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

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

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Integration of an active employment policy with economic and social policy. The Committee notes the report provided by the Government for the period ending in September 2006, which included information regarding the registration and placement of jobseekers and labour market information for the districts of Paramaribo and Wanica (the unemployment rate was at 8 per cent in 2004). The Government also responded that the provisions of the Constitution as well as of the State Decree on Terms of Reference of Departments (SB, 1991, No. 58) and the Act on the Labour Advisory Board (SB, 1984, No. 105) implement the Convention. It indicated that employment objectives are included in the Multi-Annual Development Plan (MDP) 2006–11, in particular the eradication of unemployment through the creation of facilities for small businesses; achieving a gender balance by promoting the employment of women in management positions; vocational training; and the creation of a social investment fund to provide credit facilities for small businesses. It also responded that its Policy Document for 2006–10 provides for the renaming of the National Commission on Employment to the National Council for Employment, which is to operate on a tripartite basis with the purpose of formulating proposals to increase productive employment. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of the results concerning the implementation of the MDP, in particular with respect to the employment objectives it outlined in its report and their interaction with other social and economic objectives. It would also like to be kept informed on the impact the suggestions the National Council for Employment has on creating more productive employment.

2. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government indicated the tripartite manner in which the MDP was realized, as well as the tripartite consultations undertaken by the Labour Advisory Board and the Social Economic Council. It also indicated the establishment of a tripartite commission to develop proposals concerning the instalment of a minimum wage system. The Committee asks the Government to keep it informed on consultations undertaken in the formulation of policy documents or by government bodies. It also asks the Government to provide further information on the role and functions of the National Council for Employment, in particular with respect to the way consultations are undertaken with employers’ and workers’ organizations as well as other affected groups.

3. Part V of the report form. ILO technical cooperation. The Committee notes the response concerning difficulties in finding funding and the lack of approval for certain technical projects. It asks the Government to keep providing information on how these difficulties are being overcome and draws the Government’s attention to the technical assistance provided by the ILO to implement active employment measures.