Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Mozambique (Ratification: 1996)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes with interest that following ILO technical assistance, Mozambique adopted a National Employment Policy (NEP) in 2016. The NEP’s principle objectives are: to promote job creation, entrepreneurship and sustainable employment to contribute towards the economic and social development of the country and the well-being of the population. The NEP includes, among its main targets, the creation of new jobs (particularly in the private sector); implementation of programmes contributing to increased productivity, competitiveness and the development of human capital; establishment of the institutional conditions necessary to improve the functioning of the labour market; and ensuring the harmonization of sectoral policies as well as an institutional framework for employment and self-employment. The Committee notes the publication of the Fourth National Poverty Assessment in 2016, which places the national poverty rates in the range of about 41 per cent to 45 per cent of the population (representing between 10.5 and 11.3 million extremely poor people). The report also states that, due to the concentration of Mozambique’s workforce in subsistence agriculture and low productivity informal enterprises, the country is characterized by high levels of individual and household vulnerability, particularly in rural zones in the north and central areas of the country. The Committee requests the Government to provide comprehensive information on the results achieved and the challenges encountered in attaining the objectives established in the NEP, particularly on the outcome of the programmes established to stimulate growth and economic development, raise working and living standards, respond to labour market needs and address unemployment and underemployment.

Article 2(a). Collection and use of labour market information. The Committee notes the development of the Household Survey by the National Statistics Institute (INE) 2014–15. It observes that, according to statistical information included in the Employment Policy report, in 2015 the unemployment rate was 25.3 per cent. The main source of employment was self-employment (73.1 per cent of the economically active population (EAP)), while wage employment represented 20 per cent of the EAP. In addition, 15 per cent of the EAP was employed as unpaid family workers (8.5 per cent were men and 21 per cent were women), 7.3 per cent were temporary workers and 9 per cent were casual workers. The Committee also notes that the NEP calls for the improvement of the country’s labour market information system. The Committee requests the Government to provide up-to-date information, including statistical data disaggregated by economic sector, sex and age, on the current situation and trends regarding the active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment throughout the country.

Youth employment. The Committee notes that the NEP’s principal targets include promoting investment to create employment for young women and men and stimulating professional training and labour mobility for young people. To achieve these objectives the NEP sets out lines of action that call for promoting youth entrepreneurship through training programmes, particularly in rural areas, as well as increasing access to credit; investing in youth training and increasing the number of traineeships. The Government indicates that in 2015 awareness raising conferences on Pre-occupational Traineeship Regulations were held at the national and provincial levels to encourage enterprises to engage trainees. In addition, the Government refers to the establishment of financial programmes to support entrepreneurial initiatives developed by young people. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the manner in which the implementation of the NEP, the Pre occupational Traineeship Regulations and other programmes providing education and vocational training for young persons or supporting entrepreneurship of young women and men have increased access of young people to full, productive and sustainable employment.

Women’s employment. The Committee notes that the NEP calls for strengthened initiatives promoting gender equality in economic and social development programmes. The lines of action set out in the NEP include: promoting women’s employment, including in traditionally male occupations; prioritizing education and vocational training with a view to promoting equal employment opportunities for women and men; and eliminating gender discrimination in access to employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated detailed information on the results of the specific measures adopted and implemented under the NEP to promote equal employment and income opportunities for women and men and to eliminate the gender gap in education, particularly in relation to literacy rates.

Education and vocational training. The Committee previously requested the Government to provide information on the results achieved under the Employment and Vocational Training Strategy (EEFP) 2006–15 and the Integrated Programme for Vocational Education Reform (PIREP). The Committee notes from the Employment Policy report that access to secondary education is limited and the completion rate remains very low at 13 per cent. The report adds that the relevance of education and vocational training to the needs of the labour market is also very low. The Government indicates that reforms have been introduced in the areas of education and vocational training to address these challenges. In particular, the Government refers to the adoption of the Vocational Education Law in the framework of the PIREP, which provides that the National Authority for Vocational Training, whose executive board includes representatives of the social partners, is the body responsible for the Vocational Training System. Moreover, vocational training centres and technical institutes in the country have been renovated. Finally, the Government indicates that in 2014, in the framework of the EEFP, 2,490,672 jobs (464,413 for women) were created and 633,971 people participated in the training (219,260 women). The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information, including statistical information disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of the measures taken in the area of education and vocational training and on their relationship to prospective employment opportunities.

Article 3. Consultations with the social partners. The Committee notes that, prior to its adoption, the NEP was examined by the social partners within the Labour Advisory Commission in May 2016. Moreover, the Employment Policy establishes that the Labour Advisory Commission and the Development Observatory are the bodies entrusted with the responsibility of following up on the implementation of the NEP. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the involvement of the social partners in the promotion and implementation of the NEP.