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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Chile (Ratification: 1968)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. In response to its previous comments, the Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report regarding the numerous programmes adopted to increase participation, mainly of women and young persons in a socially vulnerable situation, in the labour market. The Government refers, inter alia, to the “More skilled” (Más Capaz) programme, which aims to support the entry and retention in the labour market of women, young persons and persons with disabilities who belong, according to socio-economic classification, to the 60 per cent most disadvantaged section of the population, and who have no or little work, that is, whose contribution rate amounts to 50 per cent or less over the previous 12 months. There are three lines of action in the “More skilled” programme: standard line of action (2015–18); women entrepreneurs line of action; and persons with disabilities line of action. The Government also indicates that ProEmplea runs five programmes of the Office of the Under-Secretary for Labour aimed at job creation and labour integration for groups in a vulnerable situation, such as women, children, persons with disabilities and former prisoners. The joint objective of those programmes is the promotion of employment and employability through the design, coordination and oversight of employment policies and programmes, with a view to facilitating labour integration for persons in the most vulnerable situations, and to provide a source of labour to places where the labour force demand has shrunk because of an emergency. These programmes are divided into “emergency employment” programmes, which include the programme for community investment and the programmes under the National Training and Employment Service (SENCE); and the “employability-boosting” programmes, which include the programme for the employment support “sistema Chile solidario” and the programme for the development of professional skills for women “Chile solidario”. The Government also provides information on incentives granted to enterprises (the “Encourage people” programme and the “On-the-job training” programme) and benefits for workers (youth employment grants and vouchers for women workers) with a view to boosting employment and training for young persons and women. With regard to the labour market trends, the Committee notes that based on the National Employment Survey of the National Statistics Institute (INE), between July and September 2018, the general unemployment rate was 7.4 per cent for women and 6.8 per cent for men; the participation rate was 48.5 per cent for women and 70.2 per cent for men; and the employment rate was 44.9 per cent for women and 65.4 per cent for men. The Committee notes that the unemployment rates are higher in certain regions, such as Tarapaca (9.2 per cent for men and 7.5 per cent for women), Atacama (7.7 per cent for men and 9 per cent for women) and Antofagasta (6.9 per cent for men and 10.8 per cent for women). Lastly, the Committee notes the establishment of implementation reports relating to employment programmes with a view to conducting quantitative monitoring of the achievement of those programmes with fiscal support; and the establishment of the Employment Monitoring Committee to coordinate those programmes. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing up-to-date information on the measures adopted or envisaged to achieve the objectives of the Convention, including those adopted in regions with high unemployment rates and, particularly, on the manner in which those programmes helped beneficiaries (particularly women, young people and persons with disabilities) to obtain full, productive and lasting jobs. The Committee also requests the Government to provide a copy of the implementation reports related to those measures. Furthermore, the Committee requests the Government to provide updated statistical information on the evolution of the labour market, particularly on the rates of the economically active population, employment and unemployment, disaggregated by sex, age and region.

Coordination of vocational and technical education and training measures with employment policy. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to continue providing information on the coordination of vocational education and training policies with employment policy. In this respect the Government recalls in its report that the National System for the Certification of Vocational Skills (ChileValora) is composed of Sectoral Vocational Skills Bodies (OSCL), that are tripartite and invite the most representative sectors of the economy to participate in the development of skills-based projects. The Government indicates that, depending on the characteristics of the production sector and its formation, there are OSCL which include representatives from the rural sector and the informal economy (family agriculture, recyclers and domestic workers). Based on the work of the OSCL, the Vocational Skills Catalogue was compiled, containing all relevant vocational profiles, organized by economic sectors and sub-sectors, according to which persons are assessed and qualified. The Vocational Skills Catalogue is available to the training system and educational institutions in order to incorporate skills into the design of training plans, narrow the gap between workforce supply and demand, link skills with the various curriculum and education levels, and facilitate recognition of qualifications in formal education processes. The Government also indicates that, as a result of sectoral tripartite dialogue, since 2015 it has been making steady progress in the development of vocational paths combining work experience and training which respond to the reality and needs of different productive sectors. The Government also indicates that the mission of the National Employment Observatory, which is part of the National Training and Employment Service, is to identify existing gaps between supply and demand in labour market occupations and to anticipate possible future gaps. In particular, the Observatory’s objective is to improve workers’ employability and the country’s productivity by disseminating information on the importance of training and on the link between job vacancies and seekers. The National Observatory has a central office and a network of 15 regional observatories, which each have an advisory council composed of representatives of the Government, workers’ and employers’ organizations, and academia. The Government also refers to the skills training programme for persons in vulnerable situations and provides them with subsidies for each day of training; and to the on-the-job training programme which offers incentives to enterprises that hire unemployed persons or first-time jobseekers with a view to developing particular skills through the on-the-job training and a training voucher. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed and updated information on the measures adopted or envisaged in cooperation with the social partners and representatives of various sectors, including representatives of the rural sector and informal economy, to improve the level of qualifications and coordinate education and training policies with potential job opportunities, and on the results of the implementation of those measures.

Micro- and small enterprises (MYPE). The Committee notes the Government’s reference to the implementation of the business and enterprise voucher which aims to boost the competitiveness and productivity of micro- and small enterprises. Through the programme, owners or managers of micro- or small enterprises are provided with a certificate giving them access to a training course to improve their training in areas that will boost competitiveness and productivity. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on the initiatives adopted or envisaged to support micro- and small enterprises as well as on their application in practice.

Article 3. Consultation with the social partners. The Committee notes with interest the formation on 8 May 2017 of the Higher Labour Council, a tripartite and consultative body. Its permanent functions are, inter alia, to: (i) develop, analyse and discuss proposals and recommendations on public policy relating to labour relations and the labour market; (ii) propose initiatives intended to incentivize job creation, boost productivity and increase the participation of women, young persons, persons with disabilities and other groups of workers in a vulnerable situation in the workforce, improving their employability; and (iii) conduct, directly or through third parties, diagnostic investigations or studies on the status of labour relations and the operation of the labour market in the country. The Committee also notes the Government’s information on the content of several of the Council’s meetings held to date. The Government indicates, for example, that in its second session, Council members analysed information available on the implementation of the labour reform, particularly the labour market indicators defined on the basis of data registered by the Labour Directorate. The Government also refers to the implementation of the programme on social dialogue working groups within the framework of the social dialogue unit of the Labour Ministry. The purpose of this programme is to establish social dialogue working groups to help set up national and regional social dialogue forums on high-priority issues, such as employment policy. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the manner in which the social partners participate in the design, implementation, evaluation and revision of employment policies within the Higher Labour Council and the social dialogue working groups on employment policy.