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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Ratification: 2010)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that the next report will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous comments.

Repetition

Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention. It notes that in the 2011 Budget Address, the Prime Minister made various relevant statements declaring the country employment policy which is integrated into its development strategies for the agriculture and tourism sectors, poverty eradication strategies, youth policies and education and training policies. The Government indicates that poverty eradication strategies aim at strengthening labour markets to ensure productivity and competitiveness, supporting education and training to increase the participation of women and school leavers in the labour market and developing enterprises in the agriculture and tourism sectors. The Committee further notes that the global economic crisis has had damaging effects on the socio-economic conditions of the country. Growth continues to be affected by the global slowdown through its impact on tourism and foreign direct investment (FDI). Weather-induced shocks between 2010 and 2011 have added to macroeconomic weaknesses. While expected to decline by 0.4 per cent in 2011, the economy is projected to grow by 2 per cent in 2012, supported by a rebound in agriculture and construction activities and a modest recovery in tourism and FDI flows. According to the 2008 Country Poverty Assessment (CPA) survey, the labour force participation rate was 64.6 per cent and the employment rate was 52.5 per cent. The unemployment rate stood at 18.8 per cent. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the impact of its active employment policy in terms of achieving full, productive and freely chosen employment (Article 1 of the Convention). It also requests the Government to provide information on how employment policy measures are kept under periodical review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy (Article 2). The Committee would also appreciate receiving information on the impact of the employment policy measures on poverty reduction.

Article 2. Collection and use of employment data. The Government indicates that data concerning the labour force is usually obtained through a national census and the labour force survey. It further indicates that no statistical information is available concerning the implementation of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government embarked on a project aimed at enhancing the capacity of production and use of labour market information produced by the Government, trade unions and employers’ organizations, as well as at creating a labour market information system (LMIS). This project is jointly implemented by the Department of Labour (DoL) of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the Secretariat of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the ILO. In its 2010 General Survey concerning employment instruments, the Committee stressed the importance of compiling and analysing statistical data and trends as a basis for deciding measures of employment policy. The Committee intends to follow up on progress made for the development of labour market information systems, for the purposes of ensuring that policy-makers have up-to-date and accurate information to guide their decisions (paragraphs 69–70 of the 2010 General Survey). The Committee invites the Government to report on the progress made in developing a labour market information system. It also requests the Government to indicate how labour market information is used as a basis for employment policy decision-making (Article 2).

Article 3. Consultation with the social partners. The Government indicates that it will give due consideration to consultations with social partners on employment policies. The Committee refers to its 2010 General Survey, where it noted that Convention No. 122 requires governments to consult the representatives of the persons affected by the measures with a view to taking fully into account their experience and views in developing the employment policy. In this regard, the consultations should also be used as a mechanism to enlist the support of the persons affected for the implementation of the policy adopted (para. 77 of the 2010 General Survey). The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected are consulted concerning the development, implementation and review of employment policies. Please also indicate whether formal consultative procedures have been established for this purpose.

Sectoral development measures. The Government indicates that the employment impact of the agricultural policies is pursued through a mix of measures that aim at boosting the rural sector through diversification, expansion of production and the enhancement of productivity and competitiveness. These measures include: training in production technologies, agri-business management and good agricultural practices. The Government also indicates that the Public Sector Investment Programme is planned to create jobs in the rural and tourism sectors and that the Hospitality Institute provides for training in the tourism and maritime sectors. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to promote productive employment and improve the quantity and quality of employment opportunities in the abovementioned sectors.

Women’s employment. The Government indicates that active labour market measures implemented in the framework of poverty eradication strategies include supporting mothers’ attendance to education and training courses to increase their participation in the labour market. The Committee notes that according to the 2008 CPA survey, the labour force participation rate among women was lower than among men (56.4 per cent against 74.3 per cent). The employment rate for women was 41.6 per cent compared to 65.2 per cent for men and their unemployment rate stood at 26.2 per cent against 12.2 per cent for men. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of education and training measures and other measures designed to increase the employment participation rate of women in the open labour market.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that it plans to enhance a training programme for young school leavers, the Youth Empowerment Service (YES), through expanding its services, building an entrepreneurial culture and a better attitude towards work and promoting the involvement of private sector businesses in the YES programme through tax incentives. The Committee notes that according to the 2008 CPA survey, the labour force participation rate among young persons between 15 and 24 years was 52.4 per cent. The employment rate of young persons was as low as 34.7 per cent, while the unemployment rate stood at 33.8 per cent. The Committee invites the Government to supply in its next report disaggregated data on young persons obtaining lasting employment following their participation in the YES programme and other training activities.