Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - El Salvador (RATIFICATION: 1995)

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Articles 1 and 5 of the Convention. Policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. Youth employment. Cooperation with the social partners. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training developed and conducted by the El Salvador Vocational Training Institute (INSAFORP), and the manner in which the cooperation of the social partners and other interested bodies is ensured. The Committee also requested the Government to indicate how effective coordination is ensured between the policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training conducted or financed by INSAFORP and the Public Employment Service. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, through the National Employment System, of which INSAFORP is an integral part, vocational training programmes are coordinated with the needs identified by the users of the public employment services. In particular, the Government refers to the implementation of professional training programmes for unemployed young persons aged between 16 and 25 years, which comprise systematic and comprehensive training measures that are closely linked to the needs of the productive sector. The Government adds that these training measures aim to equip participants with the technical, social and attitudinal skills and knowledge that will allow them to improve their employability or develop their entrepreneurial spirit. The training measures include courses and programmes in the areas of administration, information technology, business, industrial manufacturing, electrical work, hospitality and automotive and industrial mechanics. The Government also indicates that these training courses are free of charge for the participants. The Committee further notes the information provided by the Government in its report in relation to the various training activities formulated and implemented by INSAFORP between 2015 and 2017. In this regard, the Government refers, inter alia, to the implementation of the “Youth Pathways” programme, which aims to promote the labour integration, entrepreneurship and access to education of young people aged between 18 and 25 years in situations of economic or social vulnerability, who have been exposed to violence, have not completed their studies and are not in work or education. Furthermore, an electronic platform has been developed that enables users to access vocational training programmes. Lastly, the Government indicates that, according to statistical information from INSAFORP, during the above-mentioned period, 562,594 workers participated in continuous training activities and 350,430 persons (women, young persons and persons in situations of vulnerability) in basic training activities. The Committee observes, however, that the Government fails to include in its report information on how it ensures collaboration with the social partners and other interested bodies in the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and training programmes. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing updated and detailed information on the impact of the programmes and policies implemented in relation to vocational guidance and training, including statistics disaggregated by age and sex. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the coordination of education and vocational training policies with employment policies and, specifically, on how it is ensured that the training offer is coordinated with the demand for knowledge and skills and the changing landscape of the labour market. The Committee reiterates its request to the Government to provide detailed information on the manner in which the cooperation of the social partners and of other interested bodies is ensured in the formulation and application of the vocational guidance and training programmes.

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Articles 1 and 5 of the Convention. Policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s reply received in September 2014 to the observations of the National Business Association (ANEP) and the International Organisation of Employers (IOE). In relation to the previous comments, the Government has also provided detailed information on the activities of the El Salvador Vocational Training Institute (INSAFORP) which has in certain cases benefited from collaboration with the social partners and private and international institutions. The Committee notes that, between 2011 and 2013, INSAFORP trained 753,064 persons, of whom 103,340 were considered to be from vulnerable categories of the population, 170,158 were young persons, 479,566 were workers and 273,498 received initial training (work skills and learning in enterprise centres). The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training conducted by the INSAFORP and the manner in which the cooperation of the social partners and of other interested bodies is secured. Please indicate how effective coordination is ensured between the policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training conducted or financed by the INSAFORP and those of the Public Employment Service of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

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The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2012 direct request, which read as follows:

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Communication from the National Association of Employers. The Committee notes the comments of the National Association of Employers (ANEP) sent to the Government in September 2012. The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) expressed support for ANEP’s observations. ANEP indicates that without any consultation, the President of the Republic tabled bills setting out 19 reforms to as many laws, with a view to changing the employers’ role in the management of institutions such as the Salvadoran Social Security Institute, the Salvadoran Vocational Training Institute and the Social Fund for Housing. ANEP emphasizes the lack of any tripartite consultation or social dialogue, pointing out that the reforms were presented to the Congress of the Republic without consulting the Higher Labour Council in its capacity as a tripartite body. The Committee invites the Government to include in the report due in 2013 any comments it deems appropriate on ANEP’s observations. The Committee hopes that the Government’s report in 2013 will contain up-to-date information on the matters examined in the 2008 observation.

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Communication from the National Association of Employers. The Committee notes the comments of the National Association of Employers (ANEP) sent to the Government in September 2012. The International Organisation of Employers (IOE) expressed support for ANEP’s observations. ANEP indicates that without any consultation, the President of the Republic tabled bills setting out 19 reforms to as many laws, with a view to changing the employers’ role in the management of institutions such as the Salvadoran Social Security Institute, the Salvadoran Vocational Training Institute and the Social Fund for Housing. ANEP emphasizes the lack of any tripartite consultation or social dialogue, pointing out that the reforms were presented to the Congress of the Republic without consulting the Higher Labour Council in its capacity as a tripartite body. The Committee invites the Government to include in the report due in 2013 any comments it deems appropriate on ANEP’s observations. The Committee hopes that the Government’s report in 2013 will contain up-to-date information on the matters examined in the 2008 observation.

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Implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and training. The Committee notes the Government’s report for the period ending June 2008, which includes detailed replies to the matters raised in the 2003 observation. The Government attaches a study on training needs in the western, central and para-central regions conducted in November 2004. In June 2006, a training and vocational integration project was executed with the support of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation. This project is intended to develop and implement training programmes with standardized criteria of relevance and quality, disseminate the information available in the Labour Market Observatory, achieve the mutual recognition of occupational training at the Central American level and extend coverage of the national territory by the public employment services. The Government adds that 195,310 people were trained between June 2007 and May 2008, of whom 167,504 were active workers and 27,905 were trained in the context of programmes for the unemployed, underemployed and young persons. The Government also provides information on the Vocational Training Programme (HABIL) and the Enterprise-Centre Programme, which are targeted at young people between 16 and 25 years of age. The Committee hopes that for its next examination it will be provided with updated information illustrating the manner in which the vocational guidance system has been extended and effective coordination ensured between the employment offices of the Ministry of Labour and the El Salvador Institute of Vocational Training (INSAFOR). In particular, the Committee would be grateful to be informed of whether the national vocational training system has been defined with greater precision and to be provided with updated information on the programmes implemented with the participation of the social partners so as to continue giving effect to the Convention.

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With reference to its direct request of 1998, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report received in May 2003. In this report, the Government considered it appropriate to include certain information also contained in the report due in 2003 in accordance with article 19 of the Constitution of the ILO. The Committee once again refers to the comments that it has been making on the Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88), and particularly the observation of 2003 relating to the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), the application of which is closely related to that of Convention No. 142.

1. Articles 1, 2 and 4 of the Convention. The Government indicates that El Salvador’s population is extremely young, for which reason special vocational training and integration programmes are principally carried out for poor young persons, and efforts are made to develop effective and modern employment mediation services, with support for local employment and self-employment initiatives. The employment mediation project has been coordinated with private enterprises. Taking into account the difficulties experienced by young persons entering the labour market and by the underemployed in finding productive employment, the Committee trusts that the Government will continue to indicate in future reports the manner in which it ensures effective coordination and links between policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training, on the one hand, and employment and public employment services, on the other. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would also provide up-to-date information in its next report on systems of general, technical and vocational education, educational and vocational guidance and vocational training.

2. Article 3. The Committee trusts that the Government will provide data on any extension of the vocational guidance system which has been undertaken during the period covered by the next report. Please also include the information requested in the report form in relation to paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article of the Convention.

3. Article 5. Please continue providing information on the cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations and other interested bodies (such as non-governmental organizations or other intergovernmental organizations) in the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes.

4. The Government refers to the activities of INSAFORP, and particularly the Employment Mediation System (SIE), a project financed jointly with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and implemented by the Foundation for Integral Education of El Salvador (FEDISAL). This project commenced in October 2002, has the objective of contributing to improving the functioning of the labour market and covers the whole country. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report, including extracts from reports, studies and surveys, including statistics on the results achieved by the SIE and other programmes which have been implemented.

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The Committee notes the first report of the Government on the application of the Convention and the report received in May 1998. It notes with interest that the Constitution of the Republic provides for a system of vocational training (article 40) and that under the terms of the 1993 Vocational Training Act, management and coordination of the vocational training system is the responsibility of the El Salvador Institute of Vocational Training (INSAFORP). Bearing in mind its comments on the application of Conventions Nos. 88 and 122, the Committee would be grateful if the Government in its next report would indicate how effective coordination is achieved and by what means links are established between vocational guidance and training policies and programmes, on the one hand, and employment and the public employment services on the other (Article 1, paragraphs 1 to 4, of the Convention).

In general terms, the Committee requests the Government to provide extracts of reports (for example, on the activities of the INSAFORP), surveys, inquiries and statistical data which would allow it to form a better idea of the manner in which the provisions of the Convention are applied. In particular, the Committee would be grateful if the Government in its next report would provide as detailed a reply as possible to the questions indicated in the report form with regard to Article 1, paragraphs 2 to 5, Article 2, Article 3, paragraphs 1 to 3, and Article 4.

Article 5. The Government in its report refers to a programme of apprenticeships run in cooperation with employers' and workers' organizations. The Committee would be grateful for further information on the cooperation of employers' and workers' organizations and of other interested bodies (for example, non-governmental organizations and other intergovernmental organizations) in the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and training policies and programmes.