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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Madagascar (Ratification: 1966)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an active employment policy. In its previous comments, the Committee expressed the hope that the Government would soon be in a position to report progress in the formulation and implementation of an employment policy. In this regard, the Committee notes with interest the Government’s indications that Act No. 2015-040 of 9 December 2015 determining the orientation of the National Employment and Vocational Training Policy (PNEFP) has been adopted and is the subject of an awareness-raising campaign. It adds that the National Plan of Action for Employment and Training (PANEF) has been replaced by the Operational Plan of Action (PAO), which contains the various policy priorities implemented by the PNEFP. The Government indicates that the objective of the PNEFP, together with the implementation of the General State Policy (PGE), the National Development Plan (PND) and the Sustainable Development Objective (ODD), is to eradicate unemployment and underemployment by 2020 through the creation of sufficient numbers of formal jobs to absorb jobseekers. The PNEFP also has the goal of establishing a relevant information system on the labour market and vocational training and of designing and introducing a harmonized system of certification and training. The Government adds that four employment fairs were organized in December 2015 and that 1,119 young school-leavers were trained and integrated into small-scale rural occupations within the context of a partnership with UNESCO. Also in relation to employment promotion, the Government reports two “Rapid Results” initiatives of the Ministry of Employment, Technical Education and Vocational Training (MEETFP), which it indicates have been fully achieved. The first initiative focused on the matching of training and employment in 12 growth sectors. The second established a vocational training centre in the town of Andranofeno Sud with a view to employment generation. The centre provides training to around 100 students in six main areas: tourism, hotels and catering, agriculture and livestock, wood art and trades, automobile mechanics, construction and public works. The Government adds that 1,058 rural young school-leavers have been trained in 15 types of trades in several regions and that 59 persons with disabilities were trained by the National Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities (CNFPPSH) in the regions of Analanjirofo and Sava. The National Employment and Training Observatory has been transformed into the National Employment and Training Office. With regard to the upgrading of technical education and vocational training, the Government reports the rehabilitation in 2015 of five technical and vocational schools, 60 classrooms and the accreditation of 97 public and private technical establishments. The Government adds that four vocational training centres for women are now operational. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on any developments relating to the implementation of the National Employment and Vocational Training Policy, as well as on its impact on the employment rate and the reduction of unemployment, and on the transition from the informal economy to the formal economy. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide information to enable it to examine the manner in which the main components of economic policy, in such areas as monetary, budgetary, trade or regional development policies, contribute “within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy” to the achievement of the employment objectives set out in the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to provide updated information on the measures adopted or envisaged to create lasting employment, reduce underemployment and combat poverty, particularly for specific categories of workers, such as women, young people, persons with disabilities, rural workers and workers in the informal economy. In this regard, it requests the Government to provide further information on the types of training provided by the CNFPPSH to persons with disabilities.

Coordination of education and training policy with employment policy. The Committee notes with interest that, under the terms of section 2 of the PNEFP, its objective is the implementation of a policy for massive job creation and the promotion of vocational training. Section 10 of the PNEFP specifies that the policy includes in particular activities for employment creation, enterprise support, labour market mediation, the direct promotion of employment for young persons, women and vulnerable categories, the promotion of decent work and the extension of social security. In section 5, it establishes the right to training and qualifications irrespective of a person’s individual and social situation and educational level. The Committee further notes that section 46 calls for the creation of partnership between the State, territorial communities and technical and financial partners with a view to launching and financing employment promotion action for young persons, women and disadvantaged categories of workers. The Government indicates that the action taken for youth employment includes, on the one hand, the promotion of self-employment and traditional or informal enterprises and, on the other, support for integration into enterprises and traditional activities. The objectives of this action include support for young persons in their vocational projects and the reinforcement of financing capacities. The Ministry provides training to young persons with a view to promoting self-employment and the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises and industry. During the course of 2015 and the first half of 2016, training of this type was provided to 1,436 young persons from six regions. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the results of the action taken to ensure the coordination of vocational education and training policy with employment policy. It once again requests the Government to indicate the results achieved through the implementation of these programmes in terms of the access of qualified young persons to lasting employment. The Committee further requests the Government to indicate the impact of the measures taken to promote the creation of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Compilation and use of employment data. The Government indicates that the Periodic Household Survey was commenced and then replaced by the global population census in light of the State’s priorities due to the significant increase in the population. However, it reports the preparation of a partnership project with the International Labour Office with a view to establishing a system of reliable databases on employment. The National Employment and Training Office will be responsible for the management of the system. The Government adds that in 2016 the MEETFP started to establish Regional Employment Services (SRIE) in Regional Departments, and that there are now SRIEs in nine Regional Departments and that they are responsible for managing the regional employment information system, which involves matching young jobseekers and enterprises. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the progress achieved by the project in the establishment of a system of reliable databases on employment. It also requests the Government to provide further information on the impact of the SRIEs in relation to the compilation and use of employment data.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government indicates that a National Agreement on Employment and Vocational Training was concluded with the social partners in October 2015 and with enterprise groups in the five priority areas in November 2015. The Government also reports the conclusion of two other agreements including the social partners, namely the agreement on the financing of the Technical Support Team for the PNEFP and the agreement on the fund for its implementation. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing updated information on the consultations held with the representatives of the social partners on the subjects covered by the Convention. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the consultations held with the representatives of the most disadvantaged categories of the population, and particularly with the representatives of workers in rural areas and the informal economy.