Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - New Caledonia

The Committee notes the information in the Government’s report received in August 2007 and the detailed documentation attached.

1. Article 1, paragraph 3, and Article 2(a), of the Convention. General economic policy measures. In reply to the Committee’s direct request of 2005, the Government reports that the labour market in New Caledonia comprised 64,225 employees in 2006 (compared with 60,524 in 2005), while the number of jobseekers was slightly over 6,500 as at September 2006, including 4,500 in the South Province. Employment in New Caledonia is currently experiencing a period of vigorous growth, mainly for young workers, owing to the construction of the factory in the South Province. The Government also refers to the project for the development of an attractive economic hub designed to create employment in the North Province through the establishment of a factory and the installation of industries, craft workshops, shops, services and housing. A code of development applying specific mechanisms to promote and support the creation of economic activity has also been adopted by the North Province. In addition, the Government indicates that the construction sector is expanding greatly, while efforts are being maintained in the development of aquaculture, deep-sea fishing, agriculture and tourism. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on employment trends and on the steps taken to pursue the diversification of economic activities.

2. Article 1, paragraph 2(c), and Article 2(b). Labour market measures. The Government indicates that, owing to existing activities and new measures taken by the South Province, there is currently a sharp drop in unemployment (nearly 4,900 jobseekers in 2006) and considerable growth in the supply of employment (nearly 8,700 job offers in 2006). The Committee notes that new mechanisms have been adopted to promote the vocational integration of young persons in the South Province through the establishment of the Provincial Private Enterprise Access Contract (CPAEP) and the Provincial Public Interest Contract (CPIP), for a maximum length of one year, and also the Provincial Solidarity Contract (CPS). Moreover, the Government indicates that it is working on the establishment of an occupational certification mechanism for New Caledonia intended to result in the creation of local diplomas, the aim of which is to meet specific ad hoc market needs. The Committee notes the setting up in 2006 of a Skills Development Institute in New Caledonia (IDC–NC), the role of which is to facilitate analysis, aid political decision-making and measure the impact of political choices for ensuring a better match between training and employment. The IDC–NC includes the Employment Monitoring Unit, which groups together and analyses all information relating to employment and conducts sectoral studies in order to anticipate employment and training needs in New Caledonia. The Committee also notes that the setting up of the “employment action centre”, a provincial public entity, in the North Province enables demand and employers’ needs to be linked directly to the human resources available and that it appears to be a prime tool for observing the local labour market. The Committee requests the Government to supply any evaluation available on the results achieved by the various labour market policy measures, and particularly on the impact of specific contracts for young persons on their long-term vocational integration.

3. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the preparation and application of policies. The Committee notes the opinion of the Economic and Social Council on the project to set up the IDC–NC, and also the opinion of the Labour Advisory Committee on the fixing of the guaranteed minimum wage and of the minimum wage for agriculture, sent by the Government and attached to its report. The Committee notes that the IDC–NC is headed by an administrative board which meets quarterly with the participation of employers’ and workers’ representatives. The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying examples of consultation of the social partners on the matters covered by the Convention, by publishing the opinions issued and indicating how they have been taken into account.