Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Bolivia (Plurinational State of) (Ratification: 1977)

1. Coordination of economic policy with poverty reduction. The Committee notes the report received in November 2005 and the particularly full additional documentation received in February 2006. The Government provided a copy of the Statistical Yearbook 2004, as well as reports of the National Regional Development Fund and the National Productive and Social Fund on the implementation of the National Emergency Employment Plan (PLANE I, II and III) and the PROPAIS Plan. PLANE provided temporary jobs for 250,000 people during the period May 2004-September 2005. PROPAIS assisted over 200,000 people by providing temporary work through the execution of around 1,300 projects to finance infrastructure and community development projects. The Government has also provided information on the new structure and functions of the Ministry of Labour, as set out in Presidential Decree No. 27732 of 15 September 2004. The Ministry of Labour has been assigned responsibility for improving employment policies through their design, adaptation and implementation. The Government also recalls the components of the Bolivian Poverty Reduction Strategy and the main activities envisaged under the Strategy. According to the data provided by the Government, open unemployment in urban areas fell to 8.7 per cent in 2004, although over 36 per cent of the active urban population are self-employed; 12 per cent are reported to be family workers or unpaid apprentices and 4 per cent household employees. The Committee requests the Government to specify whether the Ministry of Labour is still responsible for declaring and pursuing an active employment policy, as required by the Convention, and asks the Government to continue providing detailed information on the results achieved in the creation of lasting employment and the reduction of underemployment in the context of the national employment policy (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

2. Coordination of education and vocational training policies with employment policy. The Committee notes with interest the information concerning the process of the Bolivian National Productive Dialogue (DNBP) 2004, during which it was considered necessary to promote technical and technological education with a view to achieving effective economic recovery. Furthermore, in May 2005, a programme for young persons was approved, consisting of voluntary work by young persons leaving public universities. The Committee reiterates its interest for the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved by the initiatives adopted in the framework of the 2004 dialogue (such as the development of an Integrated Skills System and the implementation of the Programme for the Strengthening of Technical and Technological Training) so as to ensure the coordination of vocational training policies with employment policy. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the results achieved in terms of young persons leaving university who find lasting employment.

3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Committee notes with interest that, in 2005, as proposed by the Subregional Office, an Inter-Institutional Employment Promotion Committee was organized, with the participation of Government authorities and representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations. The specific objectives of the Inter‑Institutional Committee include the establishment of a climate for the exchange of experience with a view to facilitating employment generation policies. The Government also refers to the National Industrial Development Council (CONDESIN), established in 2002, to coordinate the National Industrial Development Strategy with a view to promoting manufacturing in the country as a strategic basis for employment generation. The Committee requests the Government to provide with its next report the documents on employment policy approved by the Inter-Institutional Committee and by CONDESIN. The Committee also requests the Government to consider the manner in which representatives of the most vulnerable categories of the population, and particularly representatives of those working in rural areas and the informal economy, are included in the consultations required by the Convention when formulating and enlisting support for employment policy programmes and measures (Article 3).