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

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

The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2002 containing information in response to previous comments.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Committee notes that according to a survey held in 1999, the unemployment rate for the two most populous districts in Suriname increased by 3 per cent over the previous year reaching 14 per cent. Approximately 50 per cent of the unemployed were young persons between the ages of 15 and 29. The Government states that its employment policy goals include, inter alia, the establishment of cooperatives, the modernization of the public mediation service, the development of vocational training for disadvantaged groups of workers and the promotion of gender equity and equality in the labour market. The Government has also established a specialized unit within the Ministry of Labour to collect and analyse data on the labour market to be used in the development of employment programmes and policies. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive details on the various programmes implemented and their impact on employment promotion both in the aggregate and as they affect particular categories of workers such as women, young persons, older workers and disabled workers. Please also supply information on underemployment as requested in the report form.

2. Article 3. The Government states that the institutions responsible for advising on and implementing employment policy are tripartite and report to the Ministry of Labour, Technological Development and Environment. Further to its previous request, the Committee again asks the Government to provide more detailed information on the functioning of these bodies, such as copies of texts relating to their duties, composition and operation.

3. Part V of the report form. In reply to its 2001 direct request, the Committee notes the information concerning the UNDP/ILO technical cooperation project on poverty eradication, including the Social Safety Net Programme and the Resource Development and Employment Programme. The Government explains that its efforts in this regard have been hindered due to, inter alia, lengthy administrative procedures and a shortage of human and financial resources. Please continue to supply information in future reports on the implementation of these projects, which are of a nature to facilitate the application of the Convention.