Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Ecuador (Ratification: 1972)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending 30 June 1988. The report describes a worrying economic and social situation in 1987 and 1988, reflected in particular in the data on the fall in productive investment and the gross domestic product and the persistence of high rates of inflation and unemployment (13 per cent of the economically active population) and underemployment (half of the economically active population). The Committee notes with interest that in August 1988 the new authorities demonstrated their will to apply intensive employment policies and stated that all economic policies would revolve around the application of intensive employment policies which were considered to have priority.

2. The Committee refers to its previous comments and once again points out that the preparation of a full report on the application of the Convention may require consultation with the other ministries and governmental agencies concerned, such as those that make up the "Social Front" referred to by the Government in its report. In this connection, the Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will be able to indicate the progress achieved in resolving the problems of unemployment and underemployment by means of measures to ensure productive and stable work for all who are available for and seeking work. Please also describe the overall and sectoral development policies, and in particular the measures adopted in such fields as investment policy; fiscal and monetary policies; trade policy; and prices, incomes and wages policies as they relate to employment policy (Article 1 of the Convention).

3. The Committee trusts that the Government will continue to collect and analyse the statistical data that is necessary to decide upon and keep under review the employment policy measures that are adopted as an integral part of a co-ordinated economic and social policy. In this connection, it requests the Government in its next report to describe the procedures adopted to ensure that the effects on employment of measures taken to promote economic development receive due consideration, at both the planning and implementation stages.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes that the Government has called for national consultation and solidarity and hopes to enjoy the enthusiastic collaboration of employers and workers to resolve the economic crisis and improve the living conditions of the population. Please indicate the manner in which representatives of the persons affected are consulted concerning employment policies (organisations of employers and workers, consultations with representatives of the rural and informal sectors). In this connection, the Committee notes the activities of the wage committees (see the Committee's comments under Convention No. 131). As regards employment policy, the Committee requests the Government to state whether formal consultation procedures have been established with the objectives set out in the above provision of Convention No. 122.

5. The Committee notes that the programmes referred to in previous reports ("massive incorporation of workers within the employment market", "identification of employment opportunities" and "employment promotion") have not been carried out adequately for various reasons. In its last report, the Government stated that the major strategy to combat unemployment included two specific programmes: the programme for micro-enterprises and the programme for emerging employment. The Committee hopes that the Government will include details on the results that have or are being attained by the programmes for micro-enterprises and emerging employment. In this connection, the Committee trusts that the Government will supply detailed information on the other measures that have been adopted to respond to the needs of all categories of persons who frequently encounter difficulties in finding lasting employment (the Government may find it useful to consult Part III of the Employment Policy (Supplementary Provisions) Recommendation, 1984 (No. 169) which is annexed to the report form for the Convention.

6. Please describe the measures envisaged by the Social Front to promote and facilitate the adaption of employment and the labour force to structural changes resulting, for example, from changes in international trade and technology.

7. The Committee notes with interest the plans to reorganise the National Employment Council and for its technical secretariat to be provided by the National Employment Institute. Please describe the measures adopted by the Council in its role in co-ordinating the implementation of employment policy.

8. The Committee notes that information has been requested from the National Housing Board concerning the impact of the "Plan Techo" on employment levels and that reports have been requested from the Ecuadorian Institute of Agricultural Reform and the Directorate of Integral Rural Development on the impact of their programmes on employment. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to supply this information with its next report and to describe the measures that have been adopted to promote employment in the industrial and rural sectors.