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Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Papua New Guinea (RATIFICATION: 1976)

The Committee notes with concern that the Government’s report has not been received. It expects that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments initially made in 2012.

Repetition

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Formulation of a national employment policy and poverty reduction strategy. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in a report received in September 2012 in reply to the 2010 direct request. The Government recalls that employment has been identified in Papua New Guinea as an important part of the developmental agenda under the Government’s long-term plan “Vision 2050”. While an employment-focused policy has not yet been formulated, the Government indicates that in 2012, the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations requested ILO assistance concerning the formulation of a national employment policy. It adds that it does not currently have a policy that can guide employment creation. The Government reports that through the ILO’s Labour Governance and Migration Project, funded under the ILO–Australia Partnership Agreement, Massey University was invited to complete a situational analysis of different sectors and policies in the country, with a view to establishing a clear way forward on how the policy can be formulated, what it needs to target and possible concentration areas. The situational analysis will be presented to a wide range of stakeholders before the way forward of this policy is established. The Government anticipates that the employment policy should be endorsed in early 2013, which will then address all the issues provided in Convention No. 122. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to supply information in its next report with respect to an explicit formal pronouncement for an active employment policy and poverty reduction strategy in line with the Convention. It also invites the Government to provide details on the assistance received concerning the formulation of a national employment policy. Please also provide information on how the national employment policy will be coordinated with other policies, in conformity with Article 1(3) of the Convention.

Labour market information system. The Government indicates that the Labour Market Information System (LMIS) is in place but the cost component of technical and system set up is excessive. It adds that this is not, however, a limiting factor to the collection and usage of labour market statistics. The Committee requests the Government to provide in its next report up-to-date information on trends in the labour market, particularly regarding the general situation, levels and trends relating to employment, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country.

Vulnerable categories of workers. Youth employment. The Government indicates that youth employment is a priority for the National Employment Services Division of the Department of Labour and Industrial Relations, and the Division is collaborating with the National Youth Commission to address this issue. It also indicates that a Symposium on youth employment was held in the Madang Province in April 2012, which included an outcome transmitted to stakeholders. The Committee once again invites the Government to provide information on measures taken and their impact in assisting vulnerable categories of workers including women, young workers, older workers and workers with disabilities to find lasting employment. It also invites the Government to continue to provide information on the results of job creation and the integration of young people in the labour market as a result of ILO technical assistance.

Labour market measures and training. The Government indicates that progress in the way of modernization is being made in the National Apprenticeship Trade Testing Board, the National Training Council, and also the Independent Fellowship Scheme, all within the Ministry of Labour and Industrial Relations, as well as the Office of Higher Education and the Technical and Vocational Training of the Department of Education. The Government reports that along with the boom in national resources development which demands a high number of skilled workers, all agencies responsible for the skilling and empowering of the working population are required under the Government’s “Vision 2050” to work together to ensure that the population is appropriately skilled to assist in the development of the country. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the outcome of measures taken by agencies responsible for education and training and their impact in providing prospective employment opportunities to the beneficiaries of vocational education and training schemes.

Article 3. Consultation of the representatives of the persons affected. The Government indicates that the membership of the National Tripartite Consultative Council (NTCC) remains an area of concern when it comes to the representation of the working population. It reiterates that NTCC membership is industry based, without representation from the rural sector and informal economy. The Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected by measures to be taken, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures which they should be the prime beneficiaries. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report detailed information in this regard. Please also include how greater participation of workers from both the rural sector and the informal economy can be secured within the formal consultative process in formulating and enlisting support for employment policies.