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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Guatemala (Ratification: 1988)

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Implementation of a national employment policy. Consultations with the social partners. In its report, the Government refers to the main programmes and projects undertaken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare through the General Directorate of Employment in relation to the development of the National Employment Policy 2012–21. The Committee notes that, during the period 2014–16, around 100,000 persons participated in various employability programmes and job fairs at the metropolitan and regional levels, of whom 25,000 were placed in jobs. The Committee recalls its 2014 observation that it is necessary to take into account the views and secure the support of the social partners to ensure that the programmes implemented generate quality jobs. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the action taken to give effect to the National Employment Policy and to indicate whether the objectives set out in the policy have been achieved. Please also provide detailed information on the consultations held with the social partners in relation to the Convention with a view to taking into account their views and securing their cooperation and support for the implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee also once again requests the Government to provide information on the consultations required by the Convention with all the sectors concerned, and particularly with representatives of the rural sector and the informal economy.

Article 1(2)(c). Coordination of education and training policy with employment opportunities. The Committee notes that, according to the data provided by the Technical Training and Productivity Institute (INTECAP) on the impact of vocational training in terms of the labour market integration of trainees, 71 per cent of trainees interviewed in 2014 were working in the specialization that they had studied, and the figure was 72 per cent in 2015. The Committee also notes that, according to the information provided by the Government, one of the objectives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare for 2016 is to work jointly with the Ministry of the Economy for the development of a new model of technical training within the framework of the National Vocational Training System. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the development of this new model of technical training and invites it to continue providing information on the impact achieved through the various plans and programmes, including those of the INTECAP, with a view to ensuring that all those who have undertaken training are able to find a suitable job and to use their skills and aptitudes in that job.

Article 2. Labour market information. The Committee notes that, according to the findings of the National Employment and Income Survey 2016, the open unemployment rate at the national level has remained relatively low and stable at 3.1 per cent. The Committee however notes that there is still a high level of informality, with 69.8 per cent of the active population at the national level being engaged in the informal economy. The dominance of rural work stands out, with eight out of every ten workers being engaged in this sector. The Committee notes that in October 2016 representatives of the ILO and the European Union presented the project “Strengthening the Impact on Employment of Sector and Trade Policies”, which will be implemented in Guatemala as from this year with the objective of reinforcing the employment dimension of sectoral and trade policies and programmes with a view to promoting the creation and improvement of employment in agriculture, rural development, infrastructure and energy. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the situation, level and trends of the labour market illustrating the impact of the measures adopted to promote the employment of specific categories of workers (women, young persons, older workers, migrant workers, persons with disabilities, workers in the rural sector and the informal economy). Please also provide updated information on the size and distribution of the labour force, and the nature and extent of unemployment and underemployment.

Youth employment. The Committee notes that during the period 2014–15, around 1,000 young persons between the ages of 16 and 29 years from areas of extreme poverty participated in the My First Job Grant and Workshop Schools programmes, through which they had access to training provided by enterprises themselves. The Committee also notes the Youth Employment programme, supported by the European Union, which aims to provide study grants for 600 young persons in 2016 to improve their level of English. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing specific information on the measures adopted to strengthen programmes to facilitate the labour market integration of young persons, and on the impact of those measures.

Rural employment. The Committee notes that, according to the information provided by the Government, the commitments recently made by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare for rural employment promotion in the country include conducting an assessment of decent rural youth employment, which will be undertaken by the Labour Market Observatory in cooperation with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Based on the outcome of the assessment, training will be provided to at least 100 young persons in the various training specializations identified, with a view to facilitating their integration into local production or providing them with tools for self-employment, either on their own or in associations. Another measure that will be implemented with FAO cooperation is the establishment of a single employment counter at the municipal level in the department of San Marcos, which will bring together all of the employment policies, programmes and projects focusing on youth in rural areas. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted to promote rural employment and their impact, including updated statistics disaggregated by sex, age, occupational category, economic sector and region.