Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Kyrgyzstan (Ratification: 1992)

1. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee takes note of the Government’s report requested by its 2004 observation. The Government enumerates the aims of the National Employment Policy, which was established in the context of the national poverty reduction strategy 2003-05, and was approved by Decree No. 126 on 14 March 2005. The objectives of the employment policy aimed, amongst others, at assisting unemployed citizens in choosing an occupation and placement; improving vocational training and retraining for unemployed; organizing temporary employment and voluntary work; preventing the rise of unemployment by eliminating or reducing the effect of the factors which lead to mass unemployment; and supporting entrepreneurship and self-employment. The Government further indicates that the employment rate fell slightly from 92.5 per cent in 2000 to 91.1 per cent in 2003. The unemployed young people account for 53 per cent of all unemployment and remain one of the most problematic issues (as mentioned in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper Progress Report of July 2004). In 2001, the poverty rate was estimated by the World Bank to be quite high between 45 per cent and 56.4 per cent. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the goals of employment policies and their relation to social and economic development are reflected in the programme on the "Comprehensive basis of development of the Kyrgyz Republic until 2010", which was adopted on 29 May 2001. The Committee hopes the Government will supply, in its next report, information on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. Indeed, the Committee considers that it is essential from the outset for employment objectives to be included "as a major goal" in the formulation of economic and social policy if these objectives are truly to be an integral part of the policies that are adopted (paragraph 490 of the General Survey of 2004 on promoting employment). Please provide detailed information on the results and progress achieved with the implementation of the measures envisaged by the National Employment Plan, including information on the employment situation of socially vulnerable groups such as women, young persons and older workers (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

2. The Committee also requests the Government to include in its next report, information on the following matters that were raised in its 2004 observation:

-  training and retraining measures for workers affected by structural reforms (such as the declining of the Kumtor gold mine);

-  the impact of the different programmes the Government has adopted that concern specific groups of workers, such as the "National programme Zhashtyk on youth development until 2010" and the "State programme New Generation for the protection of children’s rights".

3. Participation of the social partners. The Government reports that a tripartite committee has been created to regulate issues of employment promotion, which held its first session on 17 May 1999. The basic tasks of the tripartite committee were the preparation of the national employment policy up to 2010; the development of corresponding measures to determine future directions in reducing tensions in the labour market; and the development of proposals to introduce amendments in Kyrgyz legislation on employment promotion and other regulatory acts in application of employment policy. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide specific information about the operation of the abovementioned tripartite committee, as well as the involvement of social partners in the formulation and implementation of the National Employment Plan. Please also indicate the measures taken or contemplated to involve in the consultations required by the Convention, the representatives of other sectors of the active population, such as persons working in the rural sector or in the informal economy (Article 3).