Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Central African Republic (Ratification: 2006)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Formulation of an active employment policy. The Government indicates that significant progress has been made in the efforts to progressively find technical and financial partners with a view to implementing and executing the operational action plan of the National Employment and Vocational Training Policy (PNEFP). The Government adds that steps have been taken to mobilize the necessary resources to effectively ensure decent work that responds in practice to the needs of specific categories of workers in vulnerable situations, such as women, young people, workers with disabilities and older persons. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed and updated information on the nature and scope of the significant advances that have been made in the implementation and execution of the operational plan of action of the PNEFP. It also requests the Government to provide updated information on the concrete measures taken to meet the needs of particular categories of workers in vulnerable situations, such as women, young people, workers with disabilities and older persons. The Government is once again requested to provide a copy of the PNEFP framework document.

Article 2. Collection and use of employment data. The Government indicates that progress has been made in the progressive search for technical and financial partners with a view to making operational the Observatory of Employment and Vocational Training. Noting once again that the compilation of data not only allows the examination and evaluation of the results of employment policies, but also in parallel, to monitor progress towards full, productive and freely chosen employment, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed and up-to-date information on the nature and extent of the progress made in making operational the Observatory of Employment and Vocational Training, including the scope of the measures taken, the recipients of the information gathered by the Observatory, and any obstacles encountered. The Committee also reiterates its request to the Government to provide information on developments in the creation and functionality of the other bodies mentioned in its previous report, particularly the intersectoral committee on employment. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies.

Education and training policies. In its previous comments, the Committee requested the Government to provide a copy of the strategic guidelines 2 and 3 of the PNEFP framework document, and to provide examples of the measures taken to ensure that the promotion of vocational training is coordinated more fully with the employment prospects available to its beneficiaries. The Committee also requested the Government to provide detailed information on the results of the measures designed to promote the entry of young persons into the labour market. The Government reports on the progress made in the implementation of the National Fund for the Promotion of Employment and Vocational Training. With respect to youth employment, the Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its report on the implementation of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), which indicates that the Central African Agency for Vocational Training and Employment (ACFPE) has signed a partnership agreement with the Bêkou Trust Fund in the context of developing actions related to the promotion of decent work and training programmes for groups in vulnerable situations, such as young people. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed and updated information, including statistics disaggregated by sex and age, on the impact of the measures taken to ensure that the promotion of vocational training is more in line with employment opportunities, particularly for young people and other groups in vulnerable situations.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. The Government indicates that the social partners participated in all stages of the formulation of the PNEFP. Their participation was ensured by sending official invitations to workers’ and employers’ organizations, as well as to representatives of sectoral departments involved and interested in the implementation of employment policies and programmes. This enabled the Government to gather the participants’ observations on the situation of rural workers and especially informal economy workers, which constitute a significant segment of society. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the nature and outcome of consultations with the social partners and other stakeholders, including representatives of rural workers and workers in the informal economy, as well as other categories of workers affected by the measures taken or envisaged.