Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Mozambique (Ratification: 1996)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes Government’s report received in September 2010 including the replies provided to its 2009 observation. The Government indicates that in 2007, under the Employment and Vocational Training Strategy (EEFP) for 2006–15, 59,801 persons benefited from vocational training and employment measures, comprising 5,653 work placements, 16,592 direct appointments, 1,283 small-scale business management, 1,894 professional traineeships and 23,121 persons benefiting from various schemes for employment promotion through associations at the district level and 11,258 under vocational training schemes. The Committee notes that, with the assistance of the ILO, 60 projects have been implemented to encourage income generation under the Working out of Poverty Project (WOOP) with the Skills Development Fund (FUNDEC). The Committee looks forward to examining in the Government’s next report further information on how the EEFP has improved employment opportunities and where it has failed to meet these expectations in terms of employment and income generation.

Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Government reports that the 2006–09 Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty (PARPA II) targeted 900,000 jobs to be created between 2006 and 2009. The Committee notes that the total number of jobs created in the period concerned is 921,580 exceeding the target by 2.4 per cent. The number of recorded jobs created increased between 2005 (64,399 jobs) and 2009 (383,877 jobs). The Government indicates that within the combined employment figure recorded over the five-year period, the major contribution was through the Local Initiative Investment Budget (OIIL), at 230,179 jobs, i.e. 25 per cent, followed by self-employment or producer associations, at 221,661 jobs, i.e. 24.1 per cent. The Committee looks forward to examining in the Government’s next report further information on the updated results of the implementation of PARPA II. It also invites the Government to provide in its next report figures of the total public investments made for both direct and indirect job creation and the breakdown of the permanent temporary jobs created by gender and age, in the country. It also invites the Government to include information on projects implemented with the technical assistance of the ILO.

Women. The Government reports that under the PARPA II, the objective of alleviating poverty through reallocation of resources for employment generation for disadvantaged groups and the poor has been once again emphasized. It indicates that, with the support of the OIIL and other governmental initiatives, the Government planned as part of this strategy for 2009, several objectives among which the identification of the employment opportunities and achievement of the labour market integration for the benefit of 1,376 women and the promotion of self-employment for 1,557 women. The Committee notes that in 2009 a total of 127,434 jobs were created for women while 223,223 jobs were created for men. The Committee invites the Government to include information in its next report on the impact of the efforts made to promote equal employment and income opportunities for women and men.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that for the benefit of final year students at any level of education, the Labour Act in connection with the promotion of youth access to employment established facilities and incentives for pre-occupational traineeships. It also indicates that the objective of the training is to provide trainees with employment experience which will be taken into account in the individual’s occupational life. The Committee invites the Government to specify in its next report how this programme improves the integration of young workers in the labour market at the national and local level. The Committee notes that the Government has drawn up the Pre-occupational Traineeships Regulations which have entered into force in 2010 following their approval by the Council of Ministers. The Government indicates that with these regulations, it will be possible to give practical effect to the provision of the Labour Act concerning the promotion of youth access to employment. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results of the promotion of youth access to employment under the Pre-occupational Traineeships Regulations.

Article 2(a). Collection and use of employment data. The Government reports that recorded jobs relating to South African mining and farm labour represent approximately 27.3 per cent of all jobs recorded in the 2005–09 period. According to available data, 921,580 jobs were created during that period and the rate of employment generation increased substantially. It rose from 64,399 recorded jobs at the end of 2005 to 383,877 recorded jobs at the end of 2009. The Committee invites the Government to specify in its next report which measures have been taken in order to generate data on key labour market indicators.

Education and vocational training. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that under the Integrated Programme for Vocational Education Reform (PIREP), the Skills Development Fund (FUNDEC) has been established to support technical professional training projects in public and private sector institutions and community organizations at the district level. The Committee notes that 60 projects have been implemented through this programme. The Government also indicates that with regard to the vocational training component within PIREP, attention is drawn to the completion of rehabilitation and modernization work at the vocational training centres (CFPs) of Beira and Nampula, vocational training in different topics for eight trainers in Germany and delivery of equipment for the three CFPs. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report further information on the results of the measures implemented through the Integrated Programme for Vocational Education Reform (PIREP) and their impact on the labour market.

Workers in the informal economy. The Government indicates that the country is gradually creating a regulatory and institutional environment conductive to the establishment and development of small and medium-sized enterprises which will guarantee practical implementation and flexibility in respect of any relevant updates, given the existence of a specialized public body. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to improve the legislative and regulatory basis for micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises and cooperatives.

Article 3. Participation of social partners in the formulation and application of policies. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicated that the active participation of representatives of workers’ organizations in the formulation of the employment policy has contributed to labour market flexibility and the promotion of fair labour conditions while strengthening social dialogue on issues related to employment and vocational training. Social partners have participated in the mobilization of resources for the creation of an Employment and Vocational Training Fund, as well as in the establishment of a Vocational Training Centre for Metalwork. They have also been actively involved in the campaign for the adoption of new legislation to protect the rights of persons living with HIV/AIDS. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the participation of social partners in the formulation of the employment policy as well as on their involvement in the activities of vocational education and training institutions. It also asks the Government to 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 and in the informal economy.