social Survey the information on population and emigration trends. It would be grateful if the Government would supply supplementary information on the population and migration policies in relation to the manpower and employment problems and policies.

6. The Committee notes with interest the complete documentation supplied concerning the HEART (Human Employment and Resource Training) Trust and the five programmes co-ordinated by HEART. It notes in particular that between 1985-86 and 1988-89 about 8,000-10,000 people graduated each year, of whom 60 per cent have been permanently employed by the firm where they have been trained. It also notes that the HEART Trust has since 1987-88 established a Placement Unit with a view to placing graduates into jobs. Please continue to supply information on the actions taken by the HEART Trust in order to provide the fullest possible opportunity for each worker to qualify for, and to use his skills and endowments in, a durable job for which he is well suited. Please also provide information on the activities and progress of the other training programmes implemented through the College of Arts, Science and Technology (CAST), the University of West Indies (UWI) and the University Council of Jamaica. Please indicate whether any machinery exists to co-ordinate these programmes.

7. The Committee notes the achievements and targets of the Agro 21 programme which is geared towards facilitating and promoting the involvement of the private sector in agriculture. It notes that action is needed to meet the manpower needs of the programme with regard to the shortage of personnel trained and the underutilisation of existing technical personnel in agricultural disciplines. Please indicate how far these difficulties have been overcome. Please also describe any other measures adopted with a view to promoting further opportunities for productive employment in the rural sector with reference to both agricultural and non-agricultural activities.

8. Finally, the Government indicates that over the past five years small-scale enterprises have increased in number tremendously. It is estimated that small-scale enterprises are responsible for the employment of at least 60,000 persons (not including the rural and the tourism sectors). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the factors which explain this growth. Please indicate whether any consideration has been given to promoting complementary relationships between small-scale enterprises and other undertakings, improving working conditions in small-scale enterprises, and improving their access to product markets, credit, technical expertise and advanced technology (as suggested in Paragraphs 30-31 of the Recommendation (No. 169) concerning the Employment Policy (Supplementary Provisions), 1984).