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

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

Employment services. The Government recalls in its report that it provides employment support through Job Services Australia (JSA) to help people into new jobs after redundancy. Since commencement through to 31 March 2014, JSA has recorded over 1.87 million job placements. In reply to the previous comments, the Government states that JSA, together with the Disability Employment Services (DES), is therefore still achieving and ensuring vulnerable jobseekers have access to the labour market, thereby more accurately implementing a policy of full and productive employment in Australia. The Government adds that the current JSA contracts are due to expire on 30 June 2015, which will provide an opportunity to address any shortcomings identified in the current model. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the changes that will be made to the activities of the employment services following the expiry of the current JSA contracts.

Education and training policies. The Committee notes that a revised National Agreement for Skills and Workforce Development (NASWD) and a new National Partnership Agreement on Skills Reform was agreed upon by the authorities in April 2012. The NASWD aims to deliver a productive and highly skilled workforce that enables all working age Australians to develop the skills and qualifications needed to participate effectively in the labour market and contribute to Australia’s economic future. The Government indicates that it provides significant financial support to state and territory training systems. It adds that apprenticeships are an important part of the Australian vocational education and training system. As at December 2013, there were 392,200 apprentices or trainees in training, of whom 53 per cent were under the age of 25. In 2013, 83.4 per cent of graduates who undertook their training as part of an apprenticeship were employed after training. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in the area of education and training policies, including apprenticeships, and on their relation to prospective employment opportunities.

Persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that, in 2012, there were an estimated 2,204,000 persons aged 15–64 in Australia with some level of disability. The unemployment rate for persons with disabilities stood at 9.4 per cent in 2012. The Government indicates that it is investing more than $3.8 billion in the Disability Employment Services (DES) programme over the next four years to help persons with disabilities to find and maintain work in the open labour market. A key focus of DES providers is engaging with employers to enhance the availability of jobs for persons with disabilities and to improve the employer’s confidence in employing them. In addition to the support provided by DES, a number of other programmes and services exist, such as the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator (NDRC) which works at the national level to increase the employment participation of persons with disabilities through direct support to large employers that employ more than 100 people. The Committee would welcome examining in the Government’s report on the application of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159), due in 2015, information on the impact of the measures regarding persons with disabilities in the open labour market.

Older workers. Despite recording a much lower rate of unemployment than other age cohorts, older people continue to encounter much greater difficulty finding subsequent employment, when compared to their younger cohorts (with an average duration of unemployment of 67 weeks, compared with 44 weeks for persons aged 25–54). The Government indicates that mature age workforce participation remains a priority. The restart programme, announced in the May 2014 Budget, is aimed at encouraging employers to recruit mature age jobseekers, and will provide eligible employers up to $10,000 (GST inclusive) if they hire a mature age jobseeker 50 years and over who has been unemployed and on income support for six months or more. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to encourage and support employment levels of older workers.

Indigenous peoples. The Committee notes that the labour force participation rate of indigenous Australians (15–64 years) fell from 64.5 per cent in 2008 to 60.9 per cent in 2012–13, and the unemployment rate rose from 16.6 per cent to 21.6 per cent. In 2012–13, labour force participation rates were lower for indigenous Australians (60.9 per cent) compared with non-Indigenous Australians (79.6 per cent); and unemployment rates were higher for Indigenous Australians (21.6 per cent) compared with non-Indigenous Australians (5.1 per cent) for the same year. The Government indicates that these unacceptable outcomes have prompted the Government to review its approach to promoting employment for indigenous peoples. In reply to the previous observations of the ACTU, the Government indicates that it recognises that record spending levels on indigenous Australian employment initiatives has not achieved the desired outcomes. The Government recognises the importance of identifying sustainable job opportunities and increasing participation and economic development for indigenous Australians in order to meet the Indigenous employment targets. The Government indicates that on 18 September 2013 indigenous specific policy and programmes was transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. In October 2013, the Prime Minister appointed launched an independent review of Indigenous Employment and Training Programmes. Moreover, the Committee notes that, since its commencement on 1 July 2009 through 31 March 2014, the JSA has achieved more than 183,000 job placements for indigenous jobseekers. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to increase employment opportunities for indigenous Australians. Please also include information on the review of the employment and training initiatives in this regard.