Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Slovakia (Ratification: 1993)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Active labour market measures. Youth unemployment. Older workers. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in April 2013 in reply to the comments formulated in 2009. The Government indicates in its report that the registered unemployment rate increased from 13.69 per cent in January 2012 to 14.8 per cent in January 2013. The region with the highest unemployment rate was the Prešov region at 20.92 per cent in January 2013, and the Banská Bystrica and Košice regions also reported a registered unemployment rate above the national average. At the district level, 50 districts experienced a rise in registered unemployment, while 29 districts experienced a fall in registered unemployment. The Committee notes two projects for 2012–15 to address youth unemployment by covering part of the payroll and labour costs of hiring unemployed persons up to the age of 29. In 2012–13, these projects created 594 jobs and are expected to create 14,000 jobs through 2015. The Government also refers to the graduate work experience programme aimed at helping jobseekers aged up to 26 to acquire vocational skills and practical experience with an employer, which resulted in 2,694 jobseekers obtaining employment in the 2010–12 period. The Government’s Youth Action Plan further implements seven measures to improve the quality and purpose of education through the inclusion of vocational education and training. Priority activities of the plan include in-company training, identification of the skill requirements of different sectors of the labour market, and their incorporation into the curricula of vocational education and training. The Committee further notes the Active Ageing Strategy 2012–13 aimed at reducing the unemployment rate for persons over the age of 50, with a particular focus on persons aged 55–64. The strategy will examine demographic trends and forecast the labour market needs until 2020, review the legal situation of older workers entering and remaining in employment, analyse the factors affecting older people’s participation in the labour market, and develop a strategy based on examples of good practices. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the manner in which the employment objectives, such as tackling regional disparities, addressing high youth unemployment and long-term unemployment, have been reached. Please also include information on the measures taken to ensure the coordination of education and vocational policies with employment policies, providing an account of the results obtained in terms of access to lasting employment for the beneficiaries of the different programmes and measures implemented in the country.

Roma minority. The Committee notes the Government’s Strategy for the Integration of Roma up to 2020. The three objectives of the strategy are to improve the socio-economic status of the Roma population by expanding employment opportunities in the labour market, build human capital through better education and health care, and strengthen social capital and community development through increased empowerment and participation of the Roma population in social and civic activities. The strategy also aims to improve the educational opportunities for the Roma minority by supporting “second chance education”, harmonize secondary education with the labour market demands, and improve access to education in the Romani language. As regards social and civic integration, the Government reports on its plan to improve relations between the Roma community and the labour offices and other institutions. The Committee recalls that, in its 2011 observation on the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), the Government was urged to increase its effort to address the continuing discrimination faced by the Roma population in employment and occupation. In view of the progress still to be made in achieving the inclusion of the Roma minority in the labour market, the Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the impact of the measures adopted in consultation with the representatives of the Roma minority and in the framework of its strategy to support labour market participation of the Roma.

Participation of the social partners. The Government refers again to the 2007 Tripartite Act, which establishes the Economic and Social Council as the consultative body of the Government and the social partners at the national level for the economic and social development of employment policy. As required by Article 3 of the Convention, the Committee once again asks the Government to indicate in its next report the specific measures taken to ensure the participation of workers’ and employers’ organizations in the formulation and implementation of employment policies and the results thereof. Please also provide examples of employment policies and measures addressed and decisions reached through tripartite consultations, including consultations with the representatives of the Roma minority.