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

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Czechia (Ratification: 1993)

The Committee notes the Government’s report, received in March 2010, for the period ending in August 2009, including comments from the Czech-Moravian Confederation of Trade Unions (CMKOS) and the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic.

Article 1 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of education and training policies and programmes. The Government indicates that the Strategy of Lifelong Learning constitutes a comprehensive concept for lifelong learning to be promoted with European funds through the 2007–13 period. The Government further explains that the basic strategic directions of lifelong learning are defined on the basis of analysis of its current state of development in the country and that of its individual segments (initial general, technical and vocational, tertiary, further education). The strategy aims to remove barriers and to provide targeted support in order to allow lifelong learning to become a reality for everyone. CMKOS indicates that the Government’s report is confined only to the area of competence of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. CMKOS also indicates that Resolution No. 1670 of 21 December 2005 regarding the implementation of the Human Resources Development Strategy has been replaced by Resolution No. 761 of 11 July 2007, which focuses only on lifelong learning issues. The Committee requests the Government to supply information on the policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training, indicating the manner in which it ensures effective coordination between these policies and programmes, on the one hand, and employment and the public employment services, on the other. The Committee also requests the Government to provide extracts from reports, studies and inquiries and statistical data relating to current policies and programmes of vocational guidance and training (Part VI of the report form).

Article 5. Cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations. The Government indicates that the Employment Act provides for the Labour Offices to establish advisory boards composed principally of representatives of trade unions, employers’ organizations, cooperative bodies, organizations for persons with disabilities and regional self-government units. The purpose of these advisory boards is to coordinate the implementation of Government employment policies and human resources development in the relevant administrative districts. The Government further states that the advisory boards provide recommendations on issues such as the assignment of contributions to employers within the scope of active employment policies and retraining programmes. The Labour Offices create working groups, mainly composed of representatives of organizations for persons with disabilities and representatives of employers whose workforce includes more than 50 per cent of employees with disabilities for the purpose of examining suitable forms of work rehabilitation for them. The Committee notes the comments formulated by CMKOS indicating that the Government Board for Human Resources Development, which had been managed by the Deputy Prime Minister due to the cross-sectoral and regional nature of these issues, was terminated without any consultation with the social partners. The Committee also notes that the Confederation of Industry requested the Government to re-establish and use the Board for Human Resources Development with the participation of the social partners. The Committee invites the Government to provide information regarding the manner in which the cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations and, where applicable, other interested bodies is assured in the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes. The Committee also refers to its comments formulated on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122).