Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Morocco (Ratification: 1979)

1. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report for the period ending June 1994. The Committee notes that, according to the data contained in the National Statistical Yearbook for 1994, the unemployment rate for the active urban population was estimated at 16 per cent in 1992 and 15.9 per cent in 1993 (and around 30 per cent for the age group 15-24). It notes a correlation between the decrease in the unemployment rate for women (21.7 per cent in 1993 compared with 25.3 per cent in 1992) and the decline in their activity rate, which up to then had been increasing regularly. According to the Government, the imbalance between the supply and demand for labour resulting from the growth of the population (although at a rate that is falling substantially) was aggravated over the reference period by climatic conditions which accentuated the rural exodus and increased the pressure on the urban labour market, as well as by other factors related to the economic situation, such as the decline in the market price of phosphates and the increase in interest rates.

2. The Government states that the major aims of its economic policies are to contribute to economic growth and the promotion of employment through public investment, the promotion of private investment, the development of the rural sector and support for the export sector. It emphasizes that the implementation of the structural adjustment programme has made it possible to improve the financial situation of the country and states that the creation of 15,000 new jobs in the public sector as envisaged by the Finance Act of 1994 is part of the recovery process. With reference to its previous observation, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply more detailed information in its next report, in reply to the questions contained in the report form, on the manner in which the measures taken in the various fields of economic policy contribute to the promotion of employment. In particular, it requests the Government to specify the employment objectives of the Social and Economic Organization Plan 1993-97.

3. The Committee notes the establishment of a fund for the promotion of employment of young persons financed through income from privatisation, as well as the adoption of new measures to promote the training of young persons in enterprises. It also notes with interest the information on the results achieved by the programme of loans to young entrepreneurs and would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide detailed information on the various measures adopted for the insertion of young persons into employment and on evaluations of their effectiveness. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing information on the progressive establishment of the network of employment services.

4. The Government states once again in its report that the consultations required under Article 3 of the Convention are held in the framework of the National Council for Youth and the Future (CNJA). With reference to its previous observation, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the activities of the CNJA, the recommendations made and the effect given to them, together with extracts of records of meetings or relevant reports. It also notes that the Government refers to the establishment of an Economic and Social Council under the terms of the Dahir of 9 October 1992 to enact the revised Constitution, as well as the establishment under the Dahir of 24 November 1994 of an advisory council to pursue social dialogue. However, the Committee notes that the Organic Act which, under the terms of article 93 of the revised Constitution, is to determine the composition, organization, duties and methods of work of the Economic and Social Council has not yet been adopted. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would indicate whether the competence of the advisory council to pursue social dialogue covers consultations on employment policy in the sense set out in the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide further information in this respect in its next report.

5. Part V of the report form. The Committee has been informed of an ILO mission in 1994 for the preparation of a second national symposium on employment. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the action that has been taken or is envisaged as a consequence of this symposium, and any factors which may have prevented or delayed this action.