Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 1964)

Contribution of the employment service to the promotion of employment. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in June 2011, in reply to its previous direct requests, to the effect that the Central African Agency for Vocational Training and Employment (ACFPE) has established four regional offices in the interior of the country in order to expand its role and cater to the needs of workers in the various geographical regions. The Government indicates that another two offices are due to be opened. The Committee notes that the ACFPE is reviewing its strategy to ensure a better match between its activities and those of the poverty reduction strategy. The ACFPE covers three main areas of activity: establishment of a system of information on the employment market, creation of a network of offices, and strengthening of the supply of services to enterprises and jobseekers. The Committee requests the Government to indicate in its next report the measures taken to ensure the effective operation of the network of ACFPE offices (Article 3 of the Convention). It also requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved or expected from ACFPE activities as part of the implementation of the poverty reduction strategy. The Committee hopes that the Government’s next report will contain practical information on the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by the ACFPE offices (Part IV of the report form).

Functions of the public employment service. The Government indicates that it is important to continue to place particular emphasis on specialization for employment office staff and to make specific provisions for persons with disabilities and young persons. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on ACFPE activities designed to ensure the effective discharge of the functions listed in Article 6, specifying ACFPE activities for various occupations and industries and vulnerable categories of workers, such as persons with disabilities (Article 7). The Government is also requested to indicate the impact of the measures taken or contemplated by the ACFPE to ensure that young people have access to decent employment (Article 8).

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. Participation of the social partners. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that a new national advisory body, the Standing National Labour Council, has been set up but is not yet fully operational. The Council foresees the establishment of prefectural councils within which employers’ and workers’ representatives will be able to discuss and collaborate in the organization and operation of the employment service. The Government also emphasizes that when the Council becomes operational it will be possible to strengthen collaboration between employers’ and workers’ organizations and employment services. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the measures taken by the Standing National Labour Council to ensure the collaboration of employers’ and workers’ representatives in the organization of the public employment service.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2013.]