Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Ukraine (Ratification: 1968)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. The Government indicates in its report that, due to the acute political and socio-economic situation in the country, labour market indicators deteriorated significantly in 2014–15. According to information available from the Ukraine State Statistics Service, GDP declined by 6.8 per cent in 2014 and by 17.2 per cent in the first quarter of 2015. As a result, the unemployment rate rose from 7.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2014 to 9.6 per cent one year later, representing an increase of 22.3 per cent compared to 2013. It is estimated that 2 million jobs have been lost since the start of the crisis. The Committee observes that, in 2014, the average number of unemployed among the working age population was 1.8 million, and the unemployment rate among youth between 15–25 years of age remained twice as high as the national average unemployment rate for adults. The Government indicates that there were 443,900 registered unemployed people at the end of June 2015, whereas there were only 43,600 job vacancies posted by employers at the State Employment Service (SES) during the same time period. The Committee notes that demographic challenges faced by the country include a rapidly aging population, migration and internal displacement of the population. Rising unemployment rates throughout the country poses additional constraints on internally displaced persons seeking work in other regions. The Committee also notes that occupational segregation by gender remains strong and that the demand for highly-qualified workers remains low. Against this background, current policies and action plans on employment approved by the President and the Cabinet of Ministers aim to promote productive labour and full and freely chosen employment. The 2016 Government’s action plan seeks to anticipate labour market demands, address skill gaps for longer-term labour market inclusion and modernize vocational education and training services. The Committee notes that the Government has initiated a reform of the SES in order to transform it into a Public Employment Agency with the objective of streamlining some functions, improving labour market information and expanding its services to all jobseekers (not only the unemployed). The corresponding draft legislation has been the subject of tripartite consultation but has not yet been adopted. The Committee notes with interest the fourth Decent Work Country Programme of Ukraine (2016–19), which continues the cooperation between the ILO and Ukraine to promote decent work as a key to national development. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on how the measures adopted in the Government’s action plan have translated into the generation of productive and lasting employment opportunities for the unemployed and categories of vulnerable workers. Please also include information on the impact of the measures taken to increase the participation of women, young people, older workers and persons with disabilities in the labour market. The Government is also requested to provide a copy of the law in connection with the SES reform when adopted.

Coordination of education and training programmes with employment policy. The Committee notes the detailed information on the vocational training programmes provided by the SES. In 2014, vocational guidance services were provided to approximately 3.6 million people, including 1 million people under 35 years of age, of whom 636,700 were unemployed. In addition, 1.2 million people studying in educational institutions of various types received vocational guidance services. The Committee also observes that in 2014, some 202,200 people registered as unemployed underwent vocational training, and the level of employment after training was 92.1 per cent. The Committee notes that the 2016 Government’s action plan highlights the need to modernize professional (vocational) education in accordance with the real needs of the economy, regional labour markets and the demands of society. The plan also indicates that a draft law on “Professional Education” has been recently elaborated. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of specific measures taken in connection with the 2016 Government’s action plan to improve the coordination of education and training programmes with employment policies. Please also provide information on other initiatives undertaken in collaboration with the social partners in promoting the return of unemployed persons to productive employment. The Government is also requested to provide a copy of the law on “Professional Education” when adopted.

Youth employment. The Government reports that in 2014, the number of people under 35 years of age who had the status of unemployed reached 669,100, that is, almost half of the total number of unemployed in all age groups. During 2014, and in line with the SES’s objective, 343,800 young people found employment, of whom 211,400 had been unemployed. In addition, in 2014, almost 10,000 young people set up businesses with the help of a one-off unemployment benefit provided by the State Employment Service to support entrepreneurial initiatives among the unemployed. The Committee observes, however, that as indicated in the 2016 Government’s action plan, the level of practical skills of young professionals, the level of youth employment in the chosen profession and the pace of development of entrepreneurship among young people leave much to be desired. Less than 40 per cent of higher education graduates find jobs in the field of knowledge that they have been taught. Encouraging young people to obtain professions and specialties within sectors of anticipated demand is therefore a priority in the 2016 action plan of the Government. In connection to an observation made by the Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KWPV) in 2012 that young persons and older jobseekers have difficulties in obtaining employment as some job advertisements include an age requirement, the Government indicates that job vacancy announcements are prohibited from putting age restrictions. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact and sustainability of the measures taken to tackle youth unemployment and to promote the long-term integration of young persons in the labour market. Please also provide information on the measures taken or contemplated to prevent discriminatory restrictions, including age-related restrictions, in job vacancy announcements.