Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Jordan (Ratification: 1966)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report and the information it has supplied in reply to its previous comments. In those comments, it noted that the third Five-Year Plan 1986-1990 gave high priority to maximising employment and formulating policies geared to balancing manpower supply and demand, including measures for geographical co-ordination. The Government has supplied information on the progress that is being made and described the main difficulties encountered in achieving the objectives of the third Plan. The report also refers to the world economic situation and its harmful effects on the production sector, the slower rate of emigration of Jordanian citizens to find employment abroad and the increase in the number of jobseekers, particularly among persons with higher education diplomas. The Government describes the efforts that have been made by the responsible authorities to assist Jordanian workers in finding a job in the private sector or the public service, and to adapt education and training systems to labour-market needs.

2. In its previous comments, the Committee drew attention to the evaluation of potential imbalances between manpower supply and demand. The information supplied by the technical departments of the ILO appears to confirm a worsening trend, particularly in the context of the implementation of a structural adjustment programme. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply, in its next report, information on the outcome of the overall and sectoral development policies under the third Five-Year Plan in connection with the promotion of the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment as set out in the Convention (see the questions in the report form for Article 1 of the Convention). It requests the Government to describe the measures that have been taken to collect and analyse statistical and other data concerning the labour market so as to decide on and keep under review, within the framework of a co-ordinated economic and social policy, and in consultation with the representatives of the parties concerned, the main measures set out in the employment policy (Articles 2 and 3). It would be grateful if the Government would specify whether particular difficulties have been encountered in achieving these objectives and if it would indicate the extent to which these difficulties have been overcome.

With reference to its comments on the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), the Committee hopes that the Government will continue to supply in its future reports on Convention No. 122, information on the measures that have been taken to co-ordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

3. Finally, the Committee notes the Government's reference in its report to an ILO/UNDP technical co-operation project in the field of employment policy. The Committee has also been informed by the competent departments of the ILO of other projects that are currently being executed, and of the proposals and recommendations made in a recent ILO mission to Jordan (September 1989) on employment, labour market and training policies. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the action that has been taken as a result and any factors which may have prevented or delayed such action (Part V of the report form).