Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Czechia (Ratification: 1993)

The Committee notes the reports supplied by the Government and the documents appended, received in January 2001 and November 2002 for the period ending August 2002.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes the "Joint Assessment of the Employment Policy - Priorities of the Czech Republic" of 11 May 2000, prepared by the Government with the European Commission, which contains an agreed set of employment and labour market objectives to advance the labour market transformation, to adapt the employment system so as to allow implementation of the Employment Strategy and to prepare the Czech Republic for accession to the European Union. It further notes the National Action Plan for Employment 2002, which for the first time, features the performance indicators used in the European Union to evaluate the achievements of employment policy objectives. The Committee also observes that unemployment has accelerated sharply since 1997, registering 9.4 per cent in September 2002 (according to data provided by the ILO multidisciplinary team). Higher than average unemployment rates currently apply for women, people with disabilities, the low skilled, school leavers and increasingly among older workers. As the Committee noted in its 1998 observation, the Roma population is still disproportionately affected by unemployment.

2. The Committee also notes the measures envisaged and the objectives established by the Government in its National Employment Plan which is intended to create new jobs and achieve more productive patterns of present employment, enhance incentives for the unemployed to accept available jobs, match training for employment, match the volume of immigrant workers with the situation on the labour market, increase the efficiency of active labour market policies, and provide support to the operation of employment services. The Committee would appreciate receiving further details as the National Employment Plan is implemented. Please state whether special difficulties have been encountered in attaining the objectives of the National Employment Plan and indicate how far these difficulties have been overcome.

3. The Committee would also appreciate receiving further information on the impact of the employment promotion programmes for vulnerable and disadvantaged groups, in particular the Roma minority and workers displaced from the rural sector or affected by industrial adjustments. Please also indicate how the reform of the Public Employment Services has contributed to employment creation and human resources development.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes the Statutes of the Economic and Social Council of the Czech Republic (RHSD CR) by which the Government and social partners negotiate with a view to reaching tripartite agreements on essential issues of economic and social development. The Committee would appreciate receiving details on the decisions taken by the RHSD CR in relation to employment policies. Please supply information on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected by economic restructuring are consulted concerning employment policies.