CMNT_TITLE

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Colombia (RATIFICATION: 1967)

The Committee notes the observations of the Single Confederation of Workers (CUT), the Confederation of Workers of Colombia (CTC) and the General Confederation of Workers (CGT), received on 29 August and 2 September 2015.

Articles 1 and 5 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes with interest that under Act No. 1636 of 18 June 2013 a Public Employment Service (SPE) was established and that pursuant to Decree No. 567 of 19 March 2014 a National Labour Formalization Network was created. The SPE has a computerized management and placement system which has employment and vocational guidance search pages, a module in which employers enter their information and needs and a labour intermediation site to match supply with demand. The SPE also maintains an information system for the registration of authorized employment service providers and creates a link with occupational training programmes. The CGT deems the changes in the organization of the employment service to be positive because a centralized and transparent system of this kind will facilitate job seeking. The Government indicates that countrywide there are 414 service points for users of the employment service. In 2014, a total of 1,636,054 persons registered with the SPE, of whom 270,014 were placed in jobs. Between July 2014 and April 2015, the placement agencies of the family benefit funds registered 33,232 enterprises and managed placement for 38,225 persons. The Government adds that to encourage recourse to the SPE, an Employment Services Providers Network has been set up which includes the public employment agency of the National Training Service (SENA), public and private management and placement agencies including those set up by family benefit funds, and job exchanges managed by higher education in institutions. The CUT and the CTC emphasize the need to strengthen mechanisms for the participation of workers’ organizations in applying public policy on the national employment service and assessing its results. The Committee requests the Government to continue to send information on the observation of the Public Employment Service. Please also provide information on the cooperation of employers’ and workers’ representatives in the organization and running of the Public Employment Service.

Article 6. Measures to facilitate labour market entry. Vocational training. The Government indicates that in order to reduce unemployment and informal work the SENA has implemented comprehensive vocational training programmes using apprenticeship contracts. In 2014, the SENA contributed to the training of 6,821,779 apprentices. In 2013, vocational training graduates who had obtained work experience through apprenticeship contracts posted an employment rate of 60 per cent. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures implemented to strengthen vocational training for workers and facilitate their integration into the labour market.

Article 8 Special measures for young people. The Government indicates that the “40,000 First Jobs” programme is being implemented through the Public Employment Service Providers Network, which offers funding to pay for six months of employment for young people on condition that they are thereafter engaged for a further period of at least six months. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken by the Public Employment Service to provide assistance to young jobseekers.