Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Ratification: 2010)

Articles 1 and 2. Formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that its policy for active employment includes specific education requirements for minimum entry into employment, which have resulted in increased opportunities for education and training aimed at affording citizens, particularly young persons, a fair chance of obtaining employment. The Committee nevertheless notes that the Government does not provide information on the impact of its active employment policy in terms of achieving full, productive, and freely chosen employment, or its impact on poverty reduction. Nor does the Government provide information on how employment policy measures are kept under periodical review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy (Article 2 of the Convention). The Committee notes that, according to the 2020 Country Economic Review of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), while the COVID-19 pandemic had negative impacts on the country, the overall economic decline was relatively moderate at 2.7 per cent. The 2020 CDB report also indicates that the pandemic took a heavy toll on the tourism sector, which declined steeply by 55 per cent. Significant declines were also noted in the transport, storage and communications sector (6.9 per cent), the manufacturing sector (9.5 per cent) and the agriculture sector (12.6 per cent). According to the 2020 CDB report, while economic growth contracted during this period, the fishing industry in the country grew by 19.1 per cent, expanding into a key economic activity in terms of employment generation. The Committee also notes the eruption of the “La Soufrière” volcano on mainland St Vincent on 9 April 2021. According to the 2020 CDB report, the eruption caused severe damage to infrastructure, forestry and agriculture, leading to loss of livelihoods. The Committee notes the Government’s introduction of a recovery and stimulus package which included direct support for the hardest-hit sectors, such as tourism, transport and agriculture, as well as expanded safety net programmes. Taking note of the evolving situation in the country, the Committee reiterates its request that the Government provide concrete updated information on the nature, scope and impact of the active measures taken in terms of achieving full, productive and freely chosen employment and poverty reduction. It also requests the Government to provide information on how employment policy measures are kept under periodical review within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.

Article 2. Employment trends. Labour market information. The Government reports that a labour market database was established and upgraded with ILO technical assistance during the reporting period. It indicates, however, that optimization of the database was negatively affected by the pandemic and that, as a result, further upgrades are necessary to ensure its proper functioning. The Government adds that, in May 2020, a Labour Market Analysis Report was completed and is pending approval before its dissemination to relevant stakeholders. A Labour Demand Survey was also conducted in 2020, which was disseminated to the Ministry of Education, the Sector Skills Development Agency, and the Chambers of Commerce. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the measures taken and progress achieved in developing a functional labour market information system. It also reiterates its request that the Government indicate the manner in which labour market information is used as a basis for employment policy decision-making. The Committee further requests the Government to provide a copy of the Labour Market Analysis Report, as well as information describing the results of the 2020 Labour Demand Survey and any available updated information concerning the situation in the national labour market.

Education and training. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, as part of its employment strategy, measures are being taken to maintain an inclusive educational policy through offers of scholarships aimed at meeting the target of one graduate per household by 2030. The Government reports that men and women have equal opportunities to access training at the technical institutes and private training providers approved by the Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA). The Government adds that, since it obtained the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) status in 2015, the SSDA has awarded over 2,500 National Qualifications Department (NQD) and Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) certificates. It indicates that, over the years, the academic achievements of secondary school leavers have improved. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information, including statistical data disaggregated by age and sex, on the nature of the education and training measures implemented and their impact on employment opportunities. The Government is also requested to provide updated information on consultations held with the social partners in the development of education and training programmes that meet the needs of the labour market. It further requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the manner in which coordination is ensured between education and training measures and active labour market measures developed and implemented.

Persons in vulnerable situations. The Committee notes that, according to the 2022 report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment, women suffered a disproportionate loss of income relative to their male counterparts as a result of the 2020 volcanic eruption. The report also indicates that the Garifuna indigenous people make up another disadvantaged group, many of whom live in coastal communities in the “red zone” (particularly affected areas) around the volcano (A/HRC/49/53/Add.1, 2 March 2022). With regard to young persons, the Government reports that, from 2019 to 2022, 1 290 young persons participated in the Youth Empowerment Service (YES) programme, of which only 163 persons (less than 15 per cent) obtained lasting employment. The Government attributes this low rate primarily to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country’s employment situation. Regarding the situation of persons with disabilities, the Committee notes that, in its concluding observations of 9 May 2019, the UN Human Rights Committee (CCPR) expressed its concern about “(…) the lack of integration of children with disabilities into regular schools, the lack of teachers trained to work with children with disabilities and the limited access for persons with disabilities to employment (…)” (document CCPR/C/VCT/CO/2/Add.1, paragraph 42). The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed updated information on the nature, scope and impact of education and training measures and other measures taken to promote the employment of persons in vulnerable situations, including women, young persons, persons with disabilities and indigenous and tribal peoples.

Sectoral development measures. The Government reports on the implementation of a range of measures taken to increase productivity, self-employment and participation in the agricultural sector, such as better crop management and improved technologies. The Government indicates, however, that the recent volcanic eruption significantly impacted the sector, causing massive damage to plants and livestock. The Government indicates that the main focus of the recovery process is to restore the livelihood of those persons living in the affected red zones and build systems and infrastructures which are more resilient to the impact of disasters. The Government adds that the recovery process envisages the adoption of measures aimed at increasing job creation, productivity and quality of life for its citizens. The Government reports that 100 new jobs were created through the construction of fisheries centres in the framework of the Public Sector Investment Programme. In addition, new and better-paying jobs were also generated as a result of investment in the cannabis industry. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information on the nature, scope and impact of the measures taken to promote productive employment and improve the quantity and quality of employment opportunities in the abovementioned sectors, particularly those hardest hit by the pandemic and subsequently by the volcanic eruption.

Article 3 of the Convention. Consultations. The Committee notes that the Government does not provide information on whether or not consultations were held with the social partners in relation to the employment measures taken or envisaged. The Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention calls for the measures and programmes to be adopted and implemented under the national employment policy through an inclusive process of consultation with the social partners as well as with representatives of groups or persons affected by the measures to be taken. In this context, the Committee recalls that the active participation of the concerned groups will foster ownership and cooperation in the [employment] policy and the measures taken for its implementation (2020 General Survey, Promoting employment and decent work in a changing landscape, paragraph 94). The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide concrete updated information on the manner in which workers’ and employers’ organizations as well as representatives of the persons or groups affected by the measures to be taken are consulted concerning the development, implementation and review of such measures. It further requests the Government to indicate whether formal consultative procedures have been established for this purpose.