Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Curaçao

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. Youth employment. In its previous comments, the Committee invited the Government to provide updated information on measures adopted to create productive employment opportunities for young persons. The Committee welcomes the detailed information provided by the Government on the various employment and training measures specifically targeting young people, including the “1,000 youngsters at work” (Mil hoben na trabou) project and numerous subprojects. The Government indicates in its report that it has reintroduced an effective legal tool aimed at encouraging employers to offer jobs to young people for a one-year period by covering, for the stated period, the social premiums and taxes to be paid to the Social Security Bank of Curaçao. In addition, the Government adopted the so-called “80/20” Law which enables local workers to enrol in the labour market process on a priority basis. With respect to unemployment statistics, the Government indicates that youth unemployment decreased from 37.2 per cent in 2013 to 29.7 per cent in 2015. According to the 2016 Labour Force Survey (LFS), youth unemployment subsequently increased to 36.8 per cent in 2016. Consequently, young persons aged 15–24 continue to have the highest unemployment rates compared to other age groups. The Committee notes from the LFS that over 30 per cent of unemployed youth were in daytime education, which may have had an impact on their availability to accept employment. It further notes that the overall unemployment rate was 13.3 per cent in September–October 2016, compared to 11.7 per cent for the same period in 2015, with women continuing to have higher rates of unemployment compared to men. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to address youth unemployment. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to promote employment opportunities for women. In addition, it reiterates its request that the Government communicate information on measures taken to ensure the implementation of an active employment policy as required by the Convention, as well as on the impact of the measures adopted, including, to the extent possible, statistical information disaggregated by age and sex.

Article 3. Consultations with the social partners. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the representatives of employers’ and workers’ organizations concerning the formulation and implementation of an active employment policy.