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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Gabon (Ratification: 2009)

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Elaboration and implementation of a national employment policy. Participation of the social partners. The Committee takes note of the Government’s report that it received in July 2013 in response to its direct request of 2011. The Committee noted at the time that an action plan for employment had been adopted in September 2010 and that the President of the Republic had included the promotion of full and productive employment among his policy objectives. The Government states in its latest report that it is taking a whole series of initiatives with a view to the creation of sustainable employment, such as the construction of a manganese processing plant at Moanda, the ongoing construction of a hydroelectric dam at Poubara, the agro pastoral projects that are being executed all over the country and the rehabilitation and commissioning of the Nyanga Ranch, all of which are designed to create wealth through employment to reduce unemployment and poverty. So that it can examine Gabon’s application of the Convention, the Committee would like to receive information on the impact of the measures that have been implemented under the action plan for employment that the Government adopted in September 2010, from the standpoint of the creation of sustainable employment and reduction of unemployment. It invites the Government in its next report to present detailed information on the consultations held with representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations and with workers in rural areas and in the informal economy so as to secure their collaboration in preparing and implementing its employment policy programmes and measures (Article 3 of the Convention). The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report data on the situation and trend in unemployment and underemployment, particularly among women and young people.

Article 2. Collection and use of employment data. In its previous comment the Committee stressed that a system of labour market data collection is essential for determining the measures to adopt in order to achieve the objectives of the Convention and for reviewing regularly the measures taken. The Committee once again invites the Government in its next report to provide information on the progress made in this respect, along with statistical data from any economic and democratic surveys that it has held.

Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. In its previous comment the Committee noted that, although the GDP per inhabitant in Gabon is one of the highest in Africa, the unemployment and poverty rates testify to many shortcomings, with social indicators below those of countries with comparable incomes. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report more information on the measures taken to ensure that employment, which is a crucial factor in poverty reduction, is at the very centre of its macroeconomic and social policies.

Vulnerable groups. The Government refers to the employment policy framework document drawn up by young Gabonese. The document makes no distinction as to gender and includes observations on the employability of young people and women. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report more information on the impact of the steps taken to facilitate the insertion of young people and women in the labour market.

Promoting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In its report the Government mentions the creation of an Enterprise Development Centre as part of a new drive to reduce considerably the time needed to set up an enterprise. Approval of an application to create an enterprise can now be obtained free of charge from the Minister of Small and Medium-Size Enterprises in as little as 48 hours. The Committee also takes note of the provisions of Decree No. 0254/PR/MEEDD issuing a Public Markets Code which gives priority to small and medium-sized national enterprises, especially in concluding market contracts and subcontracting parts thereof. The Committee invites the Government to send information on the impact of the measures referred to above, from the standpoint of the creation of sustainable employment by small and medium-sized enterprises.

Coordination of education and training policy with employment policy. The Government states that measures have been adopted that focus more on adapting vocational training to employment prospects for young people. Among other things a partnership has been developed between the public and the private sector, a school for petroleum trades has been opened at Port-Gentil and 400 young people have received training in mining trades. The Committee invites the Government to send in its next report it an assessment of the impact of the measures that have been adopted so that vocational training is better adapted to employment prospects for young people.

The Committee observes that a detailed report containing the information called for in this direct request could afford the Government and the social partners an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of Gabon’s employment policy in achieving the goal of full and productive employment, as called for in the Convention. It recalls that in preparing a detailed response of this kind the Government may need to consult the various ministries or government agencies concerned, such as those responsible for education, economic affairs and statistics.