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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 2006)

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention received in June 2008. The Government indicates that the Ministry of Labour has been unable to implement an employment policy and that there has been no follow-up to its projects for lack of financing. The Committee notes that the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2008–10 adopted in September 2007 indicates that the rate of employment for the whole population is 41.2 per cent. The urban rate (32 per cent) is lower than the rural rate (47 per cent). The rate of unemployment, which affects women in particular, is 10.3 per cent for the whole country. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to indicate in its next report the results achieved by the measures implemented under the poverty reduction strategy in order to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee hopes that the preparation of the next report will enable the Government and the social partners to evaluate the manner in which the objective of full productive employment established by the Convention is to be achieved. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element in poverty reduction, is at the focus of macroeconomic and social policies.

2. Article 2. Collection and use of employment data. The Government indicates that the only data currently available are those of the general population and the housing census of 2003. No specific inquiry has been conducted for lack of funding. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for the collection of data relating to the labour market in order to be able to decide on and regularly review the measures to be adopted for attaining the objectives of the Convention. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any progress made in this field.

3. Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. According to the Government’s report, an employment forum is being set up in the Central African Republic with the collaboration of the UNDP. The Government is currently seeking a source of funding for the work relating to the validation of the forum. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the consultations referred to in Article 3 of the Convention, which require the participation of all the parties concerned – particularly employers’ and workers’ representatives – in the formulation and implementation of employment policies.

4. Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the actions taken to implement an active employment policy within the meaning of the Convention, further to the technical assistance received from the ILO.