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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Djibouti (Ratification: 1978)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2008 observation, which read as follows:

Repetition

Article 1 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in May 2008 in reply to the 2007 observation. The Government indicates in particular that, for the first time since the country’s independence, structures have been established in Djibouti in 2008 for the organization and development of the employment market. The Committee notes the creation of the National Employment, Training and Vocational Integration Agency (ANEFIP), which is responsible for implementing national policies and programmes relating to employment, vocational training and vocational integration. The Committee also notes the establishment of the Djibouti Social Development Agency (ADDS), which has the task of contributing to the eradication of poverty among vulnerable groups and reducing disparities between regions. With regard to the employment situation, the unemployment rate is estimated at 60 per cent of the active population and young people are particularly affected. Furthermore, 75 per cent of workers are employed in the informal economy. The Government intends, in the context of the implementation of the poverty reduction strategy, to promote labour-intensive activities, vocational training, the development of small and medium-sized enterprises and microfinance. With regard to microfinance, funding given to women’s organizations seems to have met with some success. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information in its next report on the results achieved by the ANEFIP and ADDS to implement an employment promotion and poverty reduction strategy, including updated quantitative information on the development of the programmes put in place to promote the objectives of the Convention.

Article 2. Collection and use of employment data. The Government indicates that the development of information on employment is one of the tasks of the ANEFIP. To that end, section 32 of Act No. 203/AN/07/5thL provides for the creation of an Employment and Qualifications Observatory. The Observatory will be responsible in particular for establishing an employment database and carrying out specific surveys in this field. The Committee trusts that the Government will provide information in its next report on the progress made by the Employment and Qualifications Observatory in collecting data on employment as well as on the employment policy measures adopted following the establishment of the new labour market information systems.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on any consultations held on employment policies in the National Labour, Employment and Vocational Training Council.

Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Committee notes that, under the ILO’s Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) in Djibouti for 2008–12, priority is given to job creation, with particular emphasis on women and young people, and to access to employment through vocational training. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the results achieved during the implementation of the DWCP in terms of job creation.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the near future.