Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111) - Finland (Ratification: 1970)

Access to employment and occupation of the Roma. The Committee notes with interest the National Policy on Roma, finalized in 2009, which contains six key objectives including the following: (i) enhancing education for Roma children and youth; (ii) enhancing education of adults and promoting their access to the labour market; and (iii) promoting equal treatment and preventing discrimination. Measures to be taken under the Policy include determining the educational needs for the allocation and development of vocational education and training for the Roma, enhancing the integration of Roma into the labour market through more efficient public employment services and multi-professional cooperation, raising the awareness of the Roma population of their right to non-discrimination, starting a national media campaign aimed at the elimination of prejudices, and ensuring the inclusion of the Roma issues in equality planning. A group for implementing and monitoring the measures under the Policy was also appointed in March 2012. The Committee also notes that the three-year TEMPO project started in 2008, which provides support for employment Offices and the employment process for Roma and immigrants, including counselling services for poorly educated long-term unemployed persons in gaining access to education, vocational training or the labour market. The Government has also appointed a working group in 2010 to prepare a Roma strategy which should have an impact internationally through enhancing policy coordination on Roma both at the national level and the level of the European Union. The Committee welcomes such initiatives and asks the Government to provide information on follow-up actions being taken, in cooperation with the social partners, to the National Policy on Roma, and results achieved. Please also provide further specific information on the access of the Roma to education at all levels, as well as to employment and particular occupations.

The Committee is raising other points in a request addressed directly to the Government.