Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

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

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Adoption and implementation of an active employment policy. Participation of the social partners. With reference to the observation made in 2013, the Committee notes the detailed and comprehensive information provided by the Government in August 2014 that includes observations by the Costa Rican Federation of Chambers and Associations of Private Enterprise (UCCAEP). The International Organisation of Employers expressed support for the observations made by UCCAEP. The Government emphasizes that unemployment fell by about 29,000 persons and that there has been a rise in employment in absolute terms, estimated at 10,033 new jobs. According to the regular employment survey by the National Institute of Statistics and Census, the unemployment rate during the last quarter of 2013 was estimated at 8.3 per cent. In March 2014, the Higher Labour Council adopted the implementation plan for the Republic of Costa Rica’s Decent Work Programme that includes, among the four priority areas, the establishment of an employment and decent work policy. In this regard, the UCCAEP states that the ILO’s support was sought to assist the country in drafting a truly effective employment policy. The Committee notes with interest that, on 14 August 2014, the Government submitted the National Employment and Production Strategy Paper, Employment at the heart of development, the objective of which is to expand opportunities for women and men to find decent and productive work, through a combined economic and social policy effort in the public and private sectors to promote inclusive growth and the reduction of poverty and inequality. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the progress made by the National Employment and Production Strategy in achieving the objectives of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the social partners, particularly those working in the rural sector and the informal economy, with a view to enlisting the support needed to implement the employment policy.

The Committee is raising other matters in a direct request addressed directly to the Government.