Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Argentina (Ratification: 1956)

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

The Committee notes the observations made by the General Confederation of Labour of the Argentine Republic (CGT RA), received on 2 September 2015.

Article 3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Government indicates in its report that the National Employment Services Network has more than 630 integrated offices that cover over 80 per cent of the population. The Network assisted more than 2.9 million workers who were unemployed or seeking better jobs, 1.5 million of whom took part in employment programmes run by the Ministry of Labour. The Government highlights that, on average, more than 35 per cent of the young persons who take part in the Young Persons with More and Better Jobs programme find a registered job within 12 months of their participation. The CGT RA recognizes that, while there is a public policy at the national level, this does not necessarily ensure efficient or effective placement of jobseekers. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the functioning of the National Employment Services Network.

Articles 4 and 5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Government indicates that the municipal employment offices have engaged in robust institutional collaboration involving training and education centres, representative organizations of workers and employers and civil society organizations. The CGT RA reports that almost all collective labour agreements that are in force contain “job placement” clauses, which boosts and facilitates immediate placement in jobs. The Committee notes with interest these indications. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information so that it can examine the manner in which the social partners are involved in the activities of the public employment service.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. In reply to the 2005 observation, the Committee notes the report received in 2010 in which the Government indicates that 324 municipal employment offices have been established in 23 provinces with a coverage of 76 per cent of the total population. In 2008, the employment offices provided services for 157,548 persons and in 2009 for 316,957 persons. The Committee notes that the National Employment Services Network also endeavours to provide vocational guidance, support for job-seeking, employment placement, guidance for self-employment and referral to educational institutions and/or training activities. The Committee invites the Government to provide up-to-date information in its next report on the measures adopted to ensure that the National Employment Services Network has sufficient offices to meet the needs of employers and workers in each of the regions of the country (Article 3 of the Convention). In this respect, the Committee invites the Government to include the statistical data requested in Part IV of the report form for the Convention on the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by the 324 municipal employment offices.

Cooperation with the social partners. The Government refers in its report to the action taken by employment offices and also mentions the establishment of the Employment Services Directorate under the National Directorate of the Federal Employment Service. The Committee refers to its General Survey of 2010 on the employment instruments, in which it highlighted the fact that direct and constant interaction between the public services and employers and jobseekers in the job market is essential (paragraph 208 of the General Survey of 2010). The Committee reiterates the request that it has been making for many years for the Government to include in its report information on the manner in which the social partners have been associated with the activities of the public employment service. The Committee recalls the requirement in Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention to establish advisory committees for the full cooperation of the representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service.

Strengthening of employment services through technical cooperation. The Committee notes the final report of the Integrated Support Programme for the Reactivation of Employment in Argentina (AREA) of October 2008. The AREA programme was supported by the Government of Italy and received ILO assistance to facilitate the creation of public employment services, vocational training and local development. The Committee invites the Government to include information in its next report on the manner in which ILO advice has contributed to strengthening the operation of the public employment service.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

1. Contribution of the employment services to employment promotion. In relation to its observation of 2004, the Government indicates that, by means of Ministerial Decision No. 176 of March 2005, an Employment Services Unit has been established, the objectives of which include introducing a system for the establishment and strengthening of institutions providing employment services, assisting the provincial services involved in the management of the Federal Employment Services Network and providing technical assistance to local employment offices belonging to government institutions or civil society organizations with a view to diversifying and improving the quality of the services provided. The Committee notes the increase of 2.4 per cent in the employed population between the first quarter of 2004 and the first quarter of 2005 (the creation of 312,000 jobs in urban areas throughout the country) and that the unemployment rate fell from 14.4 per cent to 13 per cent over the same period, according to data provided by the Government in its report on the Unemployment Convention, 1919 (No. 2). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide information on the results achieved through the establishment of the Employment Services Unit in achieving the best possible organization of the employment market, so as to meet the new requirements of the economy and the active population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention).

2. Cooperation of the social partners. The Government indicates that the General Employment Promotion Plan creates a space in which the views of employers, trade unions and training and development institutes can be integrated in relation to labour, employment and production issues. The Committee notes with interest the sectoral agreements concluded between the Ministry of Labour and the social partners in specific productive sectors (textiles, construction, ceramics, metallurgy and mechanics, etc.), both at the national level and at the provincial and local levels with a view to promoting employment. The Committee refers once again to the provisions of Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention and would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on the manner in which the representatives of the social partners may have been associated with the Federal Employment Services Network. For many years, the Committee has been pointing out that the above provisions of the Convention require the establishment of advisory committees to secure the full cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service.

3. Strengthening of employment services through technical cooperation. The Committee notes with interest the information provided in the Government’s report on the AREA project, in which the ILO and the Government of Italy are also participating. The AREA project, which is planned for three years (2004-06), covers seven regions. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide information in its next report on the manner in which this project has contributed to the strengthening of the free public employment service. The Committee hopes that the Government’s next report will also include statistical information on the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices (Part IV of the report form).

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2004, published 93rd ILC session (2005)

1. Contribution of the employment service to the promotion of employment. The Committee notes the detailed information for the period 2001-04 drawn up by the Employment Services Development Unit at the Labour Ministry presenting job placement statistics from the public employment offices in the federal capital and in each province of the country (41,898 applications for employment reported to have been processed during the said period). The Government emphasizes that, as at March 2004, employment had increased for 12 successive months for the first time in the last ten years. In the first quarter of 2004 the rate of unemployment was 14.4 per cent. This percentage represented a 6 per cent reduction compared to the same period of the previous year, when unemployment affected 20.4 per cent of the economically active population. The Committee requests the Government to continue reporting on the measures adopted by the public employment services to achieve the best possible organization of the employment market, including adapting them to meet the new needs of the economy and the active population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention). The Committee would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide statistical information concerning the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices - indicating the efforts made to meet the needs of employers and workers in each region of the country (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention and Part IV of the report form).

2. Cooperation of the social partners. The Government refers to certain conventions and agreements concluded under the General Employment Promotion Plan between employers’ and workers’ organizations. The occupational histories and vocational profiles of the beneficiaries of the Heads of Household Programme are established through the intervention of the municipalities and the trade union organizations. As part of the pilot phase of the Integrated Employment and Training Service, cooperation agreements have been concluded between certain employment offices and public and private local bodies. The Committee refers once again to the provisions of Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention and trusts that the Government will be in a position to provide information in its next report on the other measures adopted to establish advisory committees at national, provincial and local levels in order to secure the full cooperation of employers’ and workers’ representatives in the organization and operation of the employment service.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its 2002 observation, which read as follows:

In a communication received in June 2002, the Government refers to the serious economic and financial crisis, which has resulted in a lack of external and internal credit, the paralysis of banking activities and the growth of unemployment as a result of the closure of enterprises and its impact on the labour market. In its observation of 2001, the Committee noted the continued deterioration in the employment situation and reiterated the need to ensure the essential function of employment services to achieve the best possible organization of the employment market, including adopting them to meet the new needs of the economy and the active population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention). The Committee requests the Government to provide the statistical information available in published annual or periodical reports concerning the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices (Part IV of the report form).

Articles 4 and 5. In reply to the comments that it has been making for many years, the Government stated that it has not taken measures to establish advisory committees. The Committee once again emphasizes the importance, in a context such as the one referred to above, of the cooperation of the representatives of employers and workers, through advisory committees, in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of an employment service policy. The Committee expresses the firm hope that the Government will be in a position to indicate in its next report that advisory committees have been established and are capable of operating so as to give full effect to the abovementioned Articles of the Convention.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2004.]

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

In a communication received in June 2002, the Government refers to the serious economic and financial crisis, which has resulted in a lack of external and internal credit, the paralysis of banking activities and the growth of unemployment as a result of the closure of enterprises and its impact on the labour market. In its observation of 2001, the Committee noted the continued deterioration in the employment situation and reiterated the need to ensure the essential function of employment services to achieve the best possible organization of the employment market, including adopting them to meet the new needs of the economy and the active population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention). The Committee requests the Government to provide the statistical information available in published annual or periodical reports concerning the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices (Part IV of the report form).

Articles 4 and 5. In reply to the comments that it has been making for many years, the Government stated that it has not taken measures to establish advisory committees. The Committee once again emphasizes the importance, in a context such as the one referred to above, of the cooperation of the representatives of employers and workers, through advisory committees, in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of an employment service policy. The Committee expresses the firm hope that the Government will be in a position to indicate in its next report that advisory committees have been established and are capable of operating so as to give full effect to the abovementioned Articles of the Convention.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2003.]

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

In reply to its observation of 1998, the Government has provided a report on the change in management of employment offices, drawn up by the National Directorate of Employment and Training Policies of the Secretariat of Employment. The report shows that in 1998, of the total of 336 employment offices, around one-third were government entities, while the rest were managed by non-governmental organizations. Trade union and non-governmental organizations were those entities which placed the greatest number of persons in the vacancies available with employers. Employment offices provide a series of services to the unemployed which go beyond the traditional functions of an employment office (community distribution of clothes and food, canteens, crèches and specific grants intended to cover the precarious situation of those concerned). The Committee notes that, according to the data contained in ECLAC’s Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean 2000-01, the employment rate fell from 36.8 per cent in October 1999 to 36.5 per cent in October 2000. The unemployment rate rose from 13.8 to 14.7 per cent (between October 1999 and 2000). In 2000, the number of persons covered by temporary employment programmes fell (137,000 in October 2000 compared with 198,000 one year previously) and there were over 1.3 million underemployed workers. In these circumstances, the Committee requests the Government to provide a detailed report on the application of the Convention and recalls the need to ensure the essential duty of the employment service to achieve the best possible organization of the employment market and its revision to meet the new requirements of the economy and the working population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention). The Committee once again requests the Government to provide in its next report any new statistical information published in annual or periodical reports on the number of public employment offices established, applications for employment received, vacancies notified and persons placed in employment by such offices (Part IV of the report form).

Articles 4 and 5. In reply to the comments that it has been making for many years, the Government indicates again that advisory committees have not been set up. The Committee emphasizes the importance, in a context such as the one mentioned above, that cooperation of representatives of employers and workers through advisory committees can have in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy. The Committee expresses the firm hope that the Government will be in a position to indicate in its next report that advisory committees have been set up and are able to operate so as to give full effect to the above Articles of the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2000, published 89th ILC session (2001)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which reads as follows:

1.  The Committee notes that the National Employment Service has been transformed into a public employment agency (APC), resulting in the establishment of labour intermediation units. In December 1996, the Programme Management Coordination Unit was established with the function of coordinating the operation of labour and employment training programmes of the Secretariat of Employment and Vocational Training. The Committee trusts that the Government will continue to discharge the essential duty of the employment service, with a view to the best possible organization of the employment market, and will review it to meet the new requirements of the economy and the active population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention). In this respect the Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will be able to provide statistical information available in published annual or periodical reports concerning the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices, as requested in Part IV of the report form.

2.  Articles 4 and 5.  In reply to the comments which it has been making for many years, the Government states that measures have not currently been adopted for the establishment or functioning of advisory committees. The Committee trusts that the Government will be able to indicate in its next report that the committees required by the Convention are operational so as to give full effect to the above provisions of the Convention, which provide for the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers through advisory committees in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

1. The Committee notes that the National Employment Service has been transformed into a public employment agency (APC), resulting in the establishment of labour intermediation units. In December 1996, the Programme Management Coordination Unit was established with the function of coordinating the operation of labour and employment training programmes of the Secretariat of Employment and Vocational Training. The Committee trusts that the Government will continue to discharge the essential duty of the employment service, with a view to the best possible organization of the employment market, and will review it to meet the new requirements of the economy and the active population (Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention). In this respect the Committee hopes that in its next report the Government will be able to provide statistical information available in published annual or periodical reports concerning the number of public employment offices established, the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified and the number of persons placed in employment by such offices, as requested in Part IV of the report form.

2. Articles 4 and 5. In reply to the comments which it has been making for many years, the Government states that measures have not currently been adopted for the establishment or functioning of advisory committees. The Committee trusts that the Government will be able to indicate in its next report that the committees required by the Convention are operational so as to give full effect to the above provisions of the Convention, which provide for the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers through advisory committees in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

[The Government is asked to report in detail in 2000.]

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 82nd ILC session (1995)

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. The Committee takes note of the Government's reply to its earlier comments. It notes, in particular, the provision of section 132 of the new National Employment Law No. 24.013 of 13 November 1991, according to which the Ministry of Labour and Social Security shall endeavour to integrate to the Network of Employment Services the employers', workers' and other organizations which are not conducted with a view to profit. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report, whether any measures are taken or envisaged to establish one or more national advisory committees and, where necessary, regional and local committees, and whether any arrangements have been made through such committees for the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy, as required by these Articles. Please also indicate whether the representatives of employers and workers on these committees are appointed in equal numbers after consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers, in conformity with Article 4, paragraph 3.

More generally, the Committee further requests the Government to supply information on the measures taken to give practical effect to sections 130 to 132 of the new Employment Law, in relation to the other provisions of the Convention. Please give a general appreciation of the manner in which the Convention is applied and furnish statistical information on the operation of provincial employment services.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. In its previous observations, the Committee expressed the hope that the Government would supply information on the progress made in obtaining the co-operation, through advisory committees, of employers and workers in the organisation and operation of the employment service. In its last report, the Government states that it is in the process of formulating a National Employment Bill, which introduces far-ranging changes to the current system, and provides for the active participation of employers' and workers' representatives. The Committee once again hopes that the Government will make every effort to adopt the necessary measures, also through advisory committees, in the near future, in order to obtain the co-operation of employers' and workers' representatives in the organisation and operation of the employment service.

The Committee trusts that the Government's next report will include the information required by the report form for the Convention concerning the above provisions, and the statistical information that has been published on the operation of provincial employment services.