Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Ireland (Ratification: 1967)

Employment policy measures implemented under the adjustment measures. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2013 which includes detailed information in reply to the 2012 observation and an update of Ireland’s National Reform Programme (NRP). The Government indicates that the unemployment rate was 14 per cent in March 2013 and, while it has fallen from 15 per cent in February 2012 after several years of increases, the rate still remains unacceptably high. It adds that it is of additional concern that long-term unemployment accounted for 60 per cent of total unemployment in the fourth quarter of 2012, and for 46 per cent of the unemployed under the age of 25. The Committee notes that the Government is tackling unemployment and the stabilization of the employment rate through the twin strategies of the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work. The former is a multi-annual process aiming to have 100,000 more people in work by 2016 and 2 million people in work by 2020 through the introduction of additional employment supporting measures. It includes landmark projects which have been selected because of their potentially significant impact on job creation. The latter, which was launched in February 2012, introduced a new integrated employment and support service involving the transformation of local social welfare offices into a “one-stop-shop” (called INTREO) allowing jobseekers to access their entitlements and get help with planning their return to work. The Government indicates that in 2013 a renewed focus will be given to targeting activation places to the long-term unemployed. It further indicates, in reply to the Committee’s previous observation, that the abovementioned twin strategies provide a wide range of specific measures which are complementary to ongoing efforts to address labour market bottlenecks. Moreover, the Committee notes that the social partners were invited to contribute to the preparation of an update on progress of the employment target, which was prepared for the European Commission. The Government also indicates that extensive consultations were held with employers during the preparation of the Action Plan for Jobs and that six industry partners were nominated to partner with government to implement reforms contained in the 2013 Action Plan for Jobs. Noting the high level of long-term unemployment, the Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report the manner in which Article 2 of the Convention is applied, by providing information on the manner in which employment policy measures are decided on and kept under review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy. It also invites the Government to provide updated information on the impact of its active labour market measures adopted in order to address long-term unemployment and youth unemployment. Please also continue to provide information on the consultations held with the social partners concerning employment policy measures (Article 3).