Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 1966)

The Committee notes with interest the detailed information contained in the Government’s report  for 1 June 2000-31 May 2002, the Employment Action Plan 2000 and other documentation forwarded, as well as the detailed reply to the 2001 direct request, in particular, concerning projects for the homeless and former drug users.

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. The Government states that the employment rate was 74.7 per cent in March-May 2002, up from 74.6 per cent in 2000. Employment has continued to shift from the production sector to the services sector. Unemployment decreased from 5.7 per cent in March-May 2000 to 5.2 per cent in 2002. The unemployment rate was 5.7 per cent for men and 4.6 per cent for women. Long-term unemployment as a percentage of total unemployment has continued to decline. And youth unemployment is at its lowest level since the mid-1970s, with almost no long-term youth unemployment.

2. The Committee notes that many of the pilot programmes described in detail in the last report have now been launched nationally, based on lessons learned in the pilot phase. It also notes with interest the extension of some programmes, such as the New Deal for Partners in isolated communities, New Deal for 50 Plus, etc. The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the impact of these various programmes on employment promotion for the target groups. The Committee also would appreciate continuing to receive information on macro-level policies (fiscal, monetary, trade, etc.) that directly affect job growth.

3. Furthermore, the Committee notes the comments on some positive aspects of government skills and union training policy made by the TUC on the application of the Convention received in the Office in November 2002 and forwarded to the Government in December 2002.