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

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Bosnia and Herzegovina (Ratification: 1993)

1. Implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee takes note of the information contained in the Government’s reports received in December 2006 and in June 2008. The reports enumerate the legislative texts applicable to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBH) and the Republika Srpska (RS). The Committee notes once again that each of the entities constituting Bosnia and Herzegovina is autonomous with regard to labour and employment issues. The Committee notes the measures implemented at state and entity level through public employment services with a view to promoting human resources development and employment, including programmes of professional orientation, expert development, vocational training and job search assistance. It further notes the general guidelines underlying the reform of the vocational education and training system as defined in the Strategy for Development of Vocational Education and Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2007–13, which is mentioned in the Government’s report. The Committee also recalls the recommendations formulated in the Country Review of Employment Policy on Bosnia and Herzegovina prepared by the ILO and the Council of Europe in June 2008, which had also been noted in its 2008 observation on the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122). The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report on Convention No. 142 information on the effective implementation of the reform of the vocational education and training system so as to ensure that: (i) vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes take due account of employment needs, opportunities and problems, both regional and national, thereby improving the integration between work and learning; and (ii) there is coordination between vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes and the strategies for poverty reduction and promotion of social inclusion  (Article 1(1) to (2) of the Convention).

2. Article 3, paragraph 1. Coverage by the vocational training system of vulnerable groups. The Government indicates in its 2008 report that an effort has been made to offer employment and vocational rehabilitation programmes to workers with disabilities. It also refers to a project for training and requalification of unemployed persons with disabilities funded by the Government of the Federation and implemented by cantonal employment services. In this regard, the Committee recalls that issues relating to the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment with reference to the Roma population as well as to integration of workers with disabilities in the open labour market are being examined in its comments on the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), and the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159).

3. Article 3, paragraphs 2 and 3. Information made available for vocational guidance purposes. In its 2008 report, the Government refers to the information and guidance on educational opportunities, professional orientation and employment prospects which is made available to students and unemployed persons through publications and brochures issued by the Federal Employment Bureau of the FBH. The Committee asks the Government to supply specimens of the documentation made available as well as to provide further information on the existing procedures ensuring that educational, occupational, employment market and other information referred to in the abovementioned provisions is kept suitably up to date for effective vocational guidance purposes.

4. Article 4. Vocational training and lifelong learning. The Committee notes that in the Government’s 2008 report reference is made to the Framework Law on Adult Education as being under preparation. Taking into account that adult vocational training and lifelong learning opportunities only extend to a small share of the working age population (3.3 per cent of the youth and 1.9 per cent of adults), the Committee asks the Government to report on the measures taken to implement adult education and training and lifelong learning reforms so as to introduce employment-oriented approaches targeting in particular low skilled workers and long-term unemployed.

5. Article 5. Participation of social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes that the social partners have requested the creation of tripartite advisory boards in all the employment services of BiH and their greater involvement in the formulation and implementation of vocational education and training policies and programmes. The Committee asks the Government to report on the measures taken or envisaged in order to ensure that vocational guidance and vocational education and training policies and programmes are formulated and implemented in cooperation with the social partners.