Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Madagascar (Ratification: 1966)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in October 2008, which contains brief replies to the observation of 2007. The Government indicates in its report that the Madagascar Action Plan (MAP)
2007–11, which places employment promotion and poverty reduction at the heart of economic priorities, is supervised by the Ministry of Labour, which is responsible for integrating it with the programmes of all ministries. The Government also indicates that the National Employment Support Programme (PNSE) has been disseminated in approximately ten regions by ministry staff with the support of UNDP experts and that the National Agency for the Implementation for the PNSE (OMPE/VATSI) has been established as a support structure. The Integrated National Monitoring and Evaluation System (SNISE) has also made it possible to evaluate the implementation of the MAP, with the indication that the promotion of full employment was less dynamic during the first half of 2008. Data recorded on employment by the Malagasy Employment and Training Observatory (OMEF) indicate that, while unemployment affected 6 per cent of the workforce, namely 483,000 persons, underemployment (disguised unemployment) remains very high, affecting 60 per cent of the active population. The numbers of new jobseekers have also increased by 4 per cent per year, i.e. an annual average of 382,000 persons of working age (15–65 years) entering the job market. Moreover, according to UNDP estimates, more than two-thirds of the population of the country (68.7 per cent) still live beneath the poverty line and nearly three-quarters of those living in poverty are in rural areas, where nearly 80 per cent of the population live. The Committee also notes that the draft Decent Work Country Programme for 2008–12 stipulated that improvements in employment policy must be based on strengthening the employability of vulnerable groups, such as young persons, women and rural residents, by means of vocational training and the matching of skills to the requirements of the labour market. The Committee cannot overemphasize the key role of an active employment policy in economic and social policies for reducing poverty and creating productive employment. The Committee requests the Government to supply detailed information in its next report on the results achieved in the context of the MAP in terms of the creation of lasting employment, reduction of underemployment and poverty reduction. The Committee also requests the Government to provide up to date information on trends in the labour market, particularly regarding the general situation, and levels and trends relating to employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country, stating what steps have been taken to promote employment among the most vulnerable categories (women, young persons and rural workers).

Coordination of education and training policy with employment policy. The Government indicates that the Malagasy Employment Promotion Office (OMEP) and the employment promotion programme, implemented with UNDP support, give priority to targeting young persons, women and disabled persons, particularly in the informal sector. The Committee notes that, according to UNDP estimates, underemployment affects more than 45 per cent of the workforce in rural areas and that the level of illiteracy remains a source of concern. The latter affects 47 per cent of the population, particularly the female population, and affects nearly 31 per cent of young persons. Despite significant progress in education, nearly 27 per cent of the population over 15 years of age is illiterate, according to figures for 2006, and an even greater proportion has not received basic schooling. Furthermore, 94 per cent of workers have not received any vocational training. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved through the actions taken by the Government to ensure the coordination of education and vocational training policies with employment policy. It requests the Government to communicate the results achieved in terms of access to lasting employment for young persons leaving university.

Collection and use of employment data. The Government states that the National Strategy for the Development of Statistics has been established with the participation of the Ministry of Labour. The National Employment Information System (SNIE) is operational owing to the establishment of the OMEF, which has a web site on which employment offers and requests may be consulted. The Government points out that training organized by the ILO in 2008 on the MAP/PNSE information system and monitoring indicators was of particular benefit to managerial staff at the Ministry of Labour and the OMEF. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the progress made to establish reliable statistical data, thereby enabling the formulation and implementation of an employment policy pursuant to the requirements of the Convention.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government describes the functions of the National Labour Council (CNT) and the National Monitoring Committee for the Promotion of Employment and Poverty Reduction (CNSPERP), two tripartite bodies concerned with employment policy. The Committee requests the Government to supply full information on consultations conducted under the auspices of the CNT and the CNSPERP with a view to the formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. It also requests the Government to supply information in its next report on consultations conducted with the representatives of workers in the rural and informal sectors, and also on the outcome of these consultations with regard to employment policies.