Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and implementation of active employment policy measures. The Government reports that, following its ratification of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), amendments were made to the national legislation. The Committee notes the adoption of the Private Employment Agencies Act 2017 (S.B. 2017, No 42) as well as the Labour Exchange Act (LEA 2017) (S.B. 2017, 67). It further notes the Government’s indication that the LEA 2017 reshapes the legal basis of labour exchange, introducing regulated freedom for intermediating institutions, ethical codes for intermediaries and employers, as well as protection of the rights of jobseekers. The Government further reports that its Labour Market division is engaged in the process of upgrading the public employment service to enable it to provide improved services to the community. In this context, the Committee notes that training was held in June 2018, with technical advisory support from the ILO, in the framework of the implementation of the Decent Work Country Program (DWCP) for Suriname. The objective of the training was to build the capacity of the public employment service (PES) and private employment agencies (PEAs) to respond quickly to developments in the labour market and highlight good practices. The Government indicates that staff from Paramaribo and Nickerie Employment Services, as well as business representatives and trade unions, participated in the training. The Committee notes that the Government provides no information in response to its previous comments concerning employment trends. It further notes that, according to the 2017 Economic Survey of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), Suriname’s 2016 economic crisis, brought on by the decline of commodity prices and cessation of alumina production, has begun to abate in 2017, as revenues over the first five months of 2017 expanded by 32 per cent relative to the same period in 2016. The Committee requests the Government to provide information, including statistical data disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of the new legislation on the promotion of full, productive and sustainable employment. It further requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the active labour market measures taken to reduce unemployment and increase employment levels. The Committee also reiterates its request that the Government provide up-to-date statistical information, disaggregated by age and sex, on the nature, extent and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment in the country, as well as to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to promote job creation and inclusive growth.

Women’s employment. Education and vocational training. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide detailed information on progress achieved in increasing the participation of women in the labour market. The Government reports that no assessment has been done with regard to the impact of measures taken in this regard. The Committee notes that the information provided by the Government on training organized by the Foundation for Labour Mobilization and Development (SAO) indicates that training programs remain highly segregated, with women being concentrated in certain traditionally feminine occupations, such as textiles, home care, nursing help and maternity care. In this regard, the Committee notes the 2018 concluding observations made by the Committee on the Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), in which it expresses concern at women’s unequal access to employment opportunities despite their higher participation and attainment rates at all levels of education and the disproportionately high unemployment rate among women, in particular rural women, Maroon women and indigenous women. The CEDAW Committee also noted continued occupational segregation of women, their concentration in low paying jobs in the informal economy and their underrepresentation in non traditional occupations and managerial posts. In this regard, the CEDAW Committee invites the Government to implement targeted measures to address occupational segregation and promote women’s access to formal employment, including in managerial or decision-making positions and in non-traditional occupations (CEDAW/C/SUR/CO/4-6, paragraphs 36 (d) (e) and 37(e)). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on specific measures taken or envisaged to address occupational gender segregation, including measures taken to provide women with a broader choice of educational and vocational training opportunities, including in relation to non-traditional occupations. The Committee further requests the Government to provide detailed information, including statistical data disaggregated by age, and sex on the impact of technical and vocational training programmes in terms of providing employment opportunities to women as well as information on measures designed to improve the employment situation of Maroon women, including provision of entrepreneurship training.

Youth employment. The Committee notes that, according to available World Bank statistics, youth unemployment levels remain high (15.69 per cent in 2016 and 15.86 per cent in 2017). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to promote full, productive and lasting employment for young women and men.

Article 3. Consultation with the social partners. The Government indicates that the social partners are involved in the elaboration of Government policies (Policy Declaration, Development Plan), and the Labour Advisory Board (AAC) regularly issues recommendations on various subjects related to employment policy. In this regard, the Committee also notes that in the process of developing legislation, consultations have been held with a number of specific groups, such as the LGBT community, young persons, labour unions, the business community and religious groups. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on consultation with the social partners as well as other social actors and to indicate the manner in which account has been taken of their opinions in formulating of employment policies and programmes.

Small and medium-sized enterprises. The Government reports that the Foundation for Productive Work Units (SPWE) is taking specific measures at both the organizational and policy levels to support the establishment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). At the organizational level, a quality management system is being implemented within the SWPE. From a policy standpoint, it is focusing on its core business, including in the areas of: coaching, training and technical assistance for start-ups; promotion of business unit facilities and entrepreneurship support. The SWPE is also participating in the Alliance for Decent Work and Economic Growth which is focussing on decent work and entrepreneurship for people with disabilities. The Committee notes that the Board for Cooperatives (RACO) is advising the Minister of Labour on cooperative policy and legislation and promoting the development of new and existing cooperatives. The Committee requests the Government to supply statistical data on the number and type of newly created SMEs. It further requests the Government to provide information on measures taken or envisaged to generate employment for particular categories of workers, such as people with disabilities through the promotion of cooperatives and micro-business, particularly in regions with the highest unemployment rates.