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Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Belarus (RATIFICATION: 1979)

Formulation and implementation of education and training policies. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report received in September 2008 in reply to its previous request. The Government indicates that vocational guidance for young persons, the unemployed and other persons is provided in accordance with the Act of the Republic of Belarus of 15 June 2006 No. 125-Z on employment of the people of the Republic of Belarus and with other legislative instruments. Article 7 of the Act confirms the right of citizens to consultation, vocational guidance, vocational training, retraining and skills development and information from the organs of the State employment service. The Committee notes that, in addition to the State programme of development of vocational-technical training 2006–10, the programme of development of general secondary education 2007–16 and the State programme of development of specialist secondary education 2006–10 were also approved and are being implemented. The Government indicates that vocational guidance, in the framework of implementation of State policy on employment promotion, is one of the fundamental pillars of the work of the organs of the state employment service. Vocational guidance services are provided to almost all unemployed persons below 18 of years. An important aspect of vocational guidance work is the provision of information and advice to workers faced with redundancy as a result of workforce reductions. Over 500 such measures are taken each year nationally, covering up to 5,000 persons, and for young students, some 180 mass vocational guidance actions were taken involving over 50,000 persons. The Committee invites the Government to specify in its next report how the vocational guidance programmes implemented for workers affected by layoffs have contributed to assisting them to find new employment. The Committee also asks the Government to include information illustrating the way in which it ensures effective coordination between the implemented programmes of vocational guidance and training and employment (Article 1(1) of the Convention). Please also provide updated information on how open, flexible and complementary systems of general, technical and vocational education, educational and vocational guidance and vocational training have been developed (Article 2).

Vocational training and lifelong learning. The Government indicates that under the Employment Act, the State guarantees citizens registered as unemployed with labour employment and social security agencies, free vocational guidance, psychological support, vocational training, retraining and skills development taking into account public needs and their preferences, inclinations, experience and characteristics of their mental and physical development. In order to increase the work activity and competitiveness of unemployed persons and increase their opportunities for placement, organs of the state employment service in 2007 referred 23,800 unemployed persons to vocational training, of whom 20,200 were in productive jobs. In order to promote employment among young persons in 2007, 16,700 unemployed persons aged 16–29 were sent to training, of whom 2,700 were under 18 years of age. In order to satisfy more fully the needs of organizations in the agro-industrial sector for skilled workers in 2007, 5,400 unemployed persons living in rural areas were sent to vocational training. The Government also reports that vocational and technical training for person with special psychological or physical needs, including persons with disabilities, almost doubled to 2,099, and four vocational and social rehabilitation centres were established. With regard to the needs of organizations for skilled workers, the range of training services was further extended to include vocational training, retraining, and skills development in work (vocational) education, school education and training. The Committee invites the Government to provide information concerning the impact of vocational training on employment, in particular for young persons and persons with disabilities, both in the cities and rural areas of the country.

Cooperation with social partners. The Committee notes that the functions of the National Council on Social and Labour Issues include a wide range of issues concerning the development and application of agreed socio-economic policies. The meeting of the National Council in January 2008 considered the question of labour regulation as one of the factors of growth in labour productivity. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted to ensure the collaboration of the social partners and other interested bodies in formulating and implementing vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes. The Committee asks the Government to supply additional information on the consultations held within the framework of the National Council on Social and Labour Issues at the national and local levels, regarding the questions covered by the Convention (Article 5).