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Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - El Salvador (RATIFICATION: 1995)

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. An active policy intended to promote full employment. Consultation with the social partners. In its reply to the 2012 observation, the Government indicates that it still does not have a national employment policy but that the Public Employment Service has developed a workplan. The Committee notes the Government’s intention to request the Higher Labour Council to address, in the future, areas relating to an employment policy. The Committee invites the Government to send detailed information on the progress made to adopt and implement an active employment policy. The Committee also invites the Government to continue to provide information on efforts to hold consultations with the social partners and on the manner in which the representatives from other sectors of the economically active population – in particular representatives of the rural workers and the informal economy – have participated in the formulation of employment policies and programmes.

Article 2. Employment trends. According to data contained in the report, in 2012, 165,439 people were unemployed at the national level, which represents an unemployment rate of 6.07 per cent. In 2013, the unemployment rate fell slightly to 5.9 per cent. Unemployment is highest among young persons and women. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the nature, extent and trends of unemployment and underemployment as a basis for the adoption of measures. It also invites the Government to specify whether the measures adopted to achieve the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment are regularly revised.

Impact of trade agreements. The Government indicates that, in 2013, 178,560 jobs were created for 1,664 exporting companies. The Committee notes that 15 per cent of those jobs were generated by small and medium-sized exporting companies. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the contribution of export-oriented productive sectors to the creation of sustainable and quality employment.

Young people, women and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on mediation measures adopted to facilitate the integration of young people, women and persons with disabilities into the labour market. The Committee invites the Government to provide more specific information on the impact of the measures adopted to strengthen programmes to facilitate the integration of young people, women and persons with disabilities into the labour market. Please continue to provide information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, with an indication of the extent to which women, young people, the poorest sectors of the rural population and workers in the informal economy are affected.

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises. The Government indicates that 22,034 jobs were created as a result of the programmes and projects carried out by the National Commission for Micro- and Small Enterprises (CONAMYPE). The Committee notes that the programme to provide school supplies, uniforms and shoes to primary school pupils in public schools, which depends on micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises, has generated 31,778 jobs. Furthermore, the Government indicates that, in March 2014, the Act to promote, protect and develop micro- and small enterprises was adopted. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of measures adopted to promote entrepreneurial development and to improve the competitiveness and sustainability of micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises.