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

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

1. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its general report in 1989, and in the report on the application of the Convention for the period ending 30 June 1990. According to this information, some 170,000 new jobs were created during the first four years of the VIIth National Economic and Social Development Plan, 1987-91. The objective of this Plan was to create 240,000 jobs, in view of an estimated rise of 70,000 in the annual demand for jobs, although this estimate was raised to a lower figure (40,000 per year) after taking into account the extension of school attendance and the net flow of migrants. These results have been attributed by the Government to an employment promotion policy based on four central themes: renewal of economic growth, a new policy for enterprises, the promotion of labour-intensive activities, the demographic policy and the development of human resources. With reference to its previous observation, the Committee notes this information with interest, although it observes that the information only very partially describes the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment.

2. The Committee also notes the detailed information concerning the various selective and specific employment policy measures, such as: the promotion of investment in the service sector, particularly through tax incentives that are directly linked to employment, a policy of easy credit to the crafts and fishing sectors, and measures to decrease the cost of labour through a reduction in the social contributions of enterprises. The Committee particularly notes the measures and programmes that have been introduced to combat the persistent difficulty of the integration of young persons into the labour market, and particularly the introduction of persons with secondary and higher education qualifications to working life, as well as the strengthening of the vocational training programmes undertaken by the Vocational Training and Employment Office (OFPE). In this connection, the report indicates that, in order to promote vocational training and employment, the OFPE has undertaken a structural and operational reform of its central and regional services so as to improve the effectiveness of the vocational training system and improving placement services. The Government once again supplies information on its regional development policy measures, and in particular on rural development, and on the continuing programme of labour-intensive works.

3. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment, both in aggregate and as they affect particular categories of workers such as women, young persons, older workers and disabled workers, and if it would continue indicating the extent to which the employment objectives set out in the VIIth Plan have been achieved and state the special difficulties that have been encountered (Article 1 of the Convention). It also requests the Government to continue supplying information on the impact of selective employment policy measures, particularly those intended to satisfy the needs of the categories of workers specified above. It would also be grateful if the Government would describe the policy that is followed as regards the aspects of international migration that are related to employment policy.

4. Finally, the Committee notes that employers' and workers' organisations are represented on the national training and employment commission, which is responsible for determining the employment policy within the framework of the preparation of the VIIIth National Economic and Social Development Plan, 1992-96. It would be grateful if the Government would supply information on the manner in which the representatives of the persons affected are consulted, and the results of these consultations, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, particularly as regards the preparation and implementation of the employment policy within the framework of the VIIIth Plan. More generally, it hopes that the Government will not fail to supply information in future reports on the employment objectives set out in the VIIIth National Economic and Social Development Plan, 1992-96, and on the measures taken to pursue "an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment".