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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Romania (Ratification: 1973)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment trends and active labour market policies. The Committee takes note of the detailed statistics supplied in the Government’s report received in August 2012 in reply to points raised in the 2011 observation. The Government indicates that in 2011, Romania’s active population stood at an estimated 9,868,000 persons, of whom 9,138,000 were employed and 730,000 unemployed; the recorded average employment rate dropped from 7.6 per cent in 2010 to 5.38 per cent in 2011, falling to 5.05 per cent in March 2012. The Government is of the view that unemployment among persons over 45 years of age and among single persons with dependent children remains one of the most acute labour market problems. Through the employment programme implemented by the National Employment Agency (ANE), 377,772 persons found employment in 2011. Furthermore, most of the objectives set by the National Employment Programme for 2011 appear to have been met. The Government indicates that the ANE has implemented projects financed by the sectoral operations programme for the development of human resources (POSDRH 2007–13) in order to anticipate changes in the labour market and consolidate the capacity of the public employment services at national and local level. The National Reform Programme 2011–13 (PNA 2011–13) includes among the key priorities for attaining national employment objectives, the improvement of the operation of the labour market by facilitating the transition from unemployment or inactivity to employment, the enhancement of workers’ skills, the improvement of the quality of employment of persons in rural areas, young people and women. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the attainment of the objectives of the 2011–13 employment programme. It hopes that the next report will also contain an evaluation of the measures taken under the economic and financial policy in terms of sustainable growth and productive employment.

Categories of vulnerable workers. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government on the results obtained in 2011 following the implementation of specific employment subsidization measures. Of the 324,000 persons employed under such measures, 13,420 were unemployed persons over 45 years of age, 1,230 were sole breadwinners of single-parent families, 315 were three years away from retirement and 250 were persons with disabilities. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report up-to-date information on the measures designed to improve the employability of vulnerable workers and on the results obtained in terms of sustainable integration in the labour market.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that in 2011, the unemployment rate among young people (15–24 years) was 23.8 per cent and that the incidence of long-term unemployment among young people was some 63.4 per cent. The Committee notes the amendments introduced to Act No. 279/2005 by Act No. 06/2011, such as the abolition of the obligation on employers to obtain authorization and the master craftsman’s certificate, the determination of the minimum and maximum length of apprenticeship contracts in workplaces, the obligation on the employer to organize an evaluation of the apprentice’s theoretical and practical training, and the linkage between the length of the apprenticeship contract and the level of skill acquired. The purpose of these amendments is to remove obstacles to access to employment, for unskilled young people among others. Furthermore, according to the information supplied by the Government on the results of the ANE’s employment programme as they pertain to young people: in 2011, 73,113 of them were engaged in employment; this was also the case for 3,813 long-term unemployed and 94 graduates aged 18 or more from social establishments. The Committee invites the Government in its next report to provide up-to-date information allowing it to assess the impact of the measures taken to facilitate lasting employment opportunities for young people.

The Roma minority. In its previous comments the Committee pointed out that social exclusion is harmful to those directly affected and breeds negative social consequences across generations (General Survey concerning employment instruments, 2010, paragraphs 554 and 566). In its report, the Government states that actions to secure the social and economic integration of persons belonging to the Roma community are ongoing, provided for in the 2001–10 National Strategy to improve the status of the Roma. The implementation of the aforementioned programme resulted in the hiring of 2,250 persons in 2011. Furthermore, 64 persons found jobs in the course of 2011 thanks to the employment exchange organized for persons belonging to the Roma community. The Committee notes that the results of the ANE’s National Employment Programme for the Roma appear to be lower in 2011 than in 2010. The Government’s report states that 6,696 Roma found employment in 2010 as compared to 5,760 in 2011. In view of the progress still to be made in promoting the inclusion of the Roma minority into the labour market, the Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on measures designed to enhance the social cohesion of the Roma minority.

Education and training policies. The Government’s report refers to continuous training programmes financed out of the unemployment insurance budget, thanks to which, in the period from 1 January 2011 to 31 January 2012, 50,155 persons received vocational training with a view to employment, of whom 17,850 were hired. The report also refers to the priorities set in the POSDRH 2007–13, which include improving the adaptability of the workforce and enterprises and the promotion of active employment measures. In its observation of 2010, the Committee observed that very few newly employed young workers and long-term unemployed persons (young persons as well as adults) had obtained employment as a result of their participation in vocational training programmes. The Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information of the measures taken under the POSDRH 2007–13, particularly measures to enhance the quality and relevance of the education and training provided. It again invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the training programmes in terms of job opportunities created for the unemployed, young persons, the Roma minority and other categories of vulnerable workers.

Promotion of small and medium-sized enterprises. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government states that in 2011, 50 persons found employment due to loans granted to small and medium-sized enterprises for the purpose of creating jobs, and a further 710 persons started businesses thanks to the guidance and assistance services provided to engage in self-employed activities or to start a new business. The Committee invites the Government to include information on the continuation of the measures undertaken to support the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises and on their impact in terms of stimulating employment.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government states that Act No. 62 of 10 May 2011 on social dialogue provides that the social partners are to be consulted on draft legislation and on other economic and social activities. The Committee invites the Government in its next report to provide specific examples of how the Act on social dialogue has allowed the social partners to be effectively consulted and to participate in decision-making on the matters covered by the Convention. Please also include information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure that these consultations include representatives of other sectors of the active population, particularly representatives of the Roma minority and of persons working in the rural sector and the informal economy.