Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Slovakia (Ratification: 1993)

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

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in reply to its 2010 direct request. The Government indicates that the Act on Employment Services, amended in March 2013, is designed to entail a more individualized approach to employment services. The Government indicates that various projects have been carried out with the aim of reducing the number of unemployed people and to create jobs for the unemployed under the age of 29. The Government also refers to a project aimed at employment of disadvantaged jobseekers, including long-term unemployed persons, older persons and school graduates. The Committee notes that, in 2012, more than 104,000 jobseekers were supported by active labour market measures and about 66,000 job vacancies were registered by the Offices of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, showing a decrease by 33,000 from those in 2011. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the projects implemented on employment promotion. Please also provide information on the activities undertaken by the Offices of Labour, Social Affairs and Family and other such public employment agencies, including statistical data on the results of their activities.

Articles 4 and 5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes that the 2013 amendment of the Act on Employment Services increased the consideration given to regional labour market situations by involving the social partners in decision-making relating to the drafting and implementation of active labour market measures, particularly through their participation in tripartite committees on employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the tripartite Committees on Employment in the development of employment service policy.

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

Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in December 2009 listing the measures taken by the Government in consultation with the social partners as a consequence of the global economic crisis. The Government also confirmed its intention to ratify the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181). The Committee notes with interest that the ratification of Convention No. 181 was registered on 22 February 2010. It refers to Chapter III of its General Survey of 2010 on employment instruments and recalls that Conventions Nos 88 and 181 complement one another. Public employment services and private employment agencies both contribute to the optimal functioning of the labour market and to the realization of the right to work. In the context of a downturn, the role of employment services is particularly relevant in implementing active labour market policies focusing on the most vulnerable categories of jobseekers. The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report on Convention No. 88, information on the activities undertaken by the Offices of Labour, Social Affairs and Family and other such public employment agencies that ensure the effective functioning of the free public employment service, in cooperation with the social partners, to meet the specific needs of jobseekers and employers throughout the country. Please also furnish 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).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

The Committee takes note of the detailed information contained in the Government’s report received in January 2007 in response to the previous comments.

1. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes that the public employment services offered in Slovakia by the Offices of Labour, Social Affairs and Family received 318,861 applications for employment in 2005 and 154,018 in the first half of 2006. The number of notified vacancies by the public employment services was 96,358 in 2005, and 64,771 in the first half of 2006. In summary, the number of jobseekers placed in employment by the public employment services was 238,251 in 2005 and 119,969 in the first half of 2006. The Government further reports that the public employment service offered professional consultations for jobseekers, which included the provision of information, advice, support and professional assistance to persons experiencing problems in accessing the labour market. Professional consultations were offered by 423 advisers placed at the 46 Offices of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, at 72 detached/outpost workplaces, at 59 labour clubs and 15 other office facilities. Professional consultations have been carried out in individual and group sessions: 318,039 individual sessions were provided to 264,627 persons and 24,249 group sessions were provided to 21,997 individuals. The Government reports that the majority of the personal consultations comprised the development of an individual action plan, which entailed the identification of objectives, processes and steps to be followed so as to improving access of the individual to the labour market. Such consultations were offered by advisory divisions of the public employment services and by external persons licensed to carry out this activity. Most of the personal consultations carried out in the first half of 2006 were provided outside of a specific project, on an individual basis, and within the context of an individual action plan. The most prevalent professional consultations were jobseekers in the age group of 25–50, those registered with the Offices for three to six months, individuals who have completed secondary education and school graduates. The Committee notes with interest the information received and, with reference to its observation on the application of the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122), requests the Government to continue providing information on the activities undertaken by the Offices of Labour, Social Affairs and Family and such other public employment agencies to ensure the effective functioning of the free public employment service, in cooperation with the social partners, to meet the specific needs of jobseekers and employers throughout the country as requested by the Convention.

2. Article 11 of the Convention. Cooperation with private employment agencies. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report on the activities of the private employment agencies. The Government reports that fee-charging mediators of employment agencies for temporary employment and agencies for supported employment may offer employment services as natural persons or legal persons under conditions determined by Act No. 5/2004. In 2005, 188 new licences were issued for agencies wishing to undertake fee-charging mediation of employment, 139 agencies were issued licences for mediation in temporary employment and 17 for supported employment. Approximately 660 private entities were thus licensed to carry out employment mediation activities. The Government reports that private employment agencies succeeded in mediating a total of 27,746 employments, including temporary allocations, which represents an annual growth of more than 21 per cent from 2004 to 2005. The Committee notes that the denunciation of the Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention, 1933 (No. 34), was registered on 25 July 2007. It further notes the Government’s intention to ratify the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), after implementing changes in the legislation on employment services. The Committee draws the attention of the Government to the provisions set forth in Convention No. 181, and the guidance provided in its corresponding Recommendation No. 188. As required by Article 11 of Convention No. 88, the Committee also requests that the Government provide information in its next report on the measures taken to secure effective cooperation between the public employment service and the private employment agencies not conducted with a view to profit.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its 2005 direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee takes note of the detailed information contained in the Government’s report received in October 2004. It refers to its 1999 direct request, and asks the Government to provide in its next report further information on the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified, and the number of persons placed in employment by the public employment services (Part IV of the report form).

2. Article 7(a) of the Convention. Specialization within employment offices. Concerning measures taken to facilitate within the various employment offices specialization by occupations and by industries, the Government indicates that while employment services have never been specialized in that regard, the new Act on Employment Services No. 5/2004 does not prohibit such specialization of offices, and the individual offices are free to introduce employment services by occupations and branches. In this respect, the Committee recalls the usefulness of such specialization and asks the Government to keep it informed of any need for specialization which could be identified, and any follow-up action taken.

3. Article 8. Special arrangements for young people. Concerning specific programmes for youth, the Government indicates that adolescents are included in the group of disadvantaged job applicants and as such, the following active labour market measures are targeting their inclusion in the labour market: counselling and guidance; preparation and education for the labour market; school-leaver’s job experience scheme; and subsidy for the employer to hire a disadvantaged job applicant. The Committee takes due note of this information and asks the Government to keep providing information on such programmes, including the number of participants and the results achieved. The Government might consider useful to refer to the conclusions on promoting pathways to decent work for youth, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 93rd Session (June 2005), in particular on the role of employment services to provide career guidance and counselling, impart up-to-date labour market information and support young people in finding, securing and retaining jobs.

4. Article 11. Cooperation with private employment agencies. With regard to effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies, the Government indicates that Decree No. 31/2004 regulates the amount that a fee-charging employment agency may charge for its services and that Act No. 5/2004 is in conformity with the provisions of the Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention, 1933 (No. 34). In this regard, the Committee refers to its 2004 direct request on the application of Convention No. 34 and trusts that the Government’s intention to ratify the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), will materialize in the near future. It further invites the Government to include in its next report information on the measures taken to secure effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2007.]

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

1. The Committee takes note of the detailed information contained in the Government’s report received in October 2004. It refers to its 1999 direct request, and asks the Government to provide in its next report further information on the number of applications for employment received, the number of vacancies notified, and the number of persons placed in employment by the public employment services (Part IV of the report form).

2. Article 7(a) of the Convention. Specialization within employment offices. Concerning measures taken to facilitate within the various employment offices specialization by occupations and by industries, the Government indicates that while employment services have never been specialized in that regard, the new Act on Employment Services No. 5/2004 does not prohibit such specialization of offices, and the individual offices are free to introduce employment services by occupations and branches. In this respect, the Committee recalls the usefulness of such specialization and asks the Government to keep it informed of any need for specialization which could be identified, and any follow-up action taken.

3. Article 8. Special arrangements for young people. Concerning specific programmes for youth, the Government indicates that adolescents are included in the group of disadvantaged job applicants and as such, the following active labour market measures are targeting their inclusion in the labour market: counselling and guidance; preparation and education for the labour market; school-leaver’s job experience scheme; and subsidy for the employer to hire a disadvantaged job applicant. The Committee takes due note of this information and asks the Government to keep providing information on such programmes, including the number of participants and the results achieved. The Government might consider useful to refer to the conclusions on promoting pathways to decent work for youth, adopted by the International Labour Conference at its 93rd Session (June 2005), in particular on the role of employment services to provide career guidance and counselling, impart up-to-date labour market information and support young people in finding, securing and retaining jobs.

4. Article 11. Cooperation with private employment agencies. With regard to effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies, the Government indicates that Decree No. 31/2004 regulates the amount that a fee-charging employment agency may charge for its services and that Act No. 5/2004 is in conformity with the provisions of the Fee-Charging Employment Agencies Convention, 1933 (No. 34). In this regard, the Committee refers to its 2004 direct request on the application of Convention No. 34 and trusts that the Government’s intention to ratify the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181), will materialize in the near future. It further invites the Government to include in its next report information on the measures taken to secure effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2006.]

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

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report in reply to its previous comments. It requests the Government to supply further information on the following points.

Article 7(a) of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government does not appear to have established specialized services by occupation. The Committee recalls that under this Article, measures shall be taken to facilitate within the various employment offices specialization by occupations and by industries, such as agriculture and any other branch of activity in which such specialization may be useful. It would appreciate being kept informed of any need for specialization which is identified, and any follow-up action taken.

Article 8. The Government states that section 20(2)(h) of Act No. 387/1996 provides for proposals and programmes to target special groups for help in accessing jobs, including youth. The Committee would appreciate receiving further information on specific programmes for youth established under section 20(2)(h), including the number of participants.

Article 11. Further to previous comments, the Government lists the various regulations governing private agencies, including licensing requirements and the maximum levels of permitted tariffs. The Committee recalls that under this Article, the competent authorities shall take the necessary measures to secure effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies. It asks the Government to supply details of specific measures taken to facilitate such cooperation.

The Committee would also appreciate receiving statistical information on 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 under Part IV of the report form.

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

The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its reports on the application of the Convention received in October 1993 and December 1994. It would be grateful if the Government's next report would contain additional information on the following points:

Article 4, paragraph 3, of the Convention. The Committee notes the information concerning the activities of the Council of Economic and Social Agreement, which is a central tripartite body with broad functions in the field of social policy covering also the employment policy matters, and of the regional advisory committees comprising representatives of employers and workers, which are established at every regional employment office. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would indicate, in its next report, whether the representatives of employers and workers on these bodies are appointed in equal numbers after consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers, as required by this Article.

Article 7(a). The Committee notes the Government's indications in the report received in October 1993 concerning software programmes which make possible the classification of applicants for employment according to their profession, education, age, sex, etc. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate, in its next report, whether any measures have been taken or envisaged with a view to facilitating within the various employment offices specialization by occupations and by industries, such as agriculture or any other branch of activity in which such specialization may be useful, as required by this Article. In this connection, the Committee would like to draw the Government's attention to Paragraph 4(a) of the Employment Service Recommendation, 1948 (No. 83), which provides certain guidelines for the application of this provision of the Convention.

Article 8. The Committee notes from the Government's report received in October 1993 the information concerning a project being implemented in cooperation with the British employment service, as well as certain arrangements for juveniles initiated in some employment offices (Bratislava, Kosice). It also notes the Government's statement to the effect that special programmes for youth have not yet been elaborated. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply, in its next report, information on the elaboration of any new special programmes for youth within the framework of the employment and vocational guidance services.

Article 11. The Committee notes the Government's indications in the report received in October 1993 concerning the exchange of information on certain questions between public offices and private employment agencies. It would be grateful if, in its next report, the Government would refer specifically to measures taken or envisaged to secure effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies not conducted with a view to profit (if such agencies exist in practice), as required by this Article.