Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Croatia (Ratification: 1991)

The Committee notes with interest the Government's first report, which covers the application of the Convention during the period ending June 1994. It also notes the communication from the Union of Autonomous Trade Unions of Croatia (UATC), dated 15 March 1995, relating to the Convention, a copy of which has been transmitted to the Government. In order to enable it to make a better evaluation of the effect given to the provisions of the Convention, the Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide further information in its next report in reply to each of the questions in the report form, with particular reference to the following points.

1. The Committee notes that, according to the statistics of the Employment Office, the rate of registered unemployment was 16.3 per cent in June 1994. However, the Government emphasizes that unemployment statistics, which are based only on the registration of the unemployed at employment offices, do not provide an adequate basis for decisions in the field of employment policy. It states that research has been undertaken with a view to carrying out a survey of the active population. The Committee takes due note in this respect of the Government's wish to benefit from the technical cooperation of the ILO to undertake this project. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate any progress achieved in the compilation and analysis of statistical data concerning the situation and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment.

2. The Government provides information in its report on the labour market policy measures. These have been implemented by the Employment Office to promote the creation of jobs through financial incentives and to facilitate the occupational and geographical mobility of the unemployed through vocational guidance, training and retraining measures. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide any evaluation that is available of the results achieved through these different measures, particularly as regards the long-term integration of their beneficiaries into employment. Please also provide detailed information on measures designed to promote access to self-employment by jobseekers. Please also indicate whether measures to prevent termination of employment for economic or structural reasons have been implemented or are envisaged.

3. The Committee notes that, in the opinion of the UATC, the provisions of the Employment Act (as amended by the Act of 21 October 1994) relating to the grounds upon which unemployed persons can be erased from the unemployment register have the effect of denying many categories of jobseekers access to the services of employment offices and thereby prejudice their freedom of choice of employment. The Committee notes that the Government has not responded to the request to make known its views on this matter. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the measures that have been taken to guarantee to all persons seeking employment the broadest possible access to the services provided by employment offices, particularly in the fields of guidance and placement. (See also the observation under Convention No. 102.)

4. While appreciating the information that has been supplied, the Committee nevertheless notes that it only relates to the labour market measures for which the Employment Office is responsible. It is bound to recall that, under the terms of Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention, the measures to be adopted with a view to promoting, "as a major goal", full, productive and freely chosen employment shall be decided on and kept under review "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy". In this respect, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which general economic policy measures contribute to the achievement of employment objectives. In particular, please describe the measures that have been taken for this purpose in such fields as investment policy; fiscal and monetary policies; trade policy; and prices, incomes and wages policies.

5. The Committee also notes, with regard to the effect given to Article 3 of the Convention, that the Government only refers to the association of employers' and workers' organizations in the management of the Employment Office. It recalls that the consultations provided for by this important provision of the Convention should cover all aspects of economic policy which have an impact on employment and should include the representatives of all the persons affected by the measures to be taken. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would describe the machinery that has been adopted or is envisaged for this purpose.