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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Belarus (Ratification: 1968)

The Committee notes the Government's report, and particularly the information supplied in reply to its previous direct request. It notes that a new orientation has been given to the Government's employment policy and that an employment service is being established to assist in the creation of a labour market. It also notes the formulation of an employment programme, a Byelorussian SSR Act on employment and regulations on an employment fund. The Government again refers to the principles that will guide its employment policy, namely equality of opportunity in employment, the free choice of employment, the provision of social and legal guarantees to workers affected by restructuring, the participation of occupational organisations in the implementation of the employment policy, and international co-operation in respect of migration for employment. The Government emphasises the close link between employment policy measures, measures for the development of industrial capacity and the geographical and vocational mobility of the labour force. The Government's report indicates that state bodies are establishing the organisation and procedure for the implementation of the new employment system in the Byelorussian SSR, which was to be submitted to Parliament for its formal approval in November 1990.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide data in its next report on the situation, level and trends of employment, and information on the new orientation of its employment policy, the above employment programme, the organisation and operation of the employment system, including the organisation and activities of the employment service. It also requests the Government to provide with its next report copies of the texts of the above laws and regulations, and of newly adopted ones, which affect the application of the Convention. The Committee would also be grateful if the Government would supply information on macroeconomic policies in fields such as those set out in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention, as they affect the employment policy. Finally, please supply further information in relation to the previous direct request on the following points.

1. The Committee notes the information on the introduction of the new system of management in a number of enterprises and organisations according to the principles of financial autonomy and responsibility for production, sales and the use of revenue. It requests the Government to continue supplying information on the application of the Law of the USSR of 30 June 1987 on state enterprises (amalgamations), and in particular to describe the impact on employment of measures relating to prices and wages that have already been taken or are planned within the framework of sections 14 and 17 of the above Law. Please also refer to the measures set out in section 14 with a view to the introduction of a measure of employment flexibility (part-time work, home work, working time arrangements).

2. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning vocational guidance, training and retraining, and in particular the measures taken to assist the unemployed, the disabled, persons with a low educational level and women who have been out of the labour market for a long period. It would be grateful if the Government would continue supplying information on the nature of these measures, the number of workers benefiting from them and on any measure that has been taken within the framework of sections 8 and 23 of the Law of the USSR of 30 June 1987 on state enterprises (amalgamations).

3. The Committee notes the information transmitted by the Government concerning the new idea of the organisation of public works as a means of responding to the population's employment needs. It also notes the data on the number of co-operatives, their members and on self-employed workers. With reference to its previous direct requests, it asks the Government to provide further information on the impact of measures that have been taken to create productive jobs.

4. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government concerning the active participation of workers' collectives in the discussions relating to special regulations, legislative texts and draft legislation throughout 1989 and 1990, the account that was taken of their suggestions in the final texts and the activities of trade unions, particularly in the field of training. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information on the role of representatives of the persons affected, and in particular the representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies (Article 3 of the Convention).