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

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Iraq (Ratification: 1951)

Contribution of employment services to employment promotion. The Committee notes the information provided in the Government’s report received in September 2008. The Committee notes that the Employment and Training Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs consists of employment offices in Baghdad, as well as the other governorates. Its main functions include registering the names of unemployed persons and jobseekers, developing a detailed database, and assisting jobseekers in finding employment in light of the opportunities available. The Government also refers to the ongoing cooperation programme with the ILO that is, inter alia, aimed at developing a labour market as part of an overall employment policy and assisting in the amendment of the Labour Code. The Committee invites the Government to provide information in its next report on the manner in which the ILO’s assistance has contributed to the strengthening of the free public employment service. The Committee hopes that the Government’s next report will also include 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 of the Convention).

Articles 4 and 5. Participation of the social partners. The Committee notes that the National High Commission on Employment, which is headquartered in Baghdad and has 23 subsidiary advisory bodies in the different governorates, is charged with the development of the national general employment policy. It consists of government representatives from 16 ministries and representatives of the employers’ and workers’ federations. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the particulars of the arrangements made through the National High Commission on Employment for the cooperation of employer and worker representatives in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy. Please provide information on the constitution of the National High Commission on Employment, the procedure adopted for the appointment of employers’ and workers’ representatives, and how it is ensured that the representatives of employers and workers on these committees shall be appointed in equal numbers after consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers.

Article 8. Special arrangements for youths. The Committee notes the Government’s statement that no special arrangements for youths are initiated. Therefore, the Committee requests the Government to provide information on measures envisaged to cater for youths within the framework of the Employment and Training Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs or other employment and guidance services.