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

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Ecuador (Ratification: 1977)

Articles 1–5 of the Convention. Education and training policies and programmes. Collaboration with the social partners. The Committee notes with interest the adoption in 2018 of the first National Training Agenda, which is aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the National development plan Toda Una Vida (throughout life) 2017–21. The Agenda is a planning instrument which coordinates the various activities relating to training and certification of labour skills with the aim of promoting improved business competitiveness by increasing worker productivity and reducing the employability gap. The Agenda includes three components relating to: the democratization of certification and training for human talent, sustainable entrepreneurship based on skills development, and increased productivity through skills-related training and certification. The fundamental principles of the Agenda include egalitarian access to occupational skills training and certification for men and women and for priority groups, such as persons with disabilities, older persons and persons deprived of freedom, so that they can have access to decent, quality jobs. The Committee observes that numerous actors are involved in the formulation and implementation of the Agenda, such as the private sector, regional entities and various national institutions. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the Ecuadorian Vocational Training Service (SECAP) designs and implements training programmes on the basis of identified demand in the labour market and new labour trends. In this regard, the Committee notes the Government’s indication in its report regarding the processes followed to devise training opportunities provided by SECAP such as the use of tools to collect reliable and relevant information to determine enterprises’ training needs. The Government indicates that SECAP training courses are given on an in-person basis in its 27 centres in 24 provinces of the country and also in virtual format through the Moodle platform. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that between 2016 and 2021 a total of 285,730 persons received training and 275,630 individuals received certification for occupational skills. However, the Committee observes that the Government does not provide information on the labour market integration of persons who took part in training or reviewed their certification. As regards collaboration with the social partners, the Government indicates that the development of personal qualification profiles of the National Qualifications Catalogue (CNCP) entails the active participation of, inter alia, employers, workers, trade unions, associations, actors in the popular and solidarity economy, public entities and the academic sphere. The Government also indicates that 24 agreements have been concluded between SECAP and various enterprises and social organizations in the private sector aimed at promoting public access to training services. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the nature, scope and impact of the various vocational education and training policies and programmes, including statistical information, disaggregated by age and sex, on the integration in the labour market of persons who took part in these programmes. The Committee also requests the Government to continue sending detailed, up-to-date information on the manner in which it is ensured in practice that training opportunities are matched with knowledge and skills demand, and with the changing landscape of the labour market. Lastly, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the manner in which collaboration is ensured with the social partners and other relevant bodies concerning the formulation, implementation and monitoring of vocational education and training programmes, including in the context of the implementation of the National Training Agenda.

Training and certification processes. National qualifications framework. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that labour skills certification enables people to obtain a certificate to back up their knowledge and skills in a specific productive activity, regardless of their training. The Government indicates that the CNCP occupational profiles are used as inputs for labour skills training and certification processes and adds that skills are updated constantly. The Government also states that the certification process is carried out through 257 conformity evaluation bodies (OECs) recognized by the Under-Secretariat for Vocational Qualifications at the Ministry of Labour, which use the CNCP profiles and its certification schemes and evaluation instruments. The Committee also notes the statistical information provided by the Government on the number of training courses given in various areas. The Committee further notes the Government’s indication that between 2016 and August 2021 a total of 275,630 labour skills certificates were issued (22.19 per cent of participants were women, 0.76 per cent had an impairment and 0.37 per cent were foreign nationals). The Committee requests the Government to continue providing detailed, up-to-date information, including statistical information disaggregated by sex and age, on the number of persons participating in training programme and skills certification processes. The Committee also requests the Government to supply information on the measures adopted or envisaged, in collaboration with the social partners, to expand vocational training programmes and skills certification processes, so that these cover all branches of economic activity and are adapted to people’s changing needs throughout life, as well as to the current and anticipated requirements of the labour market and of the various branches of economic activity.

Vulnerable groups. The Committee observes that, according to the statistical information provided by the Government, the participation of vulnerable groups, such as women, persons with disabilities, migrants, indigenous people and rural workers, in training and certification programmes is fairly low in relation to the total number of participants. In this regard, the Government indicates that the training and certification processes do not exclude persons in situations of vulnerability. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that SCEAP has established a discount for training courses for persons in situations of vulnerability, such as persons with disabilities, persons deprived of freedom, persons with chronic disadvantages, older persons, pregnant women and young persons between 15 and 18 years of age who have not completed their schooling. According to the statistical information provided by SECAP, between 2019 and 2021 a total of 1,238 persons (704 women, 534 men) in situations of vulnerability took part in SECAP training courses. The Committee requests the Government to continue sending detailed, up-to-date information on the nature, scope and impact of the various vocational education and training policies and programmes adopted with the aim of promoting access to education, training and lifelong learning for persons with specific needs, in accordance with Paragraph 5(h) of the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195). The Committee also requests the Government to continue sending up-to-date statistical information, disaggregated by sex and age, on the number of participants in the various vocational education and training programmes.