Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

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

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Employment services. The Government indicates in its report that Jobcentre Plus managers have flexibility to offer various measures to help claimants get back to work in their area, based on claimant and local labour market characteristics. The Committee notes in this regard the available measures such as the work experience programme which helps young people gain the experience they need to get a job and the New Enterprise Allowance to help unemployed people who want to start their own business. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the contribution of the employment services in the implementation of active labour market measures.

Education and training. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that there are currently 19 National Skills Academies in various stages of development and refers to the dedicated websites and information relating to every training area. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the results achieved by the various National Skills Academies in matching skills and labour market needs.

Youth employment. The Government reports on the various employment and training measures specifically targeting young people. The Committee notes in this regard that the Youth Contract was launched in April 2012 and builds on much of the support already available to young unemployed people, particularly through the Government Apprenticeships offer and the Back to Work support provided by Jobcentre Plus and the Work Programme. Taken as a whole, it will ensure that every unemployed young person who needs support will get it. Moreover, other measures include wage incentives which supported employers during the recession and were always intended to be a time-limited measure. The Committee notes that this measure provided nearly 100,000 job opportunities for young people. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the measures taken to address youth unemployment.

Older workers. In reply to previous comments, the Government indicates that figures published on 1 October 2014 show that nearly a 250,000 more people aged 65 and over had opted to stay in work following the abolition of the default retirement age on 1 October 2011. The Committee notes that in October 2014 there were 643,000 men over 65 in work compared to 526,000 in 2011, and 460,000 women in work, compared to 348,000 in October 2011. The Government further indicates that many older workers are driving an entrepreneurial boom helping to boost the British economy, with over 400,000 people aged 65 and over in self-employment according to Office for National Statistics data (April to June 2014). The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the measures taken in terms of promoting an increased participation of older workers in the labour market.