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

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's detailed report for the period ending September 1998. According to the Government, the labour force decreased in 1997 for the second year in a row, due mainly to a decrease in youth participation, attributed to a decrease in the youth population and an increase in their participation in education and training programmes. Unemployment also increased slightly during this period, from 16 per cent to 16.5 per cent, about 25 per cent of which are long-term unemployed. This increase was due to a net loss of jobs, primarily in the industrial sector, as well as a decline in agriculture, forestry and fisheries due to a prolonged drought. These losses were only partly offset by an increase in the public sector. The Government also reports a steady decline in artisan jobs. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on programmes to ease the transition of displaced workers, and to promote other forms of skilled labour, as requested in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes that youth unemployment fell by 7.4 per cent, due mainly to more young women entering work. Lastly, the Committee also notes the Government's statement that part-time work increased by more than full-time work, but without any apparent net gains to the labour market. Therefore, the Committee would appreciate receiving further information on the Government's strategy for ensuring that the flexibility and casualization of jobs help fulfil the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen work.

The Government reports that programmes for youth include training, education, work ethic instruction, apprenticeships, encouraging own-account employment and supporting youth-run cooperatives. The Committee understands that the National Youth Policy is now under review and requests further information on the outcome, particularly on how youth policy is considered within the Government's wider framework of economic and social policy, as required under Article 2. The Government also has set up a micro- and small-enterprise (MSE) coordinating bureau within the Ministry of Industry to overcome problems of regulatory constraints on entrepreneurs and to increase the rate of creation of small enterprises via increased access to credit, training and technical assistance. This programme is apparently working, as the number of employers has grown at a high rate of around 25 per cent. The Committee would appreciate receiving a copy of any evaluations of the MSE programme and its impact on unemployment, as requested in Part VI of the report form.

The Committee notes that the main component of the Government's employment strategy, the National Industrial Policy (NIP), is implemented through the tripartite Industrial Advisory Councils (IAC). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on how the IAC consults representatives of other sectors of the economically active population, such as those in the rural and informal sectors, and how the IAC participate in the review of NIP policies within a framework of coordinated economic and social policy, as specified in Article 3, in conjunction with Article 2.

The Committee notes that although women comprise 46 per cent of the labour force, they hold 42 per cent of jobs, and represent 65 per cent of the unemployed. It also notes the Government's efforts to overcome this problem, as there is a high participation rate of women in training programmes, and much of the growth in employment is due to women obtaining jobs. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on progress made in this respect, as requested in the report form under Article 1.

Lastly, the Committee requests that the Government include copies of the following in its next report, if possible: the Economic and Social Survey of Jamaica, the National Industrial Policy, and the report on implementation of the National Poverty Eradication Programme.