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

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

Implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the brief report received in May 2011 containing information relating to its previous comments. The Committee notes the provisional Government’s employment programme, established by the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment. The programme has four main components: the creation of new paid jobs in all sectors; entrepreneurial development and the creation of micro enterprises; support for struggling enterprises and the preservation of existing jobs; and active support for jobseekers and enhancing their employability. In its previous comments the Committee underlined the importance of being able to examine information on the manner in which the main areas of economic policy contribute “within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy” (Article 2 of the Convention) to achieving the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the results achieved and the difficulties encountered in attaining the employment policy objectives set out in the Government’s new programmes, including updated quantitative information on the trends and results of the measures established to stimulate growth and economic development, raise living standards, respond to labour force needs and resolve the problem of unemployment and underemployment (Article 1(1)).

Labour market policies to promote balanced and integrated regional development. The Government indicates that the Ministry of Vocational Training and Employment has adopted a local approach toward the creation of jobs involving all regional and local players concerned with employment. This local approach has been gradually stepped up. The Government also indicates that the dialogue with the social partners is ensured on an annual basis in the context of the Higher Council for the Promotion of Human Resources. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the results achieved, in collaboration with the social partners at the regional and local levels, in terms of job creation through the various programmes established, particularly to make up the backlog in relation to employment creation between the regions.

Promotion of small and micro-enterprises. In its previous comments the Committee expressed the desire to examine the measures adopted “in order to create an environment conducive to the growth and development of small and medium-sized enterprises” (see Paragraph 5 of the Job Creation in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Recommendation, 1998 (No. 189)). The Committee understands that one of the main components of the provisional Government’s employment programme is the development of entrepreneurship and the creation of micro-enterprises and also support and monitoring at all stages of the business development. The support programme for promoters will go ahead throughout the first two years of the project. The Committee invite the Government to include detailed information in its next report on the results achieved as result of these initiatives.

Collection and use of employment data. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the progress achieved in the coordination of the various labour market information systems and information on the manner in which the data compiled have been used to decide on and keep under review employment policy measures. It hopes that the studies undertaken with international assistance will allow new measures to be defined to promote employment among the most vulnerable categories of workers, such as women, young persons, older workers, rural workers and workers in the informal economy.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Committee once again emphasizes the importance of giving full effect to Article 3 of the Convention, particularly in a new constitutional context and one of persistent unemployment. It hopes that the next report will contain precise information on the consultations held with the representatives of the social partners on the subjects covered by the Convention. It also requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the most vulnerable categories of the population, and particularly with representatives of workers in rural areas and in the informal economy, with a view to securing their cooperation in formulating and implementing employment policy programmes and measures.