Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2019, publiée 109ème session CIT (2021)

Convention (n° 142) sur la mise en valeur des ressources humaines, 1975 - Pays-Bas (Ratification: 1979)

The Committee notes the joint observations of the Netherlands Trade Union Confederation (FNV), the National Federation of Christian Trade Unions (CNV) and the Trade Union Federation for Professionals (VCP), received on 28 August 2018. The Committee invites the Government to provide its comments in this respect.

Articles 1–5 of the Convention. Formation and implementation of education and training policies and cooperation with the social partners. In response to the Committee’s previous comment requesting information on activities undertaken in relation to the development of comprehensive and coordinated policies and programmes of vocational guidance and training, the Government refers to an amendment to the 2015 Education and Vocational Training Act. The amended Act focuses on increasing the macro-efficiency of upper secondary vocational training institutes and establishes a 70 per cent employment target for graduates within the first year after graduation. Additionally, according to a 2016 report by the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP), the macro-effectivity policy for upper-secondary vocational education and training (VET) seeks to eliminate overlaps in the regional provision of VET and avoid competition between providers. The objective of the policy is to arrive at an optimal offer of qualifications at national and regional levels to meet labour market needs effectively and efficiently. The report notes that, in 2016, a review of the qualifications framework resulted in a 25 per cent reduction in the number of qualifications, on the basis that this reduction would make it easier for students to select a programme while increasing the efficiency of VET institutes. The Government further reports that, in 2016, the Ministry of Education launched a programme to improve: the quality of vocational guidance; the coordination of transitions from school to work; and the dissemination of VET information. In their observations, the workers’ organizations maintain that the Government is moving away from lifelong learning programmes, leaving workers’ organizations with the burden of providing such training for workers. They also refer to the 2017 OECD Skills Strategy Diagnostic Report, challenge 9, which states that all stakeholders in the Netherlands should broaden their skills policy dialogue in order to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society, engaging with groups that are underperforming in the development, activation and use of skills. Additionally, the workers’ organizations observe that the amended Act on Adult and Vocational Education has resulted in local governments outsourcing training from the private sector, as they are no longer required to use regional VET training centres. The workers’ organizations maintain that, therefore, national public quality assurance for training in basic skills no longer exists. They add that, in 2014, a new subsidy scheme replaced the Wage Tax Relief Act, allowing employers to pay lower taxes for employees engaged in vocational training. In response to the Committee’s previous comment concerning the 2012 Agreement on Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL), the Government reports that, in collaboration with the Labour Foundation, a new agreement was developed for the 2016–21 period. The APL consists of a labour market route and an education route. The labour market route caters to individuals who want to validate their knowledge and skills to help them find different employment opportunities. The education route is for individuals to validate their knowledge and skills in order to obtain a diploma in formal education by way of a shortened pathway. The Government reports that the social partners are working together to optimize the links between the labour market and educational routes. The Committee further notes the joint observations made by the FNV, CNV and VCP indicating that, in 2016, the Government no longer supported the labour market route which leads to training that does not support the needs of working people. The Committee also notes the workers’ representatives mention of challenge 6 of the OECD Skills Strategy Diagnostic Report indicating that the Government should consider introducing stronger and more targeted public investment to boost participation in the APL. The Committee requests the Government to provide a copy of the 2015 Education and Vocational Training Act, as well as information on progress made in achieving the 70 per cent target envisaged in the Act. The Committee further requests the Government to provide detailed information, including statistical information disaggregated by sex and age, on the impact of the labour and education routes of the APL, particularly with regard to the benefits of the training offered, such as licensing and enhanced qualifications for those in the education route and enhanced job prospects and job retention for participants in the labour route. The Committee also invites the Government to provide updated information on measures implemented to promote access to vocational education, guidance and lifelong learning on lasting employment for specific groups, particularly women, young persons and the long-term unemployed (Article 4 of the Convention). Additionally, the Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the manner in which the cooperation of employers’ and workers’ organizations is ensured in the formulation and implementation of vocational training policies and programmes.