Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Russian Federation (Ratification: 1967)

Measures taken in response to the global crisis. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2009. The Government indicates that, in order to overcome the economic crisis, it adopted a set of revival measures aimed at reducing tensions in the employment market in the regions and giving social support to the persons affected. The measures include Decree No. 915 of 8 December 2008 concerning unemployment benefits, which increased to 4,900 roubles; Federal Act No. 287-03 of 25 December 2008 amending the Public Employment Act, which awards unemployment benefit to persons who have been dismissed and allows the regions of the Federation the possibility of taking direct action in the employment market in times of crisis. Decree No. 1089 of 31 December 2008 allows the withdrawal of allocations from the federal budget for injection into the budgets of the regions in order to facilitate the adoption of supplementary measures aimed at alleviating the effects of the economic crisis on the labour market. These additional measures focus mainly on vocational training for workers threatened by mass redundancy plans, on the establishment of community work and the promotion of geographical mobility, making removal grants available to persons appointed to posts situated in other localities in the context of targeted federal programmes and investment projects. In its General Survey of 2010 concerning employment instruments, the Committee emphasizes that the employment Conventions and Recommendations taken together provide a framework for realizing the human right to work and to education for all, for confronting and mitigating the effects of the global economic crisis, and for ensuring continuing and genuine tripartite consultations (General Survey, op. cit., paragraph 788). The Committee requests the Government to supply information in its next report on the results, in terms of the creation of productive and lasting employment, of the revival measures to overcome the crisis adopted by both the federal and regional governments.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Government indicates that regional programmes for employment promotion constitute the principal instrument for implementation of public policy for regulating the labour market and creating employment in the regions. These programmes aim to inform workers and employers on the situation of the labour market, particularly through reception centres specializing in providing advice. In 2009, these reception centres enabled 3.39 million persons to receive vocational guidance. Facilitating the re-entry of unemployed persons into the job market, through the acquisition of new qualifications and skills, is also part of the programmes. This enabled 113,600 persons to receive training in 2009. Furthermore, regional programmes have resulted in the provision of paid community work for 676,000 long-term unemployed persons and persons without work experience, while 117,000 workers particularly at risk were placed in temporary jobs. The Government also indicates that the number of persons registered as unemployed with the employment services increased from 1.4 million in 2008 to 2.2 million in 2009. The total number of unemployed persons came to 7 million, out of a total active population of 66.2 million. In view of this difficult situation, the Committee hopes that the Government will supply information in its next report on the strategic outlines of its employment policy and indicate the manner in which employment policy is reviewed regularly as part of a coordinated economic and social policy. It also requests the Government to supply detailed information on the results achieved by the recently established programmes in terms of the creation of jobs for particular categories of workers, such as women, young persons and older workers. With regard to persons with disabilities, the Committee is formulating a direct request this year in relation to the application of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159).

Coordination of education and training policy with employment policy. The Government indicates that, in the context of the regional programmes for employment promotion and in order to guide people in their occupational choices, taking account of individual needs, skills and the situation of the labour market, vocational guidance sessions were held in 2009 for 2.4 million unemployed persons. The Government also indicates that, in order to promote occupational mobility, 1,903,000 workers received allowances in connection with vocational training, retraining and further training. The Committee requests the Government to continue to supply information on the measures taken in the area of education and training policies, and also on their impact in terms of vocational integration.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation of employment policy. The Government indicates that public employment promotion policy aims, in particular, to coordinate the action of the public authorities, trade unions and other representative workers’ and employers’ bodies during the implementation of measures to promote public employment. The Committee requests the Government to indicate the manner in which the representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations are consulted on employment policy. It hopes that the next report will contain information which will enable an examination of the manner in which the experience and views of the social partners have been taken into account into the formulation and implementation of an active employment policy.

Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Committee notes that a programme of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the ILO was drawn up for the 2010–12 period, taking into consideration the new circumstances of the economic crisis and basing itself on the Global Jobs Pact, which calls for measures aimed at maintaining levels of employment and avoiding reductions in wages and any deterioration in conditions of work. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the action taken further to the implementation of the programme of cooperation with the ILO for promoting the creation of productive employment.