Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Belgium (Ratification: 1969)

The Committee notes the detailed information contained in the Government's report for the period ending May 1998. The Government states that the employment rate has increased from 54.7 per cent in 1990 to around 57 per cent in 1997, mainly due to an increase in employment of women in part-time work. It explains that the rate remains below the European average because the post-secondary education rate remains above the average, and the retirement age is lower. The participation rate was 58.6 per cent in 1990 but has increased to 62.8 per cent in 1996, again mainly due to the increase in women entering the workforce. Although this is below the European average, the Government points out that the growth rate is above average. As of 1996, 15.4 per cent of workers were self-employed, and 14.7 per cent were in part-time employment in 1997. The unemployment rate decreased slightly from 10 per cent in 1994 to 9.2 per cent in 1997. According to Eurostat, unemployment was at 9 per cent as of May 1999.

The Committee notes both the areas of improvement and those where problems linger, particularly concerning long-term and youth unemployment, and notes the various programmes, both federal and community-level, aimed at solving the problems. It would appreciate being kept informed of the Government's progress in tackling these issues. It also notes the detailed information supplied by the Government on the manner in which the policies are reviewed within a framework of coordinated economic and social policy, as requested in Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention, and would appreciate it if the Government would continue to do so.

The Committee notes that, according to the OECD country report for Belgium, women comprise over 80 per cent of part-time workers, and approximately 25 per cent of women work part time involuntarily. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on the Government's policy pertaining to part-time work in general, and measures taken to ensure that such work is accepted voluntarily, as requested in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention pertaining to underemployment.