Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

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

1. Application of employment policy in the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy. The Committee notes the Government’s detailed report received in September 2005. During the period under consideration, the Brazilian economy recorded growth of 4.9 per cent of its gross domestic product with a significant expansion of employment, resulting in an increase of 1.5 million new jobs in the formal labour market, particularly in the manufacturing industry. The average unemployment rate fell to 11.5 per cent in 2004 (the Committee noted an urban unemployment rate of 12.4 per cent in 2003). The indicators in 2005 also remained positive, with the generation of 558,000 new jobs and an unemployment rate of 10.8 per cent up to April. The Government confirms its long-term strategy based on social inclusion and income redistribution with the growth of production and employment. The initiatives taken by the Ministry of Labour and Employment are aimed at the generation of employment, work and income, with social dialogue being pursued in the National Employment Forum and other tripartite bodies. Among the programmes undertaken by the National Employment System, which were referred to in previous comments, the Government refers in its report to the National Programme for the Promotion of First Jobs (PNEPE) which is intended to contribute to the generation of decent work opportunities for young persons by mobilizing the Government and society for the joint development of a national policy on decent work for young persons. The Committee understands that the expected results of the National Decent Work Agenda include the strengthening of the public employment system, work and income as a means of integrating active and passive labour market policies (unemployment insurance, vocational guidance, employment placement, vocational skills and qualifications, the compilation and management of labour market information and the promotion of entrepreneurship). With reference to its general remarks of 2005, the Committee welcomes the fact that economic growth has been translated into better results in practice in the labour market. The Committee notes with interest that the objectives of full productive employment and decent work, set forth in the Government’s report, constitute fundamental objectives of government policy. The Committee encourages the Government to continue providing information in its next report on the manner in which the objective of full employment has been taken into account in the formulation of economic and social policy. The Committee would also be grateful to continue receiving information on the experience of the social partners with regard to the application of the Convention, particularly where representatives of the rural sector and the informal economy have been included in consultations (Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention).

2. In its previous comments, the Committee recalled its interest in being informed of the results of the measures adopted and the mechanisms established to analyse information on and evaluate the progress achieved by the employment policy measures adopted. In this respect, the Committee hopes that the Government will provide information in its next report on the operation throughout the country of the Job and Income Generation Programme (PROGER), and particularly its impact on the most vulnerable groups, such as the poor, women, young persons, the African and mixed race population and those living in areas with high unemployment rates.