Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Brazil (Ratification: 1969)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy in the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in November 2011 in reply to its 2009 observation. The report prepared by the Secretariat for Public Employment Policies (SPPE) contains brief information on the labour market, a review of the activities of the Public Employment, Labour and Income System (SPETR) and of the activities of the Job and Income Generation Programme (PROGER). The Committee notes the significant reduction of informal work and the increase of 6.5 per cent in the number of registered employees in major urban centres. Although the acceleration of economic growth fell off in 2011, it is hoped that economic growth will increase once again in 2012 (the growth rate fell from 7.5 per cent in 2010 to 2.9 per cent in 2011, and a growth rate of 3.5 per cent is forecast for 2012). The Government emphasizes that the positive dynamic of macro-economic indicators resulted in the unemployment rate being reduced from 7.5 per cent in May 2010 to 6.4 per cent in May 2011. According to the data published by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and the ILO, over 2 million jobs were created in 2011. The Committee observes that the unemployment rate of women fell from 8.8 per cent in 2010 to 7.7 per cent in 2011, and that the youth unemployment rate fell from 16.7 per cent in 2010 to 15 per cent in 2011. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the policies and programmes adopted to promote full employment. The Committee would like to examine a report containing indications on the manner in which the policies and programmes implemented have resulted in productive and long-term job opportunities for young persons and women, and the manner in which the social partners collaborated in their implementation. Please also provide information on the efforts made to continue the integration into the formal economy of unregistered workers. The Committee invites the Government to provide up-to-date information on the situation and trends in the labour market, disaggregated by state, sector, age, sex and skills, particularly with regard to socially vulnerable groups, such as young persons, women jobseekers, ethnic minorities and persons with disabilities (Articles 1(2) and 2(a) of the Convention).

Support for small and micro-enterprises and for cooperatives. The Committee notes the efforts made by the Government through the distribution of significant resources to democratize productive credit through the PROGER programme. In 2010, approximately 8,036 million reales were distributed (equivalent to around US$4,450 million) for entrepreneurial activities in 3,477 municipal areas. In February 2011, further measures were adopted to promote small enterprises in the formal economy and self-employed workers. The Government also provides information on the positive impact in terms of job creation of the loans made available to micro- and small enterprises in the context of the urban PROGER programme between 2000 and June 2009. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the PROGER programme and their impact in promoting productive employment. Please also indicate whether a new legal framework for cooperatives has been developed with a view to promoting job creation.

Contribution of the employment services. The Government refers in its report to the Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88), and indicates that the Public Employment Labour and Income System (SPETR) includes a series of public policies seeking to be more effective in placing workers in productive activities with the objective of achieving social inclusion through employment, labour and income. According to the Government, the public system developed in a fragmented manner and its consolidation is an important challenge for the Ministry’s programme. The Committee invites the Government to describe in its next report the progress achieved in ensuring that the public employment services contribute fully to the achievement of the objectives of the Convention.

Article 2(a). Collection and use of employment data. The Government recalls that two principal registers are kept of the functioning of the labour market: the General Register of Employed and Unemployed Persons (CAGED) and the Annual Social Information Report (RAIS). Moreover, a monthly survey on employment and unemployment is carried out (PED). The Committee invites the Government to specify in its next report the manner in which the information compiled contributes to the adoption and review of the policies and programmes implemented to promote full employment.

Educational and vocational training policies. In its previous observation, the Committee noted that the Social and Vocational Training Programme (QSP) had been the channel through which vocational training was provided to 664,850 workers between 2003 and 2007 to provide them with the necessary qualifications for employment. In 2008, a total of 39 training programmes were carried out for specific economic sectors. Furthermore, focusing on the construction sector, the Government promoted initiatives for vocational training and the placement of beneficiaries of the Bolsa Família programme. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the impact of the QSP and other initiatives adopted to offer workers the opportunity to receive the necessary training to enable them to find appropriate employment and to use their training and skills in such jobs. The Committee also invites the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the social partners in the context of education and training policies and on their relation to employment opportunities.