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Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (RATIFICATION: 1984)

The Committee notes the observations made by the National Union of Workers of Venezuela (UNETE), the Confederation of Workers of Venezuela (CTV), the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) and the Confederation of Autonomous Trade Unions (CODESA), received on 26 September 2018. The Committee requests the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 1–5 of the Convention. Implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and training. Cooperation with the social partners. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government reports the establishment in 2014 of the Office of the Deputy Minister for Education and Work for Freedom, under the auspices of the People’s Ministry for the Social Process of Labour, of which the main function is to propose objectives, policies, plans and strategies for the collective, comprehensive, continued and permanent training and self-training of workers, to be implemented by the different educational missions and universities. The Government adds that the Office has a presence in the different regions through 32 offices, known as education and work drop-in centres (CEET), which implement training programmes with a view to ensuring the inclusion of young people in the social process of work for the purposes of, inter alia, improving their educational conditions and opportunities. In this regard, the Government refers to the establishment in 2018 of the Major Youth Employment Mission, targeting nationals or foreign nationals with ten years of residence in the country, between the ages of 15 and 35 years. Its main objectives include the training of young people in farming and various areas of “cryptoeconomics” and the promotion of a culture of entrepreneurship among young people. The Government indicates that the Major Mission consists of five wide-ranging elements, which include the design and implementation of a training plan in strategic areas to meet food, production and healthcare needs in the country. The Committee also notes the information provided by the Government on the programmes developed by the National Institute for Socialist Education and Training (INCES), such as the national programme for the training of apprentices, in the framework of which enterprises with 15 or more workers are required to employ and train apprentices between the ages of 14 and 18 years. The Government adds that the development of a strategic plan for productive training is envisaged, which will be implemented by the INCES. The Committee notes the indication of the workers’ organizations UNETE, CTV, CGT and CODESA that the absence of food security, interruptions in the water, electricity and gas supply in homes and transport issues have had a negative effect on the performance of the school-age population and their regular school attendance. The trade unions indicate that, currently, 38 per cent – four out of ten – of children and young persons between the ages of 3 and 17 years have ceased to attend school for various reasons, including transport issues, power cuts or a lack of food. With respect to young people between the ages of 18 and 24 years, the trade unions observe that 48 per cent – almost half – are not in education. They also emphasize that workers’ reduced buying power limits their and their children’s opportunities to access vocational education and training, and the public education sector is also experiencing staffing issues owing to the emigration of teachers to other countries in search of better living conditions as a result of the situation in the country. Lastly, the Committee observes that the Government has not provided information on the manner in which, in accordance with Article 5 of the Convention, cooperation is ensured with the social partners and representatives of the private sector in the development and implementation of vocational training and guidance programmes and policies to achieve the objectives of the Convention. Observing that the information provided by the Government only refers to young persons, the Committee requests the Government to supply detailed information on the measures taken or envisaged with a view to guaranteeing access to vocational training and guidance for men and women workers, particularly vulnerable groups of workers, such as women, persons with disabilities, indigenous or tribal peoples and persons in rural areas or remote communities. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate how it is guaranteed that workers have the freedom to choose the vocational guidance and training programmes in which they wish to participate, in conformity with Article 1(5) of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide updated information, including statistics disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of the policies and programmes implemented in relation to vocational guidance and training. Furthermore, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide specific and detailed information on the manner in which the social partners and representatives of the private sector have been consulted in relation to the formulation, implementation and monitoring of vocational guidance and training policies and programmes (Article 5).