Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Fiji (Ratification: 2010)

Articles 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the adoption of the Constitution in 2013 which, under section 33(1), establishes that the State must take reasonable measures within its available resources to achieve the progressive realization of the right of every person to work and to a just minimum wage. The Government indicates in its report that a technical subcommittee, established by the National Employment Centre (NEC), has been tasked to formulate the first Fiji National Employment Policy with the assistance of the ILO and the Asian Development Bank. The process of this policy includes a phase for identification of the relevant issues on the basis of broad-based consultations; a formulation phase; a programming and budgeting phase; an implementation phase; and an evaluation phase. The Government indicates that the National Employment Policy is expected to be in place by December 2014. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the adoption and implementation of the National Employment Policy in consultation with the social partners. Please also include details on how the employment policy objectives are related to other economic and social objectives and what procedures exist for deciding on employment policy measures and keeping them under review within the framework of an overall economic and social policy.

Rural workers. The Government indicates that employment programmes targeting rural workers have been adopted and implemented with the cooperation of indigenous peoples. It further indicates that the Centre for Appropriate Technology and Development (CATD) assists in improving the technical and entrepreneurial skills of people living in rural areas. The participants of the training programmes offered by the CATD are young people selected from the various youth groups set in provincial councils from all over the country. Such participants are encouraged to develop their own businesses in their communities after completion of the training. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of employment measures targeting rural workers.

Labour market information. The Committee previously invited the Government to provide information on the plans to improve the efficiency of data collection in order to use updated results in the review of employment measures. In this regard, the Government refers to the Fiji Computerized Human Resources Information System which was completed in 2001 with the support of the ILO and UNDP. The Government adds that the labour inspectors collaborate with the Government to capture updated labour market information. The Committee invites the Government to provide updated information on the measures taken to improve its labour market information system and to indicate how the labour market information obtained is used in the formulation and implementation of employment policy measures. Please also include information on the size and distribution of the labour force, as well as the trends of employment and unemployment.

Education and training policies and programmes. The Committee notes the Strategic Development Plan 2012–15 of the Fiji Higher Education Commission (FHEC). This plan is aimed to improve the quality and consistency of education and training in Fiji with the collaboration of the education providers and the industrial sector. It fosters the involvement of employers in the development of national standards and qualifications linked to employment needs through, for example, Industry Standards Advisory Committees. The Government indicates in its report that the social partners and other stakeholders are continually being consulted by the Fiji National Qualification Council on the further development of trades and programmes. The Committee invites the Government to continue to supply information on the impact of its educational and training policies and programmes on the creation of employment opportunities and would welcome examining detailed information on the Government’s educational and training policy in its first report on the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), due in 2015.

Employment services. The Government indicates that a Formal Employment Services (FES) has been established with the aim of facilitating the absorption of unemployed persons into the formal employment market. In April 2014, the FES had placed 3,000 candidates in permanent employment. The Government adds that the Self-Employment Service is to be established in 2014 in order to provide assistance to people who want to start their own small or micro enterprises. It adds that, in April 2014, a total of 17,000 unemployed persons have participated in self-employment initiatives operated by government agencies. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the contribution of the employment services in the implementation of active labour measures and in integrating persons in situations of vulnerability, such as women, older workers and persons with disabilities, into the labour market.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that the participation of the social partners and other stakeholders in the implementation of national policies pertaining to employment creation takes place within the board of the NEC. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the involvement of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of employment measures, including with respect to the National Employment Policy. Please include examples in which the opinions of the social partners and other stakeholders have been taken into consideration in the development of employment policies and programmes.