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

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Belize (Ratification: 1983)

1. Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report received in June 2007. The Labour Department provides employment services countrywide through a national coordinator and eight employment officers. In 2005, approximately 1,131 jobseekers were registered with the employment agencies, 501 employers were registered, 1,277 vacancies were received and 583 were filled. The Employment Unit of the Labour Department also provides training for jobseekers. Regarding the essential duty of the employment service to achieve the best possible organization of the employment market and its revision to meet new requirements of the economy and the working population, the Committee would welcome continuing to receive information on the activities performed by the public employment service to ensure effective recruitment and placement of workers together with statistics on the outcome of such activities.

2. Articles 4 and 5. Participation of social partners. In response to previous comments, the Government indicates that no committee has been appointed under section 83 of the Labour Act. However, in 2006, a Labour Advisory Board was appointed under section 19 of the Labour Act. The Committee requests the Government to specify in its next report the activities of the Labour Advisory Board in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of an employment service policy.

3. Articles 7 and 8. Special arrangements for juveniles and people with disabilities. The Government states in its report that juveniles from the age of 14 years can be registered at the Labour Department but that there are no measures in place to meet the needs of disabled persons. The Committee would refer the Government to the fundamental Conventions relating to child labour (Conventions Nos 138 and 182) and requests that, in its next report on the application of Convention No. 88, the Government will give particulars of the measures taken for juveniles within the framework of the employment and vocational guidance services. Please also report on any progress made by the public employment service to adequately meet the needs of particularly vulnerable categories of applicants for employment in the open labour market, such as persons with disabilities.