Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Bosnia and Herzegovina (Ratification: 1993)

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

Implementation of vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes. The Committee recalls that each of the entities constituting Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) is autonomous with regard to employment and labour issues. It notes the detailed information provided concerning the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH), the Republic of Srpska (RS) and the Brčko District (BD). The Committee notes that the FBiH is implementing a Strategic Platform for the development of adult education in the context of lifelong learning for the period 2014–2020. The Project forms part of an EU-funded “Human Resources Development Project”, which includes short- and long-term measures to be implemented by the competent education authorities. The Committee notes that there are no public institutions for adult education in the FBiH, whereas adult education in the RS is provided by the RS Institute of Adult Education and the secondary schools. With respect to the recognition of formal and informal learning and vocational training and education for adults, the Government is implementing a project on the “Development of a qualifications framework for lifelong learning”. The Government indicates that it develops, implements and coordinates policies related to adult education in line with the “Human Resources Development Project” and that the Federal Education and Science Ministry of the FBiH coordinates policies and programmes related to vocational education and training with the Federal Employment Institute and other relevant partners, such as the Association of Employers of the FBiH, the Chamber of Trades of the FBiH and workers’ organizations. The Committee notes that active employment policy measures, such as co-financing of employment mediation and vocational training, are provided by the Federal Employment Institute and the cantonal employment services, and target students, unemployed persons and employers. In 2017, 800 users benefited from activities organized by 19 job clubs in the FBiH, which provided information sessions, workshops and support groups. The Committee notes that, in 2017, the Federal Employment Institute implemented the “First working experience 2017” and “First working experience 2017 Plus” programmes, which seek to enhance the employability of young people with no professional experience. As a result of both programmes, 1,311 persons found employment, of whom approximately 52 per cent were women. The Committee further notes that 336 unemployed persons benefited from the “Training to employment 2017” programme, which provided skills training for professions in the textile and wood industries. The Committee notes the detailed report provided by the Government on the diverse projects carried out by the Federal Employment Institute in collaboration with other institutions in 2017, such as the “Training and employment of welders” which resulted in the employment of 50 persons. Moreover, schemes to strengthen youth employability in 2017 were implemented through different projects, including through the “Business Challenge” project. The Committee notes that the Development Strategy of the RS 2016–2021 encourages adults to pursue lifelong learning and provides opportunities for upskilling, reskilling and continuous vocational training throughout their working lives. In 2017, six centres for information, vocational guidance and training (CISOs) provided services for unemployed persons, with a focus on young persons and the long-term unemployed, including vocational guidance and the development of soft skills needed to enter the labour market. In 2017, 11,089 persons participated in CISO activities (5,216 men and 5,873 women). An additional 747 persons were involved in these activities through job clubs. Moreover, 747 persons received job search training, out of which 56 per cent were women. In addition, job clubs carried out training programmes for unemployed persons wanting to start a business. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated detailed information on the content and impact of the policies and programmes related to vocational education and training developed and implemented by the Federal Employment Institute in cooperation with other relevant stakeholders. It also requests the Government to provide up-to-date information on the measures implemented within the Strategic Platform on the development of adult education in the context of lifelong learning in the BiH for 2014–2020. It further requests information on the content and impact of the Education Development Strategy of the RS for the period of 2016–2021 and on the content and impact of the policies and programmes related to vocational education and training implemented in the BD.

Article 3(1). Vocational education and training for persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that, in 2016, the FBiH adopted a Strategy for strengthening the rights and situation of persons with disabilities in the Federation of BiH (2016–2021). The Strategy includes measures related to education, professional rehabilitation and employment. With respect to training, companies, institutions and persons with disabilities themselves carry out vocational rehabilitation programmes with support from the “Fund for professional rehabilitation and employment of persons with disabilities of the Federation of BiH”. Such programmes include job training, vocational information and counselling, upskilling and pre-qualification, as well as financing and co-financing of school fees. The Government indicates that, in 2017, the Fund provided support for the training of 125 persons with disabilities. In addition, in 2018, the Federal Education and Science Ministry implemented a programme on “Support for training programmes, professional training and development of adult persons with a focus on women for the purpose of easier integration in the labour market”. The Committee notes that professional rehabilitation and training in the RS is carried out either by the educational system or by vocational rehabilitation institutions that cater for persons with severe disabilities. The Government provides no information regarding measures taken or envisaged to facilitate access to and participation in vocational education and training – including lifelong learning – for persons with disabilities in the BD. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide up-to-date, detailed information, including statistical information disaggregated by sex and age, on the nature and impact of measures implemented in the three entities to promote access to vocational guidance, education, training and lifelong learning for persons with disabilities.

Article 3(2)(3). Information made available for vocational guidance purposes. The Committee notes that, according to the report published by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) in 2019, approximately three quarters of upper secondary students are enrolled in vocational education and training programmes. The Federal Employment Institute of the Federation of BiH and the cantonal employment services provide information concerning educational opportunities, professional education and the labour market through online sites and visits to schools and universities. In 2017, 5,072 students participated in these information sessions. Moreover, in 2017, three CISOs provided vocational guidance to 8,051 unemployed persons, as well as further vocational guidance on working in primary and secondary schools, higher education institutions and non-governmental organizations. The Committee notes that the RS Employment Institute regularly disseminates brochures on the subject of vocational guidance that target students. It also notes that, in 2018, the Employment Institute, in coordination with the BD Education Department, implemented a labour market and educational system coordination-career guidance and counselling programme in primary and secondary schools, including schools located in rural areas. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on activities undertaken by the Federal Employment Institute of the Federation of BiH, including through the CISOs, and to provide up-to-date information on the activities of the Employment Institute in the RS and the BD, particularly their nature, extent and impact, as well as on the impact of any measures taken in this context.

Article 4. Vocational training and lifelong learning. The Committee notes with interest that, in 2014, the Government of the FBiH adopted the Act on Principles of Adult Education in the Federation of BiH, which has been used as guidance by several cantons in developing their own legislation on adult education. The Committee notes that, in 2017, 1,525 persons benefited from adult education in the RS, with 61 per cent having benefited from pre-qualification programmes. Moreover, 35 public valid training programmes and three development programmes were created during the last reporting period. In addition, 63 adult education institutions received operating licences. The Committee further notes that measures aimed at increasing the competitive advantage of unemployed persons in the BD include provision of courses in informatics, English, German, accounting or entrepreneurship. Subjects are chosen based on a poll of unemployed persons. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the nature and impact of activities and measures developed and implemented pursuant to the Act on the Principles of Adult Education in the Federation of BiH. It further requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged in the RS and the BD in the context of lifelong learning and the impact of any such measures.

Article 5. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes that the tripartite councils have not yet been established at all levels of the Government and are functioning in only five cantons of the FBiH. The RS has developed a legal basis for creating tripartite advisory councils with the objective of fostering relationships between secondary vocational education institutions and the labour market, whereas the BD established a tripartite council in 2009. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on progress made in the establishment of the tripartite council at all levels of Government and on the measures implemented with the aim of facilitating the participation of the social partners in the development and implementation of vocational guidance, vocational education and training policies and programmes in the three entities of the country. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted with the participation of the Board of the Employment Institute and their impact on employment. The Government is also requested to provide information on the activities of the tripartite council in the BD.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in August 2013 which includes observations made by the Confederation of Trade Unions of Republika Srpska (SSRS). The report enumerates the legislative texts applicable to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBH) and the Republika Srpska (RS). The Committee recalls that each of the entities constituting Bosnia and Herzegovina is autonomous with regard to labour and employment issues. The vision of vocational education is defined by the Framework Law on Secondary Vocational Education and Training in FBH (2008) and the Strategy for the development of Vocational Education and Training in FBH (2007–13) together with laws of the RS, cantons and the Brcko District. A document that outlines the Strategic Directions for the Development of Education in FBH and its Implementation Plan 2008–15 is also used in the coordination of policies relating to vocational training. The Committee notes that in December 2011 the FBH adopted an action plan to implement the measures and recommendations contained in an analysis of the situation of secondary education carried out in 2010. The Committee also notes that in May 2013 the FBH carried out an analysis of the possibilities that young people have of gaining work experience in the country. The Committee further notes that the Federal Ministry of Education and Science is expected to complete in the second half of 2013 an “Analysis of the enrolment policy in secondary education in the FBH in terms of the market needs” and that it has recently launched an initiative to develop a Strategy of Career Orientation in the FBH. The Committee notes the data submitted by the Government of the RS and observes that during the first four months of 2013 a total of 4,737 students enrolled in vocational guidance programmes within the Youth Information Counselling and Training Centres of the Employment Institute of the RS. The Committee invites the Government to provide, in its next report, information on the results achieved through the Strategy for the development of Vocational Education and Training in FBH and on the results of other measures taken to develop comprehensive and coordinated policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training closely linked with employment and public employment services (Article 1(1) to (2) of the Convention). Please continue to provide up-to-date information on participation in vocational guidance and vocational training programmes in the RS.

Article 3(1). Coverage by the vocational training system of vulnerable groups. The Committee notes that the FBH adopted a Strategy for the equalization of opportunities for persons with disabilities for the period 2011–15 which includes measures and activities related to education and employment. The Committee takes note that in 2012 the Federal Employment Institute participated in the funding of the project “Persons with disabilities in the labour market”, which enabled faster and long-term employment of a number of people with disabilities and increased their competitiveness in the open market. The Committee also notes that in the RS significant attention is paid to vocational rehabilitation and training of persons with disabilities. In the RS the employer provides vocational rehabilitation and training of persons with disabilities and the Employment Institute of the RS provides it for the unemployed persons. The Committee refers to its 2012 direct request on Convention No. 159 and invites the Government to continue to provide in its next report on Convention No. 142 information on the policies and programmes intended to promote access to education, training and lifelong learning for people with special needs (Paragraph 5(h) of the Human Resources Development Recommendation, 2004 (No. 195.).

Article 3(2)(3). Information made available for vocational guidance purposes. Information on educational opportunities, professional orientation and employment prospects are available through the Federal Employment Institute’s website, the media and publications. In 2012, the Federal Employment Institute in cooperation with cantonal employment services carried out activities of vocational information in 229 schools and 132 high schools. In the same year, municipal employment offices in the FBH held 1,181 seminars and 194 information workshops on active job search to unemployed people. The Committee notes, however, that according to relevant educational authorities, vocational guidance in Bosnia and Herzegovina has not yet taken the place that it deserves in order to include information awareness, counselling and education programmes. The Committee also takes note that publications of the Employment Institute of the RS are available in its website. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide in its next report information on activities undertaken by the Federal Employment Institute of FBH and the Employment Institute of the RS. Please also include specimens of the documentation made available in each of the entities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and provide further information on the existing procedures ensuring that educational, occupational, employment market is kept up to date for effective vocational guidance purposes.

Article 4. Vocational training and lifelong learning. The Committee takes note that the Federal Ministry of Education and Science is expected to complete in the second half of 2013 a “Model Law on Adult Education” which will then be offered to the cantonal ministries in charge of education who have not yet developed their own laws in adult education and vocational training for adults. The Committee notes that the RS adopted a Law on Adult Education in 2009 and established the Institute for Adult Education. Adult education programmes, which began to be implemented in the RS in 2011, admitted a total of 2007 participants of which 442 completed programmes by 2012. In its observations, the SSRS highlights the efforts of the RS Government and points out that besides good legislation, it is necessary that employers undertake training activities of workers for their employment needs, which they currently do not do. According to the SSRS, lifelong learning must become a liability both for workers and employers. The Committee invites the Government to provide, in its next report, further information on the Model Law on Adult Education of the FBH. Please also continue to provide information on the implementation of adult education programmes in the RS.

Article 5. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes that the Framework Law on Secondary Vocational Education and Training in FBH (2008) stipulates that to secure the connection between vocational education and training and the labour market, tripartite advisory councils are to be established at the entity, cantonal and district level. These councils have an advisory role and are composed of the representatives of employers, trade unions and relevant education authorities. The Committee notes that given that in some cantons the establishment councils is still in progress, the tripartite council at the national level has not yet been established. In the FBH, the Federal Ministry of Education and Science includes the representatives of the social partners in all its activities related to secondary education, adult education, vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes that in the RS the representatives of the majority of trade unions and employers’ associations are members of the Board of Employment Institute and have the opportunity to directly influence the design, implementation and monitoring of all policies and programmes of public employment service. The Committee also notes that a tripartite advisory committee has been established in the RS. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report information on the establishment of the tripartite councils at the cantonal and national level so as to ensure that vocational guidance and vocational education and training policies and programmes are formulated and implemented in cooperation with the social partners.

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

1. Implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee takes note of the information contained in the Government’s reports received in December 2006 and in June 2008. The reports enumerate the legislative texts applicable to the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBH) and the Republika Srpska (RS). The Committee notes once again that each of the entities constituting Bosnia and Herzegovina is autonomous with regard to labour and employment issues. The Committee notes the measures implemented at state and entity level through public employment services with a view to promoting human resources development and employment, including programmes of professional orientation, expert development, vocational training and job search assistance. It further notes the general guidelines underlying the reform of the vocational education and training system as defined in the Strategy for Development of Vocational Education and Training in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2007–13, which is mentioned in the Government’s report. The Committee also recalls the recommendations formulated in the Country Review of Employment Policy on Bosnia and Herzegovina prepared by the ILO and the Council of Europe in June 2008, which had also been noted in its 2008 observation on the Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122). The Committee invites the Government to provide in its next report on Convention No. 142 information on the effective implementation of the reform of the vocational education and training system so as to ensure that: (i) vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes take due account of employment needs, opportunities and problems, both regional and national, thereby improving the integration between work and learning; and (ii) there is coordination between vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes and the strategies for poverty reduction and promotion of social inclusion  (Article 1(1) to (2) of the Convention).

2. Article 3, paragraph 1. Coverage by the vocational training system of vulnerable groups. The Government indicates in its 2008 report that an effort has been made to offer employment and vocational rehabilitation programmes to workers with disabilities. It also refers to a project for training and requalification of unemployed persons with disabilities funded by the Government of the Federation and implemented by cantonal employment services. In this regard, the Committee recalls that issues relating to the promotion of equality of opportunity and treatment with reference to the Roma population as well as to integration of workers with disabilities in the open labour market are being examined in its comments on the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), and the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159).

3. Article 3, paragraphs 2 and 3. Information made available for vocational guidance purposes. In its 2008 report, the Government refers to the information and guidance on educational opportunities, professional orientation and employment prospects which is made available to students and unemployed persons through publications and brochures issued by the Federal Employment Bureau of the FBH. The Committee asks the Government to supply specimens of the documentation made available as well as to provide further information on the existing procedures ensuring that educational, occupational, employment market and other information referred to in the abovementioned provisions is kept suitably up to date for effective vocational guidance purposes.

4. Article 4. Vocational training and lifelong learning. The Committee notes that in the Government’s 2008 report reference is made to the Framework Law on Adult Education as being under preparation. Taking into account that adult vocational training and lifelong learning opportunities only extend to a small share of the working age population (3.3 per cent of the youth and 1.9 per cent of adults), the Committee asks the Government to report on the measures taken to implement adult education and training and lifelong learning reforms so as to introduce employment-oriented approaches targeting in particular low skilled workers and long-term unemployed.

5. Article 5. Participation of social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes of vocational guidance and vocational training. The Committee notes that the social partners have requested the creation of tripartite advisory boards in all the employment services of BiH and their greater involvement in the formulation and implementation of vocational education and training policies and programmes. The Committee asks the Government to report on the measures taken or envisaged in order to ensure that vocational guidance and vocational education and training policies and programmes are formulated and implemented in cooperation with the social partners.