Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Germany (Ratification: 1971)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report for 1 June 1998 to 31 May 2000, as well as the detailed reply to its 1999 observation.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Government states that employment increased by an average of 0.3 per cent in 1999. Unemployment decreased from 11.1 per cent in 1998 to 10.5 per cent in 1999. In the Old Länder unemployment fell from 9.4 per cent to 8.8 per cent, and in the New Länder from 18.2 per cent to 17.6 per cent. Long-term unemployment decreased in 1999 by about 7 per cent. Youth unemployment declined in the Old Länder, but increased in the New Länder. For women, unemployment fell to 8.1 per cent in May 2000 in the Old Länder, but remains quite high at 19.8 per cent in the New Länder. The Government’s employment policy combines macroeconomic policies to promote growth with training and active labour market policies. The Government states that it spent DM7.8 billion in 1999 on employment creation measures and created 700 new posts in the job placement service, including special project teams for combating long-term unemployment. The Government set up an emergency programme to reduce youth unemployment. About 179,000 young people participated in the 1999 programme, and it was extended to 2000. Employment promotion legislation was reformed, and taxes and social security contributions were cut.

2. Article 2. The Committee notes the table contained in the Government’s report on instruments for employment promotion and their achievement rates. The Government explains that achievement is defined as the participant not registering as unemployed in the six months following the programme, but that this definition has certain limitations. Please continue to supply information on the outcome of the employment promotion policies and programmes, and ways of measuring their achievement.

3. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that the Government has formed a tripartite alliance for labour, training, and competitiveness to discuss employment policy. Results achieved by the alliance so far include agreements on: employment-oriented and longer term wage policy; more flexible working hours policy; age-related part-time work; the need to investigate the impact on employment of a reduction in additional wage costs at the lower end of the wage scale; and a joint offensive to reduce the lack of skilled IT workers. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the results achieved by the alliance and how its views are taken into account in developing, implementing and evaluating employment policies and programmes.