Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2016, published 106th ILC session (2017)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Georgia (Ratification: 2002)

The Committee notes the observations of the Georgian Trade Unions Confederation (GTUC) received on 6 October 2015 and the Government’s response received on 27 November 2015.

Articles 1, 3 and 6 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. In its observations, the GTUC indicates that the Labour and Employment Policy Department (LELP) needs to be strengthened as it lacks staff and funds to fulfil its responsibility to implement the employment service policy and to develop the labour market infrastructure. The Government indicates in its report that the LELP consists of one central employment office located in Tbilisi with 32 staff members and 69 municipal offices with a total of 101 staff members. Services offered by employment offices include registering jobseekers, providing information on job vacancies, offering placement services and general consultations for groups and individuals. In July 2015, 44,781 jobseekers were registered with the employment offices and 2,067 people were placed in employment, including 24 persons with disabilities. The Committee notes the establishment of the Department of Employment Programmes in August 2013 which is responsible for the development of employment promotion services within the central employment office of the LELP, as well as the creation of the Labour Market Analysis Division by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs in December 2014. The Government indicates that, for the 2015–17 period, it approved a concept for developing a service of continuous professional consultations and career planning as part of the “Employment and professional education and training” programme, developed by the Ministry of Labour, Health and Social Affairs with other stakeholders. The Government further indicates that labour market surveys will be institutionalized within the framework of the Labour Market Formation Strategy and Action Plan 2015–18. Moreover, the National Professional Council is working on developing a “Standard of professional consultations and career planning services” and a “Concept of active policy of the labour market”. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the operation of the employment offices of the Labour and Employment Policy Department and on their activities in carrying out effective recruitment and placement, including 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.

Articles 4 and 5. Consultation with social partners. The Government indicates that in the framework of the Tripartite Committee of Social Partnership, established on 7 October 2013, working groups have conducted three meetings to review the settlement of problematic labour issues. The Committee requests the Government to provide more specific information on the involvement of the Tripartite Committee of Social Partnership in relation to the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of an employment service policy.

Articles 7(b), 8 and 10. Meeting the needs of particular categories of workers. Outreach to employers and jobseekers. The Government states that the LELP cooperates with different state, non-governmental and business representatives as part of the objective of employment of vulnerable groups of jobseekers. The Committee requests the Government to provide specific examples of the collaboration with the employers’ and workers’ organizations to encourage the full use of employment service facilities by employers and workers. It also requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken to meet the needs of particular categories of applicants for employment, including young people and persons with disabilities.

Article 9. Status of employment service staff. The Government indicates that a twinning programme exists which is directed towards the development of human resources and employment support services. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the twinning programme and to indicate the extent to which the training activities offered to the employment service staff are adequate for the performance of their duties.

Article 11. Cooperation between public and private employment agencies. The Government indicates that, while no formal cooperation framework exists between the public employment service and private employment agencies, both sides can meet and exchange information as needed. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures envisaged to increase the effective cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies.