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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Bosnia and Herzegovina (Ratification: 1993)

Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in November 2007. The Government appended the first Labour Force Survey carried out in 2006 in Bosnia and Herzegovina by the statistical institutions of the competent entities and co-financed by the World Bank, the Department for International Development (United Kingdom), the Government of Japan and the UNDP. Methodological principles behind the survey were based on the recommendations and definitions of the ILO and the requirements of Eurostat. The survey covered 10,000 households, including 5,943 in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 3,457 in the Republika Srpska and 600 in the Brcko District. It appears that employment rates in Bosnia and Herzegovina are low compared to neighbouring countries and that there is a large gap between men and women. Almost 63 per cent of women of working age are inactive. Registered employment data suggest that there has been some modest growth in formal employment since 2003. The informal economy may account for one third of all employment. The Committee notes with concern that the overall unemployment rate is estimated at 32.7 per cent in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and at 29.8 per cent in the Republika Srpska. Youth unemployment rate is among the highest worldwide (62.3 per cent). There is a prevalence of long-term unemployment in particular for those with lower levels of education.

The Committee also notes the Country Review of Employment Policy on Bosnia and Herzegovina prepared by the ILO and the Council of Europe in June 2008. One of the main purposes of the document is to contribute to the implementation of international labour standards and principles relating to employment in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in particular Convention No. 122. The main employment policy priorities for Bosnia and Herzegovina identified in the review appear to be the development of an active policy on employment, tackling the informal economy, improving education and training outcomes, modernizing employment services and targeting active labour market policies to disadvantaged groups, providing adequate support during unemployment, ensuring an effective and equitable income policy and promoting social dialogue on employment. The Committee welcomes this approach but expresses its concern regarding the effective pursuit of “an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment”, “as a major goal” and within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention). It therefore asks the Government to provide in the report that it is due in 2009, full particulars on the follow-up given by the competent authorities and the social partners in each entity to the recommendations made by the Country Review of Employment Policy. Please provide information on the manner in which the available data on the employment situation and trends have been used as a basis for the adoption and review of an effective active employment policy including productive employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups as required by the Convention.