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

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

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in September 2009 with a view to the preparation of the General Survey of 2010 on employment instruments. As stated in the General Survey, the implementation of employment policy implies an element of monitoring and review, and a degree of introspection in the implementation of employment policy, so as to assess the effectiveness of the policies pursued, allowing scope for policies to be modified and reoriented so as to achieve the objectives identified by the Convention in accordance with national conditions and practices (General Survey, op. cit., paragraph 34). The Committee invites the Government to refer to the 2010 General Survey and requests it to provide information in its next report on the following points, which were also raised in the direct request of 2008.

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Formulation of an active employment policy and coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Government indicates that, at the outcome of the work of a tripartite committee established for organizing a forum on employment, a national policy for full employment was due to be determined and adopted by the end of 2009. The Government also indicates that employment policies extend to the informal economy and that the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2008–10 provides for the establishment of support structures for self-employment and income-generating activities. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on progress made with regard to the adoption of a national policy for full employment. It also invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the measures implemented as part of the Poverty Reduction Strategy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. The preparation of the next report should provide an opportunity for the Government and the social partners to evaluate the extent to which the goal of full and productive employment laid down by the Convention has been achieved. The Committee therefore hopes that the Government will supply detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key component of poverty reduction, is at the heart of macroeconomic and social policies.

Article 2. Collection and use of employment data. The Government previously indicated that the only data available where those of the general population and housing census of 2003 (RGPH) and that no specific inquiry had been conducted for lack of funding. Emphasizing the importance of 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 taken, the Committee requests the Government to supply information on all progress made in this sphere.

Education and vocational training policies. The Government indicates that the various institutions responsible for vocational training, including retraining or further training, are encountering problems of lack of coordination which are having a considerable impact on matching supply to demand for skills and on improving the quality and relevance of training. The Government also indicates that measures relating to vocational training, including retraining and further training, aimed at creating job opportunities are inappropriate owing to the lack of current and reliable data on the labour market. It indicates that there are plans to establish a mechanism aimed at the provision of up-to-date information on the demand for skills in the labour market. The Committee note an interim report on the implementation of the PRSP, drawn up in May 2009 (report No. 48514-CR), according to which the Central African Agency for Vocational Training Employment (ACFPE) has submitted three projects relating to apprenticeship for vocational training and youth employment. The Committee refers to its direct request on the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), and requests the Government to supply information on the measures taken to ensure that the promotion of vocational training is better matched to the job prospects open to its beneficiaries. It also requests the Government to supply information on the results achieved by measures aimed at promoting the placement of young persons in the job market.

Enterprise development. The Government indicates that a national investment committee, which has just been set up, is responsible for implementing government policy and programme in the area of services for SMEs and for promoting and enterprise culture. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the measures taken within the National Investment Committee aimed at promoting job creation through support for the development of SMEs. In this respect the Government may wish to consult the provisions of the Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189), and also the relevant chapter in the 2010 General Survey.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government indicates that a tripartite committee has been established with a view to organizing an employment forum. It also indicates that the social partners within the Standing National Labour Council will be consulted once the Government take the initiative to formulate and apply employment measures. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed 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.

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.