Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Ecuador (Ratification: 1977)

Article 1(1) and (2) of the Convention. Implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and training. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in May 2014 which includes information relating to previous comments. The Committee notes with interest that article 139 of the Constitution that has been in force since 2008 establishes the principle whereby the State will promote training in order to improve the quality of employment and self-employment initiatives and access to them. The Committee notes the reform of the national vocational training system introduced by Executive Decree No. 680, which came into force in March 2011. Through this Decree the Vocational Training Advisory Council was set up as a body involving the participation of workers, employers and representatives of the public sector. The Government also refers to the instruments that regulate the national vocational training policy, including the “National Plan for Good Living 2013–17”, the “Agenda for Productive Change” and the “Social Development Agenda”. The National Plan for the Vocational Training of Human Talent in the Productive Sector 2013–17 groups together vocational training policies and programmes, including for the establishment of centres for the promotion of production that provide vocational training, various mechanisms for the funding of vocational training programmes, campaigns for encouraging entrepreneurs to invest in vocational training for employees and mobile classrooms run by the Ecuadorian Vocational Training Service (SECAP) to provide training for historically neglected areas. In addition, it is planned to evaluate the impact of vocational training policies so that their results are taken into consideration when formulating employment policies. According to the Government’s report, a total of 35,406 persons belonging to priority target groups attended vocational training courses given by SECAP. The Committee refers to the comments it made in 2013 on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122). The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information in its next report on Convention No. 142 on the results achieved through the implementation of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes, including up-to-date statistical information on the beneficiaries of the implemented measures. The Government is also requested to supply information on the manner in which the cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations is assured in the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes.

Vulnerable groups. The Committee notes that the National Plan for the Vocational Training of Human Talent in the Productive Sector 2013–17 envisages the implementation of vocational training programmes free of charge for persons belonging to priority target groups. In addition, funding facilities are envisaged for vocational training courses aimed at young persons between 18 and 29 years of age, workers belonging to indigenous peoples and women heads of household. The Committee invites the Government to include information in its next report on the results of vocational guidance policies and programmes that deal particularly with vulnerable groups as referred to in Paragraph 5(h) of the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195).