Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

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

1. With reference to its previous direct request, the Committee has taken note of the full and helpful new information supplied by the Government in its reports, including that on Convention No. 2, which are accompanied in particular by a copy of the "Guidelines of the programme of counteracting the effects of unemployment" of April 1991, the Act of 9 May 1991 on Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled, and the Act of 16 October 1991 respecting Employment and Unemployment. It notes the labour market data which mention an unemployment rate of 9.8 per cent on 31 August 1991. As the Government indicated in its previous report, the transition to the market economy is accompanied by a downward trend in the overall level of employment and, since the beginning of 1991, the process of restructuring the economy has directly contributed to the increase in unemployment. The Government acknowledges, however, that little is known about the pattern of unemployment and that the available information is still inadequate as a basis for decision-making on employment policy measures both at the central level and with a view to the formulation of regional programmes. It indicates that it is endeavouring to prepare regular statistical surveys so as to afford a better knowledge of the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the developing labour market. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to supply information in as much detail as possible on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment and underemployment and to describe the measures taken to improve the procedures for the collection and analysis of statistical data on the labour market.

2. The Government states that, owing to the paucity of the available resources, it is important that measures to combat unemployment should give priority to the regions and population groups most affected. In particular, emphasis should be laid on the development of the employment service network and on training for the unemployed. Subsidies for job-creation and the organisation of public works are contemplated in regions where a large proportion of unskilled workers are threatened with long-term unemployment. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply in its next report detailed information on the active measures taken to combat unemployment and the results achieved. It notes further that an ILO technical cooperation project for the development of employment services (POL/90/MO2/DDA), designed to strengthen the capacity of employment services in the areas of vocational guidance, placement, training and the promotion of employment and self-employment programmes, is in process of execution. Please indicate the action taken as a result of this project (Part V of the report form).

3. The Committee has taken note of the adoption of the Act of 16 October 1991 respecting Employment and Unemployment, which replaces the Employment Act of 29 December 1989. The main changes are concerned with the conditions of qualification for unemployment allowance, which are made more restrictive; the method of fixing the duration and amount of that allowance, which is designed to stimulate an active search for employment; the reintroduction of the obligation to notify the employment services of vacancies; and authorisation for the establishment of private employment agencies. In this connection the Committee refers to its comments on the application of Convention No. 96. The Act further provides for the entry into force with effect from 1 January 1993 of a new organisation of employment councils. Furthermore the Committee has taken note with interest of the provisions of the Act of 9 May 1991 on Employment and Vocational Rehabilitation of the Disabled, and invites the Government to describe the measures designed, pursuant to those provisions, to satisfy the needs of this particular category of workers.

4. The Committee notes the indication that the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy cannot be considered solely responsible for the level of unemployment. Although it is in charge of combating the effects of unemployment, it can only have a limited direct influence on its volume. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate the procedures adopted to take the objective of full, productive and freely chosen employment duly into account within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy of transition to the market economy. In particular, please specify the measures taken to that end as regards reform of the system of enterprise ownership and management; budgetary, monetary and exchange rate policies; investment, price, income and wage policies; global, sectoral and regional industrial policies; and policies aimed at balanced regional development, inter alia in agriculture.

5. With reference to its previous direct request, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would specify how the representatives of the persons affected are consulted concerning employment policies in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the Convention. Please supply information on the advisory activities of the Main Employment Council and on the policies and programmes developed as a result of consultations with representatives of employers' and workers' organisations and with representatives of other sectors of the economically active population such as persons employed in the rural and the informal sector.