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

Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 1964)

1. Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. In its 2005 observation, the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the manner in which the provisions of the Convention had been taken into account in the formulation and implementation of the measures adopted, in the context of its economic programmes and its poverty reduction strategy. In a report received in September 2006, the Government stated that, for more than a decade, no development plan was established. The report solely reiterates that no measures were adopted in relation to the provisions of the Convention. The Committee understands that the Government submitted its status report on the poverty reduction strategy to the International Monetary Fund in November 2006, which includes the following main thrusts: consolidating peace and security; promoting transparency and good governance; sustaining macroeconomic stabilization and reform; increasing the population’s access to social services, rehabilitating basic infrastructures and reviving social sectors. The Committee recalls that in the conclusions adopted at the 11th ILO African Regional Meeting (Addis Ababa – April 2007), the tripartite delegations reached consensus for a mainstream assessment of the impact on the generation, and maintenance, of decent work opportunities in poverty-reducing development strategies and to adopt national targets for the creation of sufficient decent jobs to absorb new labour market entrants and reduce by half the numbers of working poor. The Committee asks the Government to report in detail on the manner in which the provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention calling for “all policies” to be “primarily directed to the well-being and development of the population” have been taken into account in the formulation and implementation of an integrated Decent Work Country Programme and its poverty reduction strategy.

2. Part IV. Remuneration of workers. The Committee recalls that, as noted in its previous comments, under the terms of Article 12 of the Convention, the maximum amounts and manner of repayment of advances on wages are to be regulated by the competent authority. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the progress made in regulating the maximum amounts and manner of repayment of advances on wages.

3. Part VI. Vocational education and training. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress achieved in the field of vocational and informal training and, in particular, in primary education.

4. The Committee intends to pursue consideration of the effect given to Convention No. 117 taking into account the matters closely linked with its application which will be examined, upon receipt in 2008 of the first reports on the implementation of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), and the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142).