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

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Canada (Ratification: 1950)

Article 1 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the Government’s report which includes information in reply to the 2011 observation and detailed information from the provinces. It also notes the observations made by the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN), transmitted by the Government. The Committee notes that, as of March 2013, private sector job boards can have their jobs displayed online by the National Employment Service (NES), when in compliance with the legislative requirements of the Government of Canada, if they demonstrate the same level of rigour for authenticating employers and jobs. Approximately 1 million regular and student jobs are posted annually on the online Job Bank, an integral part of the NES. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) delivers a number of employment initiatives targeted towards specific groups, such as aboriginal peoples, youth, older workers and persons with disabilities. The Government indicates that a number of improvements to the Employment Insurance (EI) programme were made to better connect the unemployed with jobs that match their skills and are within their local area. In 2012–13, Service Canada continued to invest in the design and use of technologies to support automated application processing and expanded internet services, thus improving EI service delivery. In its observations, the CSN refers to Article 3(1) of the Convention which provides that the national system of employment offices shall comprise a network of local and regional offices sufficient in number to serve each area of the country. The CSN indicates that the closure of Service Canada offices has had a negative impact on the processing times of EI claims. The Committee invites the Government to provide updated information on the impact of the activities carried out by the employment service and the manner in which it ensures “the best possible organisation of the employment market as an integral part of the national programme for the achievement and maintenance of full employment and the development and use of productive resources” (Article 1(2)). It also invites the Government to continue to provide information on the number of public employment offices established, the number of employment applications received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by the offices (Part IV of the report form).

Articles 4 and 5. Cooperation with employers’ and workers’ representatives. The Government indicates that the ESDC works with Canada’s 13 provinces and territories to develop a productive, skilled and adaptable labour force. It adds that the ESDC also facilitates partnerships with employers, workers, industry associations, and other not-for-profit organizations to develop tools and strategies to help ensure that jobseekers and workers have the skills and knowledge required for the workplace. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the manner in which the employers’ and workers’ organizations are consulted in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.