Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

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

Article 1 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. In response to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government provides information on its Progress to Work Initiative, which is aimed at working-age persons receiving supplementary benefit. The Government indicates that the Supplementary Benefit (Guernsey) (Amendment) Law of 2014 amends the eligibility criteria for supplementary benefit, adopting a work-focused approach requiring all beneficiaries, including single parents with children under the age of seven, to engage with the “work requirement”. The Government points out, however, that those who are not able or not expected to work will not be under any obligation to do so. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Initiative’s focus on work will take into account barriers to employment, such as lack of appropriate training or qualifications, long-term absence from work or lack of basic application and presentation skills. Thus, in the context of the Progress to Work Initiative, the Social Security Department has worked with the College of Further Education to develop courses to prepare people for work, including a specific framework to help single parents. The Government indicates that, since the initiative began, over 300 people have been referred to the job centre. With respect to training initiatives, the Government indicates that the Skills Guernsey group is pursuing two initiatives: a skills gap analysis based on information gathered through an employer skills survey, which will inform the development of an action plan to address gaps identified, and digital wisdom, which aims to develop all islanders’ digital skills. The Government adds that the information gathered through the employer skills survey has been discussed with business groups and providers of training and education. With regard to employment trends, the Committee notes that, according to the Guernsey Quarterly Population, Employment and Earnings Bulletin, issued in April 2017, the total number of persons in employment (employed and self-employed) decreased from the first quarter of 2012 (32,109 persons) to December 2016 (30,851 persons). It notes that there was a slight increase of 0.9 per cent (annual percentage) in the number of people either employed or self-employed for the year ending 31 December 2016. During the same period, there was a slight decrease of 0.2 per cent in the unemployment rate. The Committee also notes that the employment rates for women and men were similar, with 49 per cent of employed people aged 16 to 64 being female and 51 per cent being male. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of employment and training initiatives adopted within the implementation of an active employment policy, including the Progress to Work Initiative and other employment and training measures. It further requests the Government to provide information in its next report on consultations held with the social partners concerning the development and implementation of the skills action plan and its impact.