Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Netherlands (Ratification: 1967)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1992. It notes from OECD data that the growth of employment, by 2.3 per cent in 1990 and by 1.3 per cent in 1991, has resulted in the continued reduction of the standardized unemployment rate, although at a slower pace than over previous years; this rate declined from 7.5 per cent in 1990 to 7 per cent in 1991 and 6.8 per cent in 1992. The Committee however notes that this trend has reversed since the end of the reporting period and that the unemployment rate has once again risen rapidly: according to OECD estimates, it is likely to reach 8.3 per cent in 1993. The Committee notes that long-term unemployment continues to account for around one-half of total unemployment. The Committee also notes the high rate of part-time work, particularly among women.

2. The Government's report concentrates on measures to promote employment among specific categories of the population, such as women, young persons, the members of ethnic minorities and workers with disabilities. It also describes the various measures which have been taken to subsidize the employment of the long-term unemployed. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply information in its next report on the results achieved by the various measures which it has described. The Committee also notes the new information concerning the reorganization of the employment services on a tripartite and decentralized basis and recalls that it requested the Government in its previous observation to state the extent to which the quantitative objectives set for the employment services for the placement in employment of categories of workers who are particularly affected by unemployment have been achieved.

3. With reference to its previous comments, the Committe regrets that the report does not contain the information called for by the report form on the principal measures adopted in such fields as investment policy; fiscal and monetary policies; trade policy; and prices, incomes and wages policies, with a view to promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment. It recalls in this respect that an "active" employment policy in the sense set out in the Convention is not confined to the adoption of measures to intervene on the labour market, but must also be pursued "as a major goal", "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy". The Committee hopes that the next report will contain the necessary information.