Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Romania (Ratification: 1973)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour market policies. The Government indicates in its report that, taking into account the fact that the number of jobs created by the Romanian economy remains low, due to the economic crisis and restructuring, the most affected population categories are the ones situated at the extremes of the labour market, that is, young people and elderly workers. The Committee notes that the National Strategy for Employment 2014–20 includes specific objectives and directions of action, such as increasing youth employment and extending the working life of the elderly, by reducing youth unemployment and the number of NEET young people (not in employment, education or training) and increasing labour market participation of the elderly. With an employment rate for older workers of 43.1 per cent in 2014 (Romania is situated below the EU-28 average), the inclusion of this category is being hampered by a number of barriers from the perspective of workers, such as uncorrelated skills with actual requirements, but also from the perspective of employers (low productivity of the workforce, resistance to change, reduced adaptability). The Government indicates that, without the participation of older workers, there will be a deficit of human and professional resources. Moreover, facing the perspective of the working-age population decline, the Government states that an increasing rate of women in employment appears to be essential in achieving the national objective in employment established in the context of the Europe 2020 Strategy. With regard to women’s participation in the labour market, registering an employment rate of 16.7 percentage points lower than the rate of men in 2014, the Government indicates that women are situated in a vulnerable position in the Romanian labour market. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact and effectiveness of its employment policy measures in terms of productive job creation, in particular for the most vulnerable workers.

Youth employment. The Committee notes that, according to EUROSTAT, the youth unemployment rate was measured at 23.7 per cent in 2013 and 24 per cent in 2014. The Government indicates that, in 2012, the Ministry of Labour elaborated the 2013 national plan to stimulate youth employment. Measures in the plan focused on implementing youth guarantee type programmes, improving the entrepreneurial culture among youth and in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), developing, as well as adapting education and vocational training to the labour market demands. With regard to the integration of young people into the labour market, the Government indicates that the consolidated State Budget financed programmes dedicated to improve youth entrepreneurial skills and the set-up of micro-enterprises by young entrepreneurs. In this regard, 8,000 new jobs were created and young entrepreneurs set up 464 start-ups. At the beginning of 2014, the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Protection and Elderly launched the Youth Guarantee Implementation Plan 2014–15, a policy framework document developed by the Ministry of Labour in cooperation with other relevant stakeholders. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the impact of the measures taken to facilitate lasting employment opportunities for young people.

The Roma minority. The Committee notes the Government’s statement indicating that the Roma population faces special problems, generated by the low level of education, a low participation on the labour market, the large category of persons not engaged in economic activities which includes homemakers, retirees, persons incapable of work, welfare beneficiaries and unemployed people. In line with EU recommendations, in early 2013 the review of the Governmental Strategy for inclusion of Romanian citizens of Roma minority for the period 2012–20 was initiated. The Committee notes the results of measures implemented targeting the Roma minority in 2012–14. In this regard, 5,302 jobseekers of the Roma minority obtained employment through active employment measures in 2014 (3,023 employment contracts of an indefinite duration and 2,279 fixed-term contracts). The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed information on the impact of the measures taken to enhance the social inclusion and increase employment opportunities of the Roma minority.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government indicates that, in the context of the reform of the social dialogue legislation, the Law on organizing the Economic and Social Council was adopted in March 2013. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific examples of how the social partners are effectively consulted and participate in decision-making on the matters covered by the Convention. Please also include information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that these consultations include representatives of other sectors of the active population, particularly representatives of the Roma minority and of persons working in the rural sector and the informal economy.

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