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

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2013. In its previous comment, the Committee noted that the final draft of the National Employment Policy Concept Paper, to be issued in 2013, would intend fulfilling the outcomes of the Jamaica National Development Plan (Vision 2030 Jamaica). The Committee understands that Vision 2030 Jamaica is being implemented through medium-term socio-economic policy frameworks (MTFs) which identify the priority outcomes, strategies and actions for a three-year period. The MTF 2012–15 includes among its priority strategies and actions under national outcome 8 – an enabling business environment: the expedite development of the National Employment Strategy; the completion and promulgation of the new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and Entrepreneurship Policy; the implementation of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP); and that of the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on measures being implemented to reduce unemployment and foster a sustainable business environment, especially in sectors that have been affected by the economic downturn. The Committee also invites the Government to include information in its next report on any progress made towards the adoption of the National Employment Policy.

Active labour market measures. The Government indicates that there has been improvement in the existing services of the Labour Market Information System, such as the identification of gaps in employability skills and increased communication with local offices. Moreover, the Canadian Skilled Workers Programme utilizes data from the National Employment Agency in order to provide candidates for overseas vacancies, while the HEART Trust NTA made a trained career development officer available, in order to facilitate employability skills sessions. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the measures being implemented in order to improve access to information for jobseekers and to ensure the matching of labour supply and demand. In addition, the Committee invites the Government to include, in its next report, an assessment of the impact of its active labour market measures. The Committee also invites the Government to provide updated data on the active population and its distribution, the nature, extent and trends of underemployment, and underemployment disaggregated by age and sex, as well as other categories for which data is available.

Youth employment. In reply to the previous comment, the Government indicates that the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS) has launched two programmes, namely the JEEP and the Youth Empowerment Strategy (YES) programme. The former programme, initiated in May 2012, was designed to provide short-term employment (six months) for the unemployed belonging to the 18–30-year age group, with an original target of at least 400 young people placed in employment. Such target was surpassed before the end of the first year of implementation (by almost 20 per cent); moreover, as of the third quarter of the 2013 financial year, 101 persons in the programme were offered permanent employment. In addition, the YES programme, which was introduced in 2008, provides an opportunity for participants to obtain financial assistance, either for educational pursuits or for entrepreneurship. The Committees invites the Government to continue to include information and evaluation data on the impact of the measures adopted to meet the employment needs of young workers, including information on the implementation of the Youth Entrepreneurship Programme.

Women in employment. In its previous comment, the Committee referred to the findings of the Labour Force Survey conducted in 2010, whereby the average participation rate of women in the labour force was 54.8 per cent as opposed to 70.4 per cent for men; and noted that one of the expected outcomes of the forthcoming National Employment Policy was to increase both employment and the average earnings of women. The Committees invites the Government to provide detailed information on the progress achieved in improving the participation of women in the labour market.

Special measures with respect to persons with disabilities. The Committee takes note of the information provided with regard to the establishment, by the Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities (JCPD), of a registry for persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that the JCPD has put into place a job placement officer and that each year the Abilities Foundation offers two scholarships for candidates entering tertiary education. The Committee understands that the MTF 2012–15 includes among its priority strategies and actions under national outcome 3 – effective social protection: the review and update of the national policy for persons with disabilities; the pursuance of the enactment of the Disability Bill; the undertaking of mainstreaming of the training of human resources personnel to effectively interact with persons with disabilities; the conducting of a needs assessment survey on education, training and employment needs; and to institute incentive schemes to encourage employers to hire persons with disabilities. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to improve the employability of persons with disabilities.

Article 3. Consultation with the social partners. The Government indicates that it often consults workers’ and employers’ representatives on issues affecting their members; the policies formulated or the suggestions made concerning the best solutions or practices that could be adopted. The Committee invites the Government to provide examples of the measures that were taken as a result of the effective consultation with the social partners, notably within the scope of its forthcoming National Employment Policy.