Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Cuba (Ratification: 1971)

1. The Committee takes note of the information supplied by the Government in the reports submitted in October 1989 and November 1990. It also takes note of the information contained in the Cuban Statistical Yearbook, 1988.

2. In its previous direct request, the Committee referred to the indicative guideline for the increase in labour productivity which was fixed at between 1 and 1.5 per cent by Act No. 63, the Single Plan for Socio-economic Development of the State for the year 1988. The indicative guideline for 1990 was fixed at between .5 and 1 per cent (section 2 of Act No. 68, the Single Plan for Socio-economic Development of the State for the year 1990). In its report of November 1990, the Government refers to the difficulties, in the present economic circumstances, of maintaining the levels obtained in sectors that are vital for the population, such as education and health, and in making progress in certain branches of economic development. Although labour productivity dropped by 2.6 per cent, three major sectors registered growth in 1989 in relation to the indicative guideline referred to: construction, the construction equipment industry and basic industry. The Committee refers to Article 1, paragraph 2, (b) and (c) of the Convention and requests the Government in its next report to include information on the measures adopted to overcome difficulties encountered in achieving the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment.

3. The Committee takes note of the measures provided for in the regulations to implement employment policy in respect of specific categories of workers (sections 5, 7, 26-30, 109-121 and 122-127 of resolution 51/88, of 12 December 1988). The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report the results obtained by the above measures which are designed to meet the needs of particular categories of workers.

4. In its November 1990 report, the Government refers to the need for enterprises to maintain flexibility in selecting staff and to the new employment system being implemented on an experimental basis in three provinces. The Government is asked to indicate in its next report the manner in which the flexibility criteria applied and the new employment system have contributed to the attainment of the objectives of the Convention.

5. In its October 1989 report, the Government refers to comprehensive studies on prospective development in the eastern provinces and to the so-called Turquino Plan which covers all the mountainous regions of the country. In its November 1990 report, the Government refers to the levels of manpower shortages in the provinces of Matanzas and Havana. The Committee asks the Government to continue to include information on measures taken to secure balanced regional development, as required in the report form for Article 1 of the Convention.

6. The Committee takes note of the measures adopted by the Government to meet the employment requirements of young workers and demobilised conscripts. The Government is requested to continue to provide information on the results of measures to co-ordinate education and vocational training policies with prospective employment opportunities.