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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Greenland

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Active labour market measures. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government, including statistics on education expenditure, and the observations from the Teachers Trade Union of Greenland (IMAK), incorporated in the Government’s report. The Government indicates that there are no active mines in Greenland; however, there are four exploitation licences that have been issued and a number of exploration projects are expected submit applications within the next year or two. The Government states that an important challenge is how to involve as much of the Greenlandic workforce and as many Greenlandic enterprises as possible. The Committee notes in this regard the Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA), a specific agreement between the licensee, the local municipality and the Greenland Government, in which targets are set for the involvement of Greenlandic labour, Greenlandic enterprises, education, procurement and other socio-cultural issues. It also notes that the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources is in the process of preparing a report focusing on future needs for outside labour associated with possible mining projects. In its report, the Government also refers to legislation, such as the Large Scale Project Act, and indicates that the social partners have been consulted during the drafting process of legislative acts. With respect to reporting on the application of the Convention, the Committee notes the concerns of IMAK indicating that the consultation period was too short. The Government states that it is going to secure best practice with ILO reporting and improve the cooperation between the Government and the social partners. The Committee invites the Government to include information on the manner in which an active employment policy has been formulated and adopted, in consultation with the social partners and representatives of other communities concerned, with a view to achieving the objectives of full and productive employment, as required by the Convention. It also invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the mining projects in the generation of productive and lasting employment in Greenland.

Article 2. Employment trends. Labour market information. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that a decision was taken to create a more realistic and accurate portrayal of registered jobseekers actually available on the labour market. The goal is to implement a system that distinguishes between how many of the registered jobseekers are ready to take a job and how many need long-term employability enhancement, social and medical help. The Government adds that the information system will make it possible to plan and target the right initiatives for the right group of people. The Committee notes that this new system is expected to be implemented in early 2015 by Statistics Greenland. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the progress made to obtain accurate labour market data and how it is being used to ensure that employment policy decisions are based on an adequate knowledge of the situation, level and trends of employment. The Committee also invites the Government to include information on the employment trends in Greenland.

Skills development. The Government indicates that 1,059 unskilled people received an offer to upgrade their qualifications in 2012. Of these people, 900 completed the course and 505 people obtained employment following the completion of the training course. In 2013, 606 out of 841 people had completed a training course. The Committee notes that the Greenland Education Programme is the central focal point for education policy. The vision of the Greenland Education Programme is to obtain a higher standard of living and quality of life through better education. In order to achieve this, the goal is that 2 out of 3 people of the workforce should have academic qualifications or vocational skills in 2020. This goal has been revised and the overall target will be that, of the year groups that leave elementary school from 2015, 70 per cent must obtain a qualifying education before they reach the age of 35. Moreover, among the major changes to the education system is the reform of the vocational education and training system in 2011. As part of this reform the institutions became self-governing institutions controlled by boards of directors with members from the local businesses. This reform aims to increase the involvement of the business community in education and increase the number of apprenticeships available. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in the area of education and training, including apprenticeships, and on their relation to the obtainment of productive employment for the beneficiaries of these measures. Please also include information on the consultations between the social partners in this regard.