Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Switzerland (Ratification: 2013)

The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention.

Article 1(2) of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Government indicates in its report that the implementation of an active employment policy is one of the major goals of macroeconomic policy. The Committee notes that the country’s performance with regard to labour market policy is based on several factors, namely: price stability; long-term average budget balance and the smooth operation of short-term economic stabilizers; a diversified economic structure; flexibility of the active population; focus on vocational training and the dual training system; the policy regarding foreign workers; and decentralized relations between employers and workers. Moreover, in view of the large number of free trade agreements that have been concluded, the Government considers that foreign trade policy plays a key role in achieving the goal of full employment. The Government also indicates that although the unemployment rate has risen since the early 1990s, it is still low when compared with international levels. The Committee notes that there has been only a very slight increase in the average annual unemployment rate, from 3.2 per cent in 2013 to 3.3 per cent in 2015. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken as part of the implementation of an active employment policy and also on their impact in terms of job creation.

Article 2. Statistics and information on the labour market. The Committee notes that the cantons of Vaud, Neuchâtel and Geneva have been recorded as having the highest unemployment rates between 2013 and 2015 (the annual average for 2015 for these cantons was 5 per cent, 5.5 per cent and 5.6 per cent, respectively). Moreover, the number of jobseekers – namely, unemployed persons registered with the regional employment offices and persons seeking work who are not unemployed – fell from 205,802 in December 2013 to 203,926 in December 2014, then increased to 220,209 in December 2015. In December 2015, the long-term unemployed accounted for 14.4 per cent of registered unemployed persons. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing statistical information, disaggregated by age and sex, on the labour market and on employment trends in the country.

Particular categories of workers. The Government indicates that the policy for mobilizing the active population also covers the reintegration of certain vulnerable groups. The Committee notes that the average annual unemployment rate for young persons (15–24 age group) fell by 0.1 percentage points between 2013 and 2015, whereas it dropped from 3.4 per cent in 2013 to 3.2 per cent in 2014. The average annual unemployment rate for women fell from 3.1 per cent in 2013 to 3 per cent in 2014 but went back up to 3.1 per cent in 2015. Moreover, according to the information in the Government’s report, a majority of women work part-time (59.2 per cent). As regards older workers, the Committee notes that even though the unemployment rate for the 55–64 age group was below the average, individuals in this group face difficulties in finding new jobs and are at greater risk of long-term unemployment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of measures taken to promote employment for women, young people and older workers.

Coordination of education and training policies with employment policy. The Government reports on the launch in 2011 of an initiative aimed at combating the shortage of skilled workers. Accordingly, four priority areas of action have been defined: raising skill levels; improving the work–life balance; creating good conditions of work for older workers; and encouraging innovation. The Committee refers to its comments on the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), and requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in education and training policy and on how they are connected with enabling the beneficiaries of these measures to find productive employment.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Committee notes that the Government invites broad participation in consultations. Consultation forums include parliamentary committees or “de Watteville talks”, bringing together the government parties with a view to determining the broad lines of economic policy in the country; the council of the Swiss National Bank, which brings together representatives of the social partners; and the tripartite committees for support measures relating to the free movement of persons. The Committee requests the Government to provide examples of consultations held with the social partners on the matters covered by the Convention.