Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Nicaragua (Ratification: 1981)

Articles 1–3 of the Convention. Adoption and implementation of an active employment policy in the context of a coordinated economic and social policy. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes that since 2011 it has been asking the Government to provide information on the measures taken to formulate a national employment policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee observes that the Government has still not supplied any information in this regard. Moreover, the Committee notes the Government’s general reference to the implementation of various government programmes for promoting employment in the country. The Government indicates that job placement programmes have been implemented in all departments, as well as vocational guidance programmes aimed at providing assistance in the search for employment. In addition, meetings have been organized with employers to identify the need of enterprises in all economic sectors with regard to workers’ skills, and business fairs have been held to promote access to the labour market. The Government also refers to the implementation of employability programmes to boost job skills and increase employment possibilities. The Committee also refers to its 2018 observation on the application of Convention No. 117, in which it noted the adoption in February 2018 of the Country Partnership Framework for Nicaragua for 2018–22 with the World Bank, with the aim of reducing poverty and promoting prosperity for more Nicaraguans. The Committee noted that the core objectives of the Framework are: to invest in human resources, especially with regard to groups in vulnerable situations, such as women, young people, small-scale producers who practise subsistence agriculture and communities of indigenous peoples and of people of African descent in rural areas; to promote private investment for job creation; and to improve institutions. As regards trends in formal employment, the Government indicates that there was an 8.3 per cent increase in 2015–2016 in formal employment (persons registered with the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute (INSS)), with a total of 878,019 workers as at December 2016. The Government adds that, according to INSS statistics, this positive trend continued throughout 2017, since there were 922,000 persons affiliated to the social security scheme as at July 2017. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the measures taken to formulate, in consultation with the social partners, an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. The Committee also requests the Government to provide detailed information on the various programmes and measures implemented with a view to job creation and the impact thereof (especially on women, young people, small-scale producers, and indigenous and communities of people of African descent in rural areas). The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the steps taken to promote the transition of workers from the informal to the formal economy, and the impact thereof. The Committee further requests the Government to supply up-to-date statistics, disaggregated by sex, age and region, on the size and distribution of the workforce, and the nature and extent of unemployment.

Youth employment. In its previous comments, the Committee noted the adoption of a series of programmes to promote youth employment, and asked the Government to provide information on the results achieved by them, especially with regard to young persons in socially vulnerable situations, in both urban and rural areas. However, the Committee observes that the Government has not supplied any information in this respect. The Government indicates that between 2007 and the first half of 2017 the Department for Employment and Wage Policies held 607 vocational and employment guidance workshops, which were attended by 15,372 young people. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the measures taken or contemplated to promote employment for young people, especially those in vulnerable situations. The Committee also requests the Government to provide up-to-date statistics, disaggregated by sex and region, on the impact of these measures in terms of sustainable youth employment.

Export processing zones. The Government indicates that employment in export processing zones has increased, standing at 114,917 workers in 2017. The Committee requests the Government to provide up-to-date information, disaggregated by sex and age, on the contribution of export processing zones to the creation of lasting, high-quality employment, compatible with the principle of decent work.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to send an evaluation of the implementation of the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises development programme action plan and the reactivation of the National Council for Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CONAMIPYME), including information on their impact on areas with the largest concentrations of people living in extreme poverty. However, the Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on the impact of job creation support measures with regard to SMEs. The Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information, including statistics, disaggregated by sex and age, on the impact of the measures taken by the Government in favour of SMEs and job creation. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the results of such measures in terms of reducing the rate of informality.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. In its previous comments, the Committee asked the Government to provide information on the activities implemented in the context of the National Labour Council to design employment policies and programmes that create decent work. The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on this matter. The Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention provides that representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken, and in particular representatives of employers and workers, shall be consulted concerning employment policies, with a view to taking fully into account their experience and views and securing their full co-operation in formulating and enlisting support for such policies. Underlining the importance of the consultations required by the Convention, the Committee requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the measures taken or contemplated for holding consultations with the social partners and the representatives of persons affected by employment policies and programmes.