Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

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

Labour market trends and active employment policy. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report supplied in October 2009, in reply to the 2008 direct request, and the attached documentation. The Committee notes the Belgian National Reform Programme 2008–10, which includes among its priorities: the implementation of a global employment strategy and the strengthening of a strategy for the activation of jobseekers; and the continuation of a policy based on the reduction of the fiscal and parafiscal burden and the encouragement of entrepreneurship. According to the estimates of the National Employment Office, the number of jobseekers at the national level rose from 403,845 in 2008 to 434,120 in 2009. The Government indicates that unemployment reached a rate of 8.1 per cent in April 2009 although, under the impact of the global financial crisis, it could rise to 9.4 per cent in 2010. The Committee notes that regional disparities remain significant, with the unemployment rate being 17.2 per cent in Brussels, 10.5 per cent in Wallonia and 4.4 per cent in Flanders. According to the estimates of the Federal Planning Bureau, the employment rate in 2012 will be 69 per cent in Flanders, 59 per cent in Wallonia and 58 per cent in Brussels. In this respect, the Government indicates that the regional employment services have strengthened their collaboration with a view to reducing these regional disparities through, among other measures, the automatic exchange of information on job vacancies and training, bonuses for inter-regional mobility and linguistic bonuses. The Committee notes that, in the context of the crisis, the measures adopted have focused on maintaining employment, supporting and recycling those who have lost their jobs as a result of economic difficulties. The measures adopted include a federal action plan for SMEs and a plan for the active accompaniment and follow-up of the unemployed, covering unemployed persons under 50 years of age in receipt of benefits, combined with supervision of compliance with the criteria governing unemployment allowances. The Committee notes that, in view of the economic crisis and the need to rebuild confidence, an exceptional interoccupational agreement 2009–10 has been concluded between the social partners with a view to negotiations at the sectoral and enterprise levels. In addition to strengthening the purchasing power of workers, these agreements have also established employment measures, such as the simplification of recruitment plans, particularly for target groups, and the reduction of social contributions. The Committee also notes the contribution provided by the Flemish Government on the implementation of the Convention. The Flemish Government indicates that, due to the economic crisis, unemployment is rising steeply and that between June 2007 and June 2009 the number of unemployed jobseekers rose from 168,000 to 195,000. It adds that, with a view to addressing the crisis, in November 2008 it adopted a recovery plan (Rétablir la confiance/Herstel het vertrouwen) containing measures for vulnerable groups and, in particular, those who have been victims of restructuring. The Committee refers to its General Survey 2010 on employment instruments in which it emphasized that the employment Conventions and Recommendations taken together provide a framework which contributes to realize the human right to work and education for all, confronting and mitigating the effects of the global economic crisis and ensuring continuing and genuine tripartite consultations (General Survey, op. cit., paragraph 788). In this respect, the Committee hopes to be able to examine, in the next report, information on the effectiveness of the measures adopted to combat regional disparities and long-term unemployment. It also invites the Government to indicate the effect of the measures taken in the context of the National Reform Programme for the young unemployed and to maintain employment in sectors severely affected by the economic recession or by enterprise closures.

Article 1(2) of the Convention. Labour market policies. In reply to the 2008 direct request, the Government provided information on the integration of immigrants into the labour market, elderly workers and youth employment policies.

Integration of immigrants into the labour market. The Government indicates that since 2005 it has established a process of “labelling” enterprises which adopt a personnel management policy which favours diversity at the workplace. It adds that the project for intercultural exchanges has been undertaken in the framework of the integration of immigrants into the labour market with a view to developing solutions, proposals and recommendations for the promotion of an intercultural society. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the results achieved as a result of the implementation of measures for foreign workers, such as the “labelling process”. Please indicate whether additional measures have been taken to overcome obstacles to the vocational integration of immigrants and to improve their situation in the labour market.

Older workers. According to estimates by the Employment Office, the number of jobseekers over 50 years of age rose from 94,395 in 2008 to 101,140 in 2009. In its contribution, the Flemish Government reports the implementation of measures to promote the integration of elderly workers, such as the agreement “All together for the 50+” (Ensemble sur la brèche pour les 50+/Samen op de bres voor 50+), establishing a new model for persons over the age of 50 and the 50+ employment bonus. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted to facilitate the integration of older workers and, particularly, those who have been affected by restructuring.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that youth unemployment is a very important problem, with an unemployment rate for 15–25-year-olds which reached 6.4 per cent in 2008, and that there is a very high risk of being dragged into long-term unemployment, particularly for the least skilled young persons. The Government reports several measures to remedy the problems of the transition between education and the labour market, including the establishment of the “first job” system, an apprenticeship contract and a system for the reduction of social contributions for employers. Intensive personalized support for young low- and medium-skilled jobseekers has also been introduced in Flanders and Wallonia. In its contribution, the Flemish Government indicates that it has implemented a youth employment plan intended to help them quickly obtain work in appropriate jobs in response to demand. The Decree of 10 July 2008 respecting the learning and employment system is targeted at young persons in alternate training and work experience programmes and lays the basis for full-time recruitment, in both its apprenticeship and employment components. The Committee notes the initiative by the Flemish Government “Skills agenda 2010”, the objective of which is to take action to link education and the world of work, particularly through work experience for students. The Committee hopes that the next report will contain data on the impact of the measures adopted, at both the national and regional levels, to combat youth unemployment, with particular reference to young persons leaving the school system without qualifications.

Education and training policy. According to the National Reform Programme 2008–10, measures to develop the supply of training are a response to the crisis. The development of skills related to trades has continued in various branches of teaching and vocational training. For example, in 2008, specialized centres of the employment services trained 101,359 persons in Wallonia (jobseekers, workers and students). The Committee observes the indication in the National Reform Programme that, although progress has been made in raising awareness of the importance of lifelong learning, and that substantial means have been allocated by enterprises, individuals and the public authorities, there is no overall training strategy in Belgium. The social partners were invited to develop a diagnosis of the further training system and to make recommendations on this subject. The Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report whether the diagnosis of the further training system has been undertaken and the recommendations made by the social partners in this respect. The Committee also invites the Government to provide information on the measures adopted to coordinate education and training policies with employment, and their impact in terms of the long-term integration into the labour market of the most vulnerable categories of workers.