Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Suriname (Ratification: 1976)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Article 1(2) of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in September 2014 indicating that a new labour market information system was set up with an Inter-American Development Bank grant and ILO assistance. The Government indicates that the Labour Exchange Unit has been providing training modules since 2009 in social skills, and rights and obligations for employees. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the other training courses offered, such as training provided to welders for a refinery expansion project. The Committee invites the Government to provide detailed information on the activities carried out by the employment service and the manner in which it ensures “the best possible organisation of the employment market as an integral part of the national programme for the achievement and maintenance of full employment and the development and use of productive resources”. Please also provide 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. Participation of the social partners. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on 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.

Article 6(b). Activities of the employment service. The Committee invites once again the Government to provide details on the measures that have been taken by the employment service to encourage the professional or geographic mobility of workers, and to facilitate movement of migrant workers, including statistical data indicating the number of workers dealt with, particularly migrant workers.

Article 7. Measures for particular categories of applicants for employment. The Government states that the Labour Exchange Unit launched a community project in 2013 using information from the General Statistics Bureau and started registration in the poorest neighbourhoods. The Committee invites the Government to provide information on the impact of the measures taken by the Labour Exchange Unit to meet the needs of particular categories of applicants for employment, such as persons with disabilities.

Article 8. Special arrangements for young workers. The Government indicates that a special project was launched, funded by the Government of the United States, (PADF project), on youth development and juvenile justice in Suriname. The target group included young people who have been in conflict with the law, youth at special risk and school drop-outs. Young people registered with the Labour Exchange Unit who fell within the target group also participated. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the Labour Exchange Unit in relation to youth employment and to give particulars of the number of young people participating in the training and retraining programmes.

Article 9. Staff of the employment service. The Government indicates that the Labour Exchange Unit started a capacity-strengthening course for its own personnel. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the training of staff of the employment service.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

1. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2009 in reply to the 2005 observation. The Government indicates that since 2007 the project to strengthen labour exchange and IT-based work permit systems established with international assistance has succeeded the One Stop Resource Centre, which had become dysfunctional in 2004. The Government further reports that it had organized job fairs in 2008 and 2009 aimed at bringing together labour demand and supply as well as to provide information about future vacancies, vocational education, and the labour-related institutions in general. Since August 2009, the public employment services’ focus no longer solely focuses on mediation but includes also training in skills. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on progress made in expanding the role of public employment services in employment promotion.

2. Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. Participation of the social partners. The Government states that since 2008 social partners have provided input to the establishment of the commission on labour exchange and development, which is charged with the revision and drafting of legislation. Draft legislation is further reviewed by the Workers Advice Board. Since August 2009, the national board for work opportunities, in which representatives of employers and workers participate, advises the Government on labour market policies and possibilities to increase job opportunities. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on 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.

3. Article 6, subparagraph (b). Activities of the employment service. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the manner in which the employment services provide services to jobseekers. The Committee invites the Government to provide details of the measures that have been taken by the employment service to encourage the professional or geographic mobility of workers, and to facilitate movement of migrant workers, including statistical data indicating the number of workers dealt with, particularly migrant workers.

4. Article 7. Measures for particular categories of applicants for employment. The Committee notes that, since August 2009, training for specialized professions are offered to jobseekers. The Government further reports that the promotion of women in the labour market has been initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Women Movement and that persons with disabilities have become a focal point of activities, inter alia, through job coaching workshops. The Committee asks the Government to also report on the impact of these developments in connection with this Article supported by statistics, if possible.

5. Article 8. Special arrangements for young workers. The Government indicates that the Foundation of Labour Mobilization and Development and the Labour Exchange Unit are continuing their cooperation to promote youth employment and have implemented new training modules aligned to the demand of the labour market. Further, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of the Netherlands aims at transforming the system of labour exchange to a system of guidance counselling. The MoU also forms the basis for the development of an action programme to increase the labour market potential of young workers. Through this action programme training and retraining programmes for young workers have been established. Public service employees conduct outreaches to vulnerable areas on a weekly basis. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the employment service in relation to youth employment and to give particulars of the outreaches and the number of young persons participating in the training and retraining programmes.

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

1. The Committee takes note of the Government’s report received in September 2004. The Government indicates that in July 2000, a labour project was launched in the region with the support of the United States Department of Labor. The goal of this project is to establish an automated Internet-based job bank that could interface with the country labour market information system. The project provided the Ministry of Labour with skills and tools necessary to employment services systems, increased cooperation between the Ministry of Labor and the social partners on employment services issues, and established resource centres for jobseekers and employers. The Government further reports that the One Stop Resource Center was inaugurated in Suriname on August 2002. The Labour Exchange Unit and the Foundation for Labour Mobilization and Development are cooperating. The foundation has established different programmes to provide technical training to "dropouts", juveniles, self-employed workers, and training in business management and administration. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on progress made in expanding the role of public employment services in employment promotion.

2. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that there are no advisory committees concerning labour exchange. The Committee once again recalls the importance of advisory 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. It asks the Government to take all necessary steps in the near future to ensure the application of Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention.

3. Activities of the employment service. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government regarding the manner in which the Labour Exchange unit provides services to jobseekers. It would appreciate receiving indications on the measures that have been taken by the employment service to favour the professional or geographic mobility of workers, and to facilitate movement of migrant workers (Article 6(b)).

4. Measures for particular categories of applicants for employment. The Government declares that the Labour Exchange Unit is not specialized in mediating for particular categories of workers or sectors. The Committee recalls that Article 7 requires that measures be taken to facilitate specialization of employment offices by occupation and industry, and to meet the needs of particular categories of workers. The Committee asks the Government to indicate the measures adopted or envisaged to give effect to this provision of the Convention in relation with disadvantaged jobseekers such as people with disabilities.

5. Special arrangements for young workers. The Government indicates that the Foundation of Labour Mobilization and Development have established training and re-training programmes for young workers. The Committee notes this information with interest and it asks the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of the employment service in relation to youth employment (Article 8).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's very brief report for the period ending September 1998. Regarding Article 4 of the Convention, the Government states that no arrangements have been made. The Committee again emphasizes the importance of advisory 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. It asks the Government to take all necessary steps in the near future to ensure the application of this provision.

In reply to the Committee's request for further information regarding Article 6, the Government states that the employment service Act governs the function and organization of the Employment Service Agency, but does not provide any information on whether the agency is fulfilling the duties specified in the Convention. The Committee asks the Government to supply detailed information on the precise manner in which the Employment Service Agency provides employment placement assistance, including registration and interviewing of applicants, assistance in obtaining vocational training, registering vacancies, referrals, facilitating occupational and geographic mobility, and facilitating temporary transfers of workers and movement between countries. It also asks the Government to supply information on the cooperation of the Employment Service Agency in the administration of unemployment insurance and other assistance, as well as measures taken by the Employment Service Agency to assist in social and economic planning to ensure a favourable employment situation.

The Committee also notes the Government's statement that no special arrangements have been made for the application of Article 7 which requires that measures be taken to facilitate specialization of employment offices by occupation and industry, and to meet the needs of particular categories of workers, such as disabled persons. However, the Government has established a programme to provide technical training to "drop-outs", juveniles, self-employed workers and industry workers. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on progress made in expanding these measures to other categories of workers. The Committee also notes that the measures include providing training to youth. Please supply further details on other measures taken to assist young jobseekers, in accordance with Article 8.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no new information in reply to its earlier comments. A Project document on the reorganization of the Employment Services, to which the Government refers in its report, has not been received by the ILO. The Committee therefore asks the Government to supply a copy of the above-mentioned Project document with its next report. It hopes that the Government will supply any other information available concerning the reorganization of the Employment Service to which the Government has been referring for a number of years and which, according to the report of 1989, has reached the stage of a final decision.

The Committee trusts that the Government will provide a detailed report on the application of the Convention in accordance with the report form and, in particular, on the new arrangements made to give effect to Articles 4 (advisory committees), 6 (employment service's functions), 7 (measures to facilitate specialization by occupations and by industries and to meet the needs of particular categories of applicants) and 8 (special arrangements for juveniles) of the Convention. Please also supply 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, as required by point IV of the report form.

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

With reference to its previous comments the Committee notes that the reorganisation of the Employment Service has reached the stage of a final decision. It also notes the proposals on the internal reorganisation of the Employment Service.

The Committee hopes that the Government will provide, in its next report, full information on the reorganisation and development of the employment services and, in particular, on the new arrangements made to give effect to Articles 4, 6, 7 and 8 of the Convention.