Demande directe (CEACR) - adoptée 2017, publiée 107ème session CIT (2018)

Convention (n° 122) sur la politique de l'emploi, 1964 - Honduras (Ratification: 1980)

The Committee notes the observations of the General Confederation of Workers (CGT), the Single Confederation of Workers of Honduras (CUTH) and the Honduran National Business Council (COHEP), contained in the Government’s report, and the Government’s replies. The Committee also notes the observations made by COHEP on 31 August 2016, supported by the International Organisation of Employers (IOE), and the Government’s reply, received on 23 November 2016.

Articles 1 and 3 of the Convention. Implementation of a national employment policy. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes the adoption in 2016 of the Employment and Opportunities Programme with the objective of creating 150,000 new jobs. For its implementation, the Employment Office was established with the responsibility of, inter alia, promoting the creation of decent and competitive work, facilitating labour integration in the country and encouraging the participation of employers’ and workers’ organizations in these measures. The Committee also notes the main programmes and projects undertaken by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, such as the “Honduras 20/20” programme, which provides for the adoption of measures in the short-, medium- and long-term to ensure the creation of 600,000 jobs in five years, the attraction of investment and the growth of exports in the main sectors of the economy: tourism, textiles, manufacturing, social housing and business support services. The Committee also notes that, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), in June 2015 the working-age population amounted to 6,748,693 persons, while the economically active population was estimated to be 3,935,335 persons. The Committee notes that, although the economically active population grew by 14.3 per cent between 2014 and 2015, open unemployment also increased from 5.3 per cent to 7.3 per cent. Furthermore, while the rate of visible underemployment was 14.1 per cent in 2015, the rate of invisible underemployment amounted to 41.1 per cent of the employed economically active population. In this regard, the COHEP emphasizes that the main issue in the country’s labour market is underemployment (visible and invisible), which is associated with low incomes and low productivity jobs. According to data from the INE Household Survey, between 2014 and 2015, total poverty also increased from 62.8 per cent to 63.8 per cent and extreme poverty from 39.7 per cent to 40 per cent. Lastly, in reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government indicates that, the increase in family remittances contributed less to job creation, as only 3.2 per cent are invested, while 96.8 per cent are used for consumer or current spending. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the progress made by the Employment and Opportunities Programme and other programmes adopted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security with a view to achieving the objectives of the Convention, and to continue providing statistical information on labour market trends, particularly on developments in the employment market, including the employment, unemployment and underemployment rates, disaggregated by sex and age. The Committee also requests the Government to provide information on the consultations held with the social partners in order to secure the necessary support for the implementation and coordination of the employment policy.

Micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Regarding the impact of the Grand National Agreement (GAN) 2010–14 on support initiatives for MSMEs, the Government reiterates the information provided in its previous report on the action taken in this respect. The Government reports that, as of December 2012, 30,102 jobs had been created in the private sector and 31,040 in the public sector, thus achieving 60 per cent and 103 per cent, respectively, of the targets set out in the GAN. The Committee also notes the preparation of the Bill on social and labour inclusion for self-employed and own account workers, which received tripartite approval from the Economic and Social Council (CES) on 28 April 2016 and was subsequently submitted to the National Congress for approval. The Government indicates that the objective of this initiative is to grant self-employed workers the legal status of worker and to guarantee their fundamental labour rights, including access to social security. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing detailed information on the support initiatives adopted or envisaged for MSMEs and their application in practice. The Committee also requests the Government to indicate the progress made in the adoption of the Act on social and labour inclusion of self-employed and own account workers, and to provide a copy once it has been adopted.

Article 2. Policy coordination. Education and vocational training. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government has provided detailed information on the various measures which have been adopted with a view to coordinating education and vocational training with the world of work, such as the overhaul of the education system, the reform of middle school education, the conclusion of partnership agreements between the National Institute of Vocational Training (INFOP) and employers and the implementation of several training programmes. Furthermore, the COHEP indicates that in 2015 the INFOP trained 190,000 participants in several areas including agribusiness, construction and maquila. However, the Committee notes the observations of the COHEP and the CGT in which they emphasize that such measures are implemented in isolation and that there is no clearly defined policy in the country coordinating education and vocational training with employment. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results of the measures adopted to ensure coordination between education, vocational training and employment policies. Furthermore, in the light of the concerns of the CGT and the COHEP, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures adopted with a view to designing and implementing a clearly defined policy which coordinates the various measures adopted or envisaged to match education and vocational training with employment.

Labour market trends. Women. The Committee notes that, according to INE statistics, in June 2016, 53.4 per cent of the working-age population were women and 46.6 per cent were men. However, the labour market participation of women (43 per cent) was lower than that of men (74 per cent). The Committee also observes that in June 2014 the unemployment rate was much higher for women (6.7 per cent) than for men (4.5 per cent), as was the poverty rate (1.2 per cent for women and 0.4 per cent for men). In this respect, the Committee notes that, in its concluding observations on Honduras of 25 November 2016, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) reiterated its concern at the disproportionately high unemployment rate among women, their concentration in low-paid jobs in the informal economy and persistent horizontal and vertical occupational segregation. CEDAW also noted with concern, inter alia, the lack of targeted measures to facilitate the entry of women into the formal labour market (CEDAW/C/HND/CO/7-8, paragraph 34(a)). The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures envisaged or adopted with a view to promoting the increased participation of women in the formal labour market, promoting their access to decent and lasting employment and avoiding discrimination in employment, and to include relevant statistical data.

Youth employment. The Government reports the adoption in 2014 of the Presidential Employment and Opportunities Programme for young people not in education or employment, heads of household, persons with disabilities and unemployed persons living in poverty. The Government adds that all employment programmes have to be coordinated with this programme and to this end control mechanisms will be established for the Honduran National Employment Service (SENAEH), the Hourly Employment Programme and the Labour Market Observatory of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. The Government reports that the programme’s annual target is to create 25,000 jobs and that in 2014 and 2015 it exceeded this target, creating 33,524 and 23,451 jobs, respectively. The Committee also notes the adoption in 2015 of the “Community Work” programme, principally aimed at unemployed young people in rural areas, which created 23,280 temporary jobs, exceeding its fixed target of 15,000 jobs and in 2016, of the “Youth Work” programme, aimed at unemployed young high school and university graduates. However, the Committee notes that the CGT and the CUTH consider that the jobs created within the framework of these programmes are precarious. The Committee notes that, according to the 2015 Permanent Household Survey conducted by the INE, in 2015, 48.1 per cent of young people were in work, 27.3 per cent only studied, and 24.6 per cent were not in employment or education. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures adopted to reinforce programmes to facilitate the labour market integration of young persons and the impact of these programmes. The Committee also requests the Government to continue providing statistical information on trends in youth employment, disaggregated by gender and age.

National Hourly Employment Programme (PRONEH) and job creation. In reply to the Committee’s previous comments, the Government reports that within the framework of the first three-year stage of the PRONEH, 55,339 hourly jobs were created, which were mainly for full days, amounting to 51.4 per cent of contracts in 2011 and 73 per cent in 2013. The Committee also notes the entry into force of the Hourly Employment Act in 2013, which has the objective of encouraging dignified and decent work, the vocational training and education of workers and the reduction of unemployment and underemployment rates. The Act also establishes mechanisms to promote the employment of beneficiaries by enterprises on permanent contracts and measures to promote decent employment for vulnerable social groups and young persons. The Government indicates that, in 2015, 35,552 contracts were registered by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security within the framework of the Hourly Employment Act. However, the CGT and the CUTH indicate that the Act has not reduced unemployment and has increased the number of jobs in the informal economy. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the impact of the National Hourly Employment Programme and on the manner in which the beneficiaries have gained productive and lasting employment, as well as details on the age and gender of the beneficiaries, the training provided or other aspects which would allow a quantitative and qualitative analysis of the employment created.

Impact of trade agreements. Employment and economic development zones (ZEDE). The Committee recalls that, in its previous comments, it requested the Government to provide information on the impact of trade agreements and ZEDEs on the generation of productive employment. In this respect, the Government reports that the trade agreements concluded by Honduras include labour chapters, the object of which is to assist the country to establish job creation mechanisms. The Committee notes that COHEP indicates in its observations that, in accordance with the data, 145,000 jobs were created in the maquiladora industry in 2015 as a result of free trade agreements. The Committee also notes the Government’s indication that the ZEDEs are not yet operational. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information on the impact of trade agreements on the creation of productive employment. The Committee also requests the Government to report on the operational initiation of the ZEDEs and on their impact on the creation of productive employment, including statistical data disaggregated by gender and age.