Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Russian Federation (Ratification: 1967)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s brief report received in October 2008. In its previous comments, the Committee requested information on the results of the implementation of the social and economic development programme on employment generation, and how employment policy measures were reviewed regularly within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy. The Committee also requested information on measures taken to reduce labour market differences among categories of workers and how unemployment benefits have been expanded in order to cover a greater number of unemployed persons and promote the re-entry into employment of beneficiaries. In its brief reply, the Government indicated that Decision No. 194 of 23 March 2008 was adopted to establish the level of the minimum (781 roubles) and maximum (3,124 roubles) amounts of unemployment benefits. The Committee also notes the measures envisaged under the Anti-Crisis Programme of the Government of the Russian Federation for 2009 which prioritizes, among other things, developing human resources; maintaining and developing industrial and technological capabilities for future growth; stimulating domestic demand for Russian goods as the basis for revitalizing economic growth; stimulating innovation and restructuring the economy; creating the environment for economic growth by improving the key market institutions and lifting barriers to business operation; and ensuring macroeconomic stability and preserving the trust of Russian and foreign investors. The Committee notes that regional governments are implementing the same set of anti-crisis policies, including measures co‑financed by the federal Government and other measures, independently financed from regional and local budgets. The key goals of the anti-crisis policies implemented by the regions include, among other things, joint implementation of an employment support programme. To this end, the federal Government will provide employment support and unemployment relief subsidies to the regions for: vocational training and retraining of employees threatened by mass layoffs; organization of community work, temporary employment, internship and experience-gaining programmes for unemployed persons and individuals seeking jobs, such as new graduates and employees threatened by mass layoffs; targeted support of persons wishing to move to a different location where jobs are available, including jobs created under targeted federal programmes and investment projects; and, support for small and medium-sized businesses and self-employment of jobless persons. As in its previous observation, the Committee requests that the Government report in detail, in its next report, on the measures taken to promote full employment within a “framework of a coordinated economic and social policy” (Article 2(a)). The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the impact in terms of employment creation of the measures taken through the 2009 Anti-Crisis Programme. The Committee requests that information be supplied on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, both aggregated and disaggregated, with respect to particular categories of workers, including young persons, women jobseekers, older workers and workers with disabilities.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Committee recalls that the Convention asks for consultations with all persons affected by the formulation and implementation of employment policies, in particular, the representatives of employers and workers. It is the joint responsibility of governments and employers’ and workers’ organizations to ensure that the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are represented and associated in the formulation and implementation of measures of which they would be the prime beneficiaries. The Committee trusts that the Government will supply detailed information on this important matter in its next report.

Part V of the report form. ILO technical cooperation. The Committee recalls that the cooperation programme between the ILO and the Russian Federation 2006–09 provided that improvements in employment policy must be based on changes in social policy. The Committee asks the Government to include in its next report information on the initiatives undertaken with ILO support to promote the objective of the creation of productive employment as set out in the Convention.