Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Mongolia (Ratification: 1976)

The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report for the period ending September 2002, which contains some information related to the 1996 direct request.

1. The Committee observes that the Government of Mongolia in July 2003 adopted a Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper entitled Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (EGPRS) arguing that the main cause for poverty, malnutrition, deficiency of food and low income of the population is a high rate of unemployment. The Government reports that it intends to encourage an accelerated, socially fair and labour-intensive economic growth policy emphasizing the fields of the processing industry, household services for the population, infrastructure development, and environmental protection and restoration. Additionally, it will also seek to introduce efficient and fair provision of basic social services and targeted support for the poorest groups of the population. In this connection the Parliament of Mongolia has adopted laws on unemployment insurance, employment promotion, and exporting labour and importing labour and specialists to address the need of building an intensive policy for the labour market and an operational legal framework and economic environment. Since 2002 the Government has been implementing a National Programme for Employment Promotion. The Committee therefore requests that the Government states in its next report whether any particular difficulties have been encountered in achieving the employment objectives established in the EGPRS, as part of a coordinated economic and social policy, in consultation with representatives of those concerned, in accordance with Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention.

2. According to the statistics forwarded by the Government, of the Population and Housing Census 2000, the rate of employment is 51 per cent for those aged above 15. As of 1 January 2003 the population over 15 numbered 1,402,800 while the number of employed reached 832,600. The labour force participation rate was 61.5 per cent at the end of 2002. The unemployment rate was approximately 3.4 per cent (54 per cent of all unemployed are females and more than 60 per cent are young people aged 16-35). A labour market survey revealed a large emigration of workers and low labour productivity. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to compile and supply full and detailed statistical data on the situation and trends of the active population, employment, unemployment and underemployment for the country as a whole and at the regional level, disaggregated by sector, age, sex and skill level. Please also indicate the measures adopted to coordinate education and training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

3. Article 3. The Government refers to the National Consultative Committee that also held the consultation required by Convention No. 144. The Committee notes that the consultations required by Convention No. 122 concerning employment policies are to be held with representatives of the persons affected (representatives of employers and workers and also representatives of other sectors, such as those working in the rural sector or in the informal economy). In this sense, the Committee would appreciate receiving more details on the tripartite consultations held on the matters covered by the Convention. Please indicate how the social partners and other persons concerned are involved in the process of the elaboration and implementation of employment policies.

4. Part V of the report form. The Government reports on ILO technical cooperation activities, including the ILO’s participation in the National Consultation on Employment Promotion Conference jointly held by the Government, the ILO and the UNDP in October 2001. Panel discussions were held on formal, informal and rural employment. The Committee asks the Government to report on the action taken as a result of the involvement of the ILO in providing technical assistance for the implementation of an active employment policy in the meaning of the Convention.