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

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

Implementation of an active labour employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2010 containing detailed replies to the points raised in the 2009 observation. The Government reports greater efficiency of employment services, cooperation of labour market partners, and professional activation measures for vulnerable categories of workers. In terms of improving the institutional servicing of the labour market, the most important change relates to the separation of the Centre for Professional Activation from the structure of the poviat labour office into a specialized, decentralized unit mandated with the implementation of services and tools into the labour market. The Government further reports that it seeks to enhance the enforceability of decisions taken by employment councils and authorities. The Government indicates that, in a 2009 research study, it was demonstrated that the employment councils fulfil their entrusted advisory function but lack the ability to make any binding decisions. As a result of this study, a set of recommendations was formulated concerning the organization, activities and tasks of employment councils. The National Action Plan for Employment 2008 (NAPE) has benefited several categories of vulnerable workers notably: persons with disabilities, elderly workers and the long-term unemployed. According to Government data, 14,649 persons with disabilities and 49,388 elderly persons participated in the implementation of employment programmes. The Government further reports that, over the last several years, the long term unemployment rate was reduced by half. The Committee notes that the Government has drafted a National Action Plan for Employment for 2009–11 with the specific purpose to increase the professional activity of Polish workers during the economic slowdown. The Committee notes that the global financial crisis led to a slowdown in economic activity in Poland, with the rate of real GDP growth dropping to 1.6 per cent in 2009. In 2010, real GDP growth increased to 3.8 per cent. The general government deficit rose from 3.7 per cent of GDP in 2008 to 7.9 per cent in 2010. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved and difficulties encountered in implementing the measures set out under the national actions plans to promote full employment and how these measures will translate into productive and lasting employment opportunities for the unemployed and other categories of vulnerable workers affected by the crisis.

Youth unemployment. The Government states that the high and rapidly rising level of unemployment among young people is one of the most important problems in the Polish labour market. The Government reports that the unemployment rate among young people is slightly higher than the EU average. The Committee observes from ILO data that the youth unemployment rate increased from 17.3 per cent in 2008 to 23.7 per cent in 2010. The lack of work experience and appropriate high-level vocational education are an impediment for young jobseekers. In 2009, active labour market programmes covered 267,953 unemployed persons under the age of 25, which marked an increase of 7,336 (2.6 per cent) from 2008. For the period of January–April 2010, active forms of counteracting unemployment benefited 96,975 persons less than 25 years of age (i.e. 37.6 per cent of all persons who started participating in active programmes). The Committee notes that a programme of professional activation for persons less than 30 years of age has been initiated by the Minister of Labour and Social Policy in 2010. The activation measures focus, inter alia, on general and vocational trainings, apprenticeship programmes and granting of loans to finance the costs of trainings. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing detailed information in its next report on the efforts made to improve the situation of young persons, and the results achieved and difficulties encountered in implementing the youth employment policy objectives.

Women. The Government reports that, in recent years, the employment situation of women in the workforce has improved. The disparity between the unemployment rate of men and women has decreased over the years. In 2005, this disparity was 2.5 percentage points (16.6 per cent for men and 19.1 per cent for women). In 2009, the active labour market measures covered 697,370 unemployed persons, including 384,634 unemployed women. During the period of January–April 2010, 144,149 women participated in active employment programmes. The Government indicates that the traditional division of social roles persists in its society. It also underlines the importance of stimulating the country’s low birth rate and its intention to address this issue. The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the 2010 direct request formulated under the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), in which the Government was encouraged to pursue its efforts to combat the stereotypes regarding the roles of women and men in society and at work. The Committee therefore invites the Government to provide in its next report on Convention No. 122 information on the impact of measures adopted to ensure that each worker shall have the fullest possible opportunity to qualify for and use his or her skills, in accordance with Article 1(2)(c) of the Convention.