Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Georgia (Ratification: 1993)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy in coordination with poverty reduction. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2013 which includes detailed information in reply to its 2011 direct request. The Government indicates that the main goals of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) 2011–15 are to promote inclusive development and poverty alleviation through economic policies, including trade and investment; improved access of vulnerable groups to decent work opportunities; and good quality health, education, justice and other essential social services. The Government also provides further information on the intended outcomes of the UNDAF. The Committee notes that the unemployment rate decreased from 16.3 in 2010 to 15.1 and 15 per cent in 2011 and 2012, respectively. It also notes that unemployment is particularly high for young people in the age groups 15–19, 20–24 and 25–29, reaching, respectively, 36.9 per cent, 32.2 per cent and 25 per cent in 2012. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments on the collection and use of statistics, the Government indicates that employment-related statistics are used to create, plan and analyse the employment and labour strategies and policies. The Government reports that a household survey was carried out in many regions of the country under the Jobseeker Registration Programme, resulting in 390,213 jobseekers registered in the relevant database. On the issue concerning education and training, the Committee refers to its comments on the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142). The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report information on the results of the implementation of the UNDAF 2011–15 in terms of employment creation and poverty alleviation in the country. Please also continue to provide disaggregated statistics on the nature and trends of employment.

Particular categories of workers. The Government indicates that the Action Plan on Gender Equality 2011–13 aims to integrate the gender equality principle in economic and employment policies and eliminate gender-related stereotypes. The Government indicates that 60.4 per cent of men and 46.2 per cent of women were economically active in 2011, and the unemployment rate was 13.1 per cent for women and 16.7 per cent for men. Women’s representation in small businesses is similar to that of men; however, women are proportionally less well represented in medium and large enterprises. Moreover, women’s share of privatized businesses is significantly lower than that of men. The Government indicates that the Vocational Education and Training (VET) Strategy and Action Plan 2013–20 include policies to meet the needs of particular categories of workers, such as women, young persons, older workers and workers with disabilities. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the impact of the employment measures adopted in meeting the needs of particular categories of workers, such as women, young persons, persons with disabilities and older workers. Please include statistical data on the levels of employment, unemployment and underemployment of these categories of workers.

Regional development. The Government indicates that it plans to revise its regional development strategy in 2016 and set new priorities in this field. The Government mentions several regional projects aiming to generate and support employment. The Committee notes in this regard the New Economic Opportunities (NEO) project 2011–15, which is expected to target ten municipalities and benefit around 70,000 households considered as vulnerable. Moreover, the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure implements an annual Village Support Programme under the supervision of local municipalities and in order to provide employment to the local population. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report information on the adoption of a new regional development strategy that intends to contribute to achieving a balanced regional development focused on employment creation, in both agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. It also invites the Government to include information on the results obtained in the implementation of the NEO project and the Village Support Programme in terms of employment creation at the regional and local levels.

Participation of the social partners. The Government provides in its report information on the Tripartite Social Partnership Commission, created in 2009, and indicates that the Commission only recently started its formal activities. The Government reports that in July 2011 a Memorandum of Understanding on Social Partnership was signed by the Ministry of Education and workers’ and employers’ organizations in order to improve the matching between vocational education and labour market demands. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report detailed information on the consultations held with employers’ and workers’ organizations concerning the formulation and implementation of employment policies and programmes.