Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

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

Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2008 in reply to the direct request of 2005. The Government indicates, in particular, that, in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals relating to poverty alleviation, the two five-year plans, which cover the period up to the year 2015, aim to reduce the percentage of the population living in extreme poverty from 11.1 to 7.13 per cent. The Government lists, among its priorities, the achievement of social justice, balanced regional development, the reduction of poverty and unemployment and the increased participation of the population in economic activity. These goals will be achieved through the implementation of a programme of administrative and legislative reforms, increased efficiency of the social sector, the creation of income-generating possibilities and enhanced social protection of particularly vulnerable populations in the current context of transition towards a social market economy. The Committee also notes the priorities of the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) 2008–10 in Syria. Furthermore, the Government indicates that Decree No. 39 of 14 September 2006 modernizing public employment and development agencies aims to stimulate the labour market and monitor the situation of that market, and to also contribute to the training and rehabilitation of jobseekers and to help persons working independently in impoverished areas. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information in its next report on the manner in which the implementation of the five-year development plan and the DWCP have contributed to “the improvement of standards of living” which, in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention, are to be “regarded as the principal objective in the planning of economic development”.