Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2020, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Ireland (Ratification: 1967)

The Committee takes note of the supplementary information provided by the Government in light of the decision adopted by the Governing Body at its 338th Session (June 2020). The Committee proceeded with the examination of the application of the Convention on the basis of the supplementary information received from the Government this year, as well as on the basis of the information at its disposal in 2019.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment policy measures. Impact of COVID-19. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the impact of the employment measures taken under its twin key strategies: the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work 2016–20. It also requested the Government to continue to provide information on the procedures for deciding on and reviewing employment measures implemented within the framework of an overall economic and social policy. The Committee notes with interest that the Action Plan for Jobs has delivered strong job growth. In its supplementary report the Government indicates that as of the first quarter of 2020, total employment had grown to 2,353,500, representing 490,300 more people in employment since the Action Plan for Jobs was first launched in 2012. The Committee further notes that these are the highest employment figures ever recorded in the country and significantly above the Government’s 2020 target of 2.1 million. The Government indicates that the unemployment rate, which peaked at almost 16 per cent in 2012 had fallen to 4.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2020 and long term unemployment had fallen to 1.2 per cent, well below the target of 2.5 per cent set out in Pathways to Work 2016–2020. The Committee notes that the Government’s policies had increased the employment rate by over 15 per cent in all eight regions from the first quarter of 2012 to the first quarter of 2020. The Committee further notes that the targets set in the Programme for Government in 2016 for the creation of 200,000 additional jobs by 2020, including 135,000 jobs outside of Dublin, had been exceeded with jobs created totalling 272,700. The Government indicates that the impact of COVID-19 on Ireland’s economy is evidenced in the Labour Force Survey figures for the second quarter of 2020, which indicate that employment decreased by 149,800 (-6.3 per cent), bringing total employment down to 2,222,500. The Committee notes that a new Programme for Government was introduced in June 2020, setting a new target to create 200,000 additional jobs by 2025. With regard to the procedures for deciding on and reviewing employment measures implemented, the Government indicates that a set of milestones and metrics are used as indicators of progress in addressing the challenges and delivering on Pathways to Work 2016–2020. Progress on milestones are presented quarterly to the Cabinet Committee, and metrics are published on the Department website and reviewed and updated on an annual basis to reflect the key challenges and issues being addressed under this strategy each year. The Committee notes from the supplementary information provided by the Government that the majority of activities under Pathways to Work 2016–2020 have now been completed and reflect the much different economic landscape resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. In this respect, the Government indicates that the Department of Employment Affairs & Social Protection (DEASP) is developing a successor strategy for the period 2020–25, aimed at ensuring that positive labour market outcomes are achievable for all groups in Irish society and that the Irish labour force is well positioned to respond to ongoing and future economic challenges. The Government further indicates that the DEASP will continue to review its labour market activation programmes to ensure that they remain aligned to labour market needs. The Labour Market Advisory Council is expected to remain an important component of the recovery process, providing guidance on the active labour market policy responses required to address the economic challenges that Ireland is facing over the immediate and longer term. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information, including statistical data disaggregated by sex, age, region and economic sector on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on employment, unemployment and visible underemployment and on measures taken or envisaged to address the challenges encountered. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the implementation and outcomes of the new Programme for the creation of 200,000 additional jobs by 2025. The Government is further requested to provide updated information on the development, implementation and impact of the employment strategy for the period 2020–2025.

Education and training policies and programmes. The Committee had previously requested the Government to provide information on the impact of the Action Plan for Education, the National Skills Strategy 2025, and the Further Education and Training Strategy 2014–19. The Government indicates that the annual review of the Action Plan for Education registers an achievement rate of 85 per cent for 2018, rising to 86 per cent in the first quarter of 2019. The key achievements of the Action Plan from 2018 to 2020 include: the establishment of the Technological University Dublin; an employer satisfaction survey, as well as the roll-out of 11 new apprenticeship programmes in 2019 and three in 2020. The Government indicates that through the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship for the period 2016–20, the number of apprenticeship programmes has grown from 25 to 58 with a further 20 in development. The pathways to participation in Apprenticeship has also been reviewed to ensure that the national apprenticeship system is more inclusive of diverse backgrounds and is accessible to all. In addition, the Government launched a national apprenticeship jobs platform in 2019 (www.apprenticeshipjobs.ie) and a national promotional campaign, Generation Apprenticeship, was created to promote apprenticeship participation and opportunities at local, regional and national levels. The Committee notes that the number of employers engaging with the apprenticeship system increased from 3,558 in 2015 to over 6,000 in 2019 and that annual new apprentice registrations grew from 3,153 to 6,177 between 2015 and 2019. The Government indicates that the COVID-19 has impacted recruitment into apprenticeship programmes, with recruitment being reduced by 60 per cent as of mid-2020. A time-limited Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme for employers of apprentices has been introduced whereby a €3,000 grant is paid over a two-year period for each new apprentice who is registered between 1 March and 31 December 2020 and retained into the third quarter of 2021. With regard to the National Skills Strategy 2025, the Government indicates that the level of adult participation in lifelong learning in Ireland increased from 6.9 per cent in 2016 to 12.6 per cent in 2019. A National Skills Council as well as an Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) have been established to advise the Government on future skills requirements and associated labour market issues that may impact the national potential for employment growth. The Government adds that nine Regional Skills Fora have been established to engage employers, enterprises and education and training providers at the regional level to tailor responses to skills needs. These Fora engaged with over 1,498 enterprises in 2019, 75 per cent of which were small, medium and micro-enterprises. The Committee notes the implementation of the Further Education and Training Strategy 2014–2019 (FET), which resulted in significant progress in education and which is periodically assessed and reviewed. The Government indicates that as a part of Budget 2018, the rate of the National Training Fund (NTF) levy has been increased (by 0.1 per cent in 2018 to 0.8 per cent and by a further 0.1 per cent in both 2019 and 2020) and a reform package, developed in consultation with employers, has been attached to the fund to make it more responsive to employers’ needs. The Government further indicates that as part of the reform package various policies and programmes, such as Skills to Advance, Springboard+ and Skillnet Ireland have been implemented to promote the upskilling and reskilling of the current workforce. The Committee notes that Skills to Advance, which is an employee development policy framework, enables targeted support for groups in vulnerable situations in the Irish workforce, with a particular focus on those with lower skills levels. It also supports small and medium-sized enterprises in developing their workforce. The Committee further notes that the Government has also initiated the Skill to Compete programme in response to the urgent need for activation, upskilling and reskilling of workers who have been displaced from their jobs as a result of COVID-19. It will provide for 19,000 additional full time and part time places, prioritizing placement of persons who have lost their jobs as a result of the pandemic. The Government anticipates that a period of at least 18 months will be required to fully address the labour market disruption caused by COVID-19. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information, including statistics disaggregated by age and sex, on the impact of the Action Plan for Education, the National Skills Strategy 2025, the apprenticeship programmes and other relevant measures, in terms of enabling young people, women and persons belonging to disadvantaged groups to secure lasting employment. The Committee further requests the Government to provide information on the impact of upskilling and reskilling initiatives and programmes, such as the Skill to Compete and Springboard+ 2020 programmes, on persons who have lost their jobs as a result of COVID-19 and on employment trends.

Article 3. Consultations with the social partners. In its previous comments, the Committee requested further information on the activities of the Labour Employer Economic Forum (LEEF) with respect to the development, implementation and review of coordinated employment policy measures and programmes and their links to other economic and social policies. In its supplementary information, the Government indicates that, in response to COVID-19, the national Return to Work Safely Protocol was introduced in May 2020. It is designed to support employers and workers in putting measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. The initiative was jointly led by the Department of the Prime Minister (the Taoiseach), the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and the Health and Safety Authority. The Protocol was developed and adopted following discussion in the LEEF, as the forum for high-level dialogue between the Government, trade unions and employer representatives on matters of strategic national importance. The Committee notes that a sub-group of the LEEF has been established to oversee the implementation of the Protocol across Ireland, in parallel with existing occupational health and safety statutory requirements. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing examples of the participation of the social partners in the development, implementation and review of measures adopted to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment, including measures aimed at overcoming the profound impacts of COVID-19 on the labour market.