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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Madagascar (Ratification: 1966)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2013, in reply to certain points raised in its previous observation. The Government indicates that the main economic, social and development policies are not effective in terms of their application, particularly because of the crisis that the country is undergoing. Moreover, the national employment policy and its support programme continue to be the reference framework for employment promotion. The Committee also notes the observations made by the General Confederation of Workers’ Unions of Madagascar (FISEMA) in a communication transmitted to the Government in September 2013. FISEMA reiterates the observations formulated jointly in August 2012 with the other trade union federations belonging to the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). Moreover, FISEMA points out that the adoption of a new national employment policy is an urgent priority in view of the seriousness of the situation of youth unemployment, since one out of two young persons is unemployed and eight out of ten who are in work are underemployed. The Committee once again expresses its concern about the effective pursuit of “an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment”, “as a major goal” “within the framework of a co-ordinated economic and social policy” (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention). It hopes that the Government will be in a position to send a report in 2015 containing information that will allow an assessment of how the main components of economic policy, in areas such as monetary, budget, trade or regional development policies, contribute “within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy” to the pursuit of the employment objectives laid down in the Convention. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on the measures taken to create lasting employment, reduce underemployment and combat poverty, specifying the measures taken to promote employment among the most vulnerable categories (women, young people and rural workers).

Coordinating education and training policy with employment policy. The Government indicates that a number of employment projects and programmes have been suspended since the onset of the crisis. The Committee notes that the programmes for capacity building geared to “Education for All” (EPT) in the field of technical and vocational education and training (EFTP) and for the promotion of training and education for young people in rural areas who have dropped out of school (Cap. EPT/EFTP) are being implemented. The Committee invites the Government once again to include information in its next report on the action taken to ensure the coordination of education and vocational training policies with employment policies and on the results of the latter, especially regarding the implementation of the Cap. EPT/EFTP. It also requests the Government to give an account of the results achieved, through the implementation of these programmes, in terms of access for young graduates to lasting employment.

Collection and use of employment data. In its previous comment the Committee invited the Government to send the results of the household surveys conducted by the Malagasy National Statistics Institute (INSTAT). The Government indicates that the surveys have been conducted but the results have not yet been published. The Committee again invites the Government to send the results of the household surveys conducted by INSTAT, once these have been published. It also invites the Government to give an account in its next report of the progress made in obtaining reliable data, so as to formulate and implement an employment policy within the meaning of the Convention.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. In its previous comment the Committee noted the observations of four Malagasy trade union federations affiliated to the ITUC (FISEMA, FMM, SEKRIMA and USAM), submitted to the Government in September 2012, in which reference was made to the lack of dialogue before decisions are taken. The four trade union federations expressed their concern about the Government’s unilateral conduct and said that dialogue between the Government and the social partners on employment had almost broken down. The Government indicates that, as regards the formulation and implementation of employment programmes and policy measures, it continues to consult the social partners, especially within the National Labour Council. The Government also points out that it has consulted the representatives of the most vulnerable workers of the population, namely the SEKRIMA-FISEMARE-SVS unions, with a view to finding solutions to the case of expatriate workers. The Committee once again recalls the importance of giving full effect to Article 3 of the Convention, particularly in a context of massive and persistent underemployment. It therefore invites the Government to supply detailed information on the consultations held with representatives of the social partners on the subjects covered by the Convention. Furthermore, it requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the most vulnerable categories of the population, particularly with the representatives of workers in rural areas and in the informal economy.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2015.]