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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Burkina Faso (Ratification: 2009)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. Collection and use of employment data. In reply to the previous comments, the Government indicates in its report received in September 2014 that certain difficulties encountered in implementing the National Employment Policy (PNE) have been overcome. The Committee also notes that a national employment meeting was held in December 2013, which led to a comprehensive assessment of the constraints associated with promoting employment and the proposal of the necessary policy changes. The implementation of the PNE’s action plan was also assessed. The Committee notes with interest the measures taken to revitalize job creation, particularly the establishment of one stop shops in the regional capitals aimed at bringing together the funding structures of the Ministry of Youth, Vocational Training and Employment (MJFPE), the Youth Training Programme (PFJ), the Special Job Creation Programme for Young Persons and Women (PSCE/JF), the Programme for the Socio-vocational Integration of Young Graduates, and the Programme to Improve Income and Promote Decent Work for Young Persons and Women with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The Government indicates that it has restructured the National Employment and Vocational Training Observatory (ONEF). Moreover, the Youth Employment and Skills Development Project (PEDJC) provides for building ONEF’s capacities through the implementation of a system to collect data on employment and skills, the creation of a list of companies to identify skills and staff training needs. The Committee notes that the data provided by the Government on the labour market date back to 2006; it recalls that a labour market data collection system is key to determining the measures to be adopted with a view to attaining the objectives of the Convention and to regularly reviewing the measures taken. The Committee invites the Government to provide information so that it can examine to what extent the employment objectives specified in the national employment policy have been or are being attained. It also invites the Government to provide updated information on the labour market and to indicate the progress made in the collection of employment data, indicating the employment policy measures taken following the restructuring of ONEF.

Youth employment. The Government indicates that, with a view to improving employability, several initiatives for young persons have been launched, including the Youth Occupational Skills Programme; the strengthening of the Vocational Training and Apprenticeship Support Fund (FAFPA); the recognition of trade skills through skills certification; and the building and equipment of two vocational training centres. The Committee notes the results achieved by the various programmes. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing updated information on the impact of the programmes adopted for the integration of young persons into the labour market.

Overall and sectoral development policies. The Committee notes the forthcoming implementation of the Youth Employment and Skills Development Project to contribute to the Strategy for Accelerated Growth and Sustainable Development (SCADD) with the financial support of the World Bank. The Committee notes that the country is in a process of decentralization with a view to improving the participation of local stakeholders in economic, social and political development. In order to do this, Regional Employment Promotion Strategies (SREs) combined with Regional Employment Promotion Action Plans (PAREs), which are based upon the regional characteristics, have been developed in every region of the country. Their implementation is scheduled for 2014–16. The Committee invites the Government to report the results achieved by the measures that have been taken to achieve balanced regional development.

Informal economy. The Government indicates that during the period 2011–13, the Informal Sector Support Fund (FASI) funded 4,252 projects, which led to the creation of 1,103 jobs. Moreover, a capacity-building programme for those working in the informal sector has been established since 2008 in 13 regions of the country. The Committee also notes that the social measures adopted at an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers in March 2014 include the provision of funds to finance micro-projects. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in terms of creating productive employment for those working in the informal economy.

Education and training policies. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government on young persons who have completed vocational and technical training. The Committee refers to its direct request concerning the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), and invites the Government to indicate in its next report on Convention No. 122 the impact of the education and training policies implemented to help beneficiaries, particularly women and young persons, find lasting employment.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the preparation and implementation of policies. The Government refers to the recommendation made by the National Employment and Vocational Training Council (CNEFP) regarding the organization of a national employment meeting to allow all those concerned to propose solutions with a view to revitalizing employment promotion in Burkina Faso. The meeting was held in Ouagadougou in December 2013. The Government recalls that the national employment policy itself provides for the development of regional employment strategies and action plans that take into account the concerns of the rural sector. The Government emphasizes that prior to the Regional Employment Promotion Strategies and the Regional Employment Promotion Action Plans, capacity-building sessions were held for local stakeholders regarding the methodology for developing regional employment strategies and action plans. The Committee invites the Government to provide updated information on the consultations held with the social partners in the CNEFP and with the representatives of workers in rural areas and the informal economy with a view to securing their collaboration in the development and implementation of employment policy programmes and measures.