Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Kenya (Ratification: 1979)

1. Article 1, paragraph 1, of the Convention. Adoption and implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and training. Close link with employment. The Committee notes the report sent by the Government in reply to the direct request of 2003, received in December 2004. The Government indicates that the National Manpower Development Committee gathers information on the employment market, making it possible, in particular, to determine the needs of the employment market in terms of training. A directory of the different occupations has also been created for statistical purposes. Furthermore, the Minister of Labour and Human Resources Development has improved the electronic database on manpower and the labour market, which has allowed the skills required to be identified. The Committee notes that, in its report on the application of Convention No. 140, received in September 2008, the Government indicates that the Vocational Training Act provides for the establishment of a National Vocational Training Council. The Committee also notes that in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, human resources development has been considered at the core of the Economic Recovery Strategy (ERS) for wealth and employment creation in the investment programme adopted in March 2004. It is envisaged to provide opportunities for all Kenyans to productively and self-reliantly participate in employment and wealth creation. The Government also recognized that developing human resources requires complementary efforts to address education and training, health and HIV/AIDS, labour and nutrition. The Committee welcomes this approach and looks forward to examining in the Government’s next report information on the impact of the action taken to promote skills under the ERS. It also requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the existing methods for developing comprehensive and coordinated policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training, indicating, in particular, the manner in which the National Vocational Training Council contributes to the effective coordination of policies and programmes and the manner in which they are linked to employment and to public employment services.

2. Article 1, paragraph 5. Equality of opportunity. According to the information provided by the Government, measures are planned to promote the education and training of women with a view to their increased participation in the labour market. For instance, the Government has organized awareness-raising campaigns targeting policy-makers in several districts of the country. The Government is also continuing its efforts to improve access to credit for women by encouraging them to form credit cooperatives, by establishing contacts with banks and microcredit organizations and by strengthening institutional capacities in collaboration with the private sector. The Government also points out that specific programmes are being devised to combat the high unemployment of young persons, in particular through the promotion of self-employment and the creation of youth polytechnics, but also through mechanisms to manage the transition between school and work, and apprenticeship and vocational guidance. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken to encourage women to develop and use their professional abilities in all branches of economic activity and at all levels of skill and responsibility. Please also indicate the measures taken to promote access to education, training and lifelong learning for people with specific needs, such as young persons and the other categories of vulnerable persons identified in Paragraph 5(h) of Recommendation No. 195.

3. Vocational guidance information. The Government indicates that school curricula include vocational guidance classes which make pupils aware of the different occupations and employment options available. Furthermore, the information on the programmes of vocational training institutions is disseminated through various media. The Committee refers to Article 3, paragraph 2, which provides that, in addition to the choice of an occupation, vocational training and related educational opportunities, the employment situation and employment prospects, the information and guidance given shall also cover subjects such as conditions of work, safety and hygiene at work and other aspects of working life in the various sectors of economic, social and cultural activity and at all levels of responsibility. The Committee also recalls that, in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 3, the information and guidance referred to in the Convention shall be supplemented by information on general aspects of collective agreements and of the rights and obligations of all concerned under labour laws and regulations. In this regard, the Committee invites the Government to continue to report on the type of information available for the purposes of vocational guidance and to provide examples of the documentation available (Article 3, paragraphs 2 and 3). Please also provide information on the measures which ensure that comprehensive information and the broadest possible guidance are available to all persons concerned and indicate all measures specifically concerning handicapped and disabled persons (Article 3, paragraph 1).

4. Employment and training opportunities in small and medium-sized enterprises. In reply to the Committee’s previous direct request, the Government indicates that a Micro and Small Enterprise Training and Technology Project has been implemented. The project consists of activities relating to training, the development of technology and infrastructure, as well as institutional development and policy analysis, monitoring and evaluation. The project has had an impact in terms of the expansion and diversification of the activities and networks of the enterprises concerned, as well as in terms of employment, income growth and the creation of enterprises by women. According to the information provided by the Government, the results of the project have also contributed to the country’s objectives in the context of its poverty reduction strategy, in particular through the creation of jobs, a rise in income levels and the promotion of economic growth. The Committee refers to Chapter IV of the Job Creation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189), containing information on the service infrastructure which should be developed in order to enhance the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises, their job creation potential and their competitiveness and hopes that the Government will continue to include information in its next report on the measures taken to this end.