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

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

Articles 1–3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Government refers in its report to the adoption of a new Labour Code (Act No. 37 of 2015) and a National Employment Policy, which focuses on addressing unemployment and poverty. In relation to the operation of the public employment service, the Government indicates that the Employment Unit located in Baghdad is linked to the districts of Al Mu’tasim, Rasafa, Al Za’afaraneya, Al-Waleed, Al-Mahmudiya, Al-Shu’ala, Abou Ghraib, and Al Khadra. Statistical information provided by the Government regarding the number of registered jobseekers between January 2013 and July 2015 indicates that, as of 31 July 2015, 1,738 jobseekers were registered in the unemployment database (709 women and 1,089 men). Pursuant to section 21 of the new Labour Code, employers are required to notify the employment office in their region of available vacancies within 10 days of the vacancy arising. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to ensure the efficient operation of the free public employment service. The Committee also requests the Government to provide 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 female and male workers placed in employment by such offices.

Articles 4 and 5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Committee notes that the new Labour Code provides for the establishment of two tripartite bodies: the Higher Committee for Planning and Placement of the Labour Force and an Advisory Committee (sections 17 and 20). The Higher Committee for Planning and Placement is responsible for the elaboration of the general policy of placement and vocational training. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the activities of the Higher Committee for Planning and Placement concerning the organization and operation of the employment service. It requests the Government to provide information on the arrangements made through the Advisory Committee for the cooperation of employer and worker representatives in the organization and operation of the employment services and in the development of employment service policy.

Article 8. Special arrangements for young persons. The Government indicates that the new Labour Code includes a chapter on vocational training. The Committee notes that section 25 calls for youth to receive vocational training prior to entering employment, in order to enable them to acquire technical expertise. The Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding the measures taken or contemplated to meet the needs of young persons within the framework of the employment and vocational guidance services. In addition, the Committee requests the Government to provide information regarding measures taken to promote the employment of women, especially young women, whose participation in the labour force remains low compared to their male counterparts.

Article 11. Cooperation between the public employment service and private employment agencies. The Committee notes that section 23 of the new Labour Code contemplates the issuance of licences by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs for the establishment of private employment offices, provided that they do not charge any commission or fee to the worker in return for placement. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any developments regarding the regulation of private employment agencies and on the manner in which effective cooperation is ensured between the public employment service and the private employment agencies.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Articles 1–3 of the Convention. Contribution of employment services to employment promotion. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in September 2010 in reply to its 2009 direct request. The Government enumerates in its report the projects implemented with the International Organization for Migration, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Department for International Development of the United Kingdom and the Korean International Cooperation Agency in different governorates (“muhafozat”) of the country to provide training and assist unemployed persons. It further states that the Labour Department registers unemployed persons through the employment centres in Baghdad and other governorates, totalling 24 centres and offices in December 2009. The number of unemployed persons registered from January 2008 to 30 June 2010 totalled almost half a million persons, with men accounting for 75–80 per cent of the total amount. The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report up-to-date information on the ability of the public employment service to ensure the best possible organization of the employment market as an integral part of the national programme for the achievement and maintenance of full employment and the development and use of productive resources. It also invites the Government to provide information on the manner in which the international assistance received has contributed to the strengthening of the free public employment service. As requested by Part IV of the report form, the Committee hopes that the 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 female and male workers placed in employment by such offices.

Articles 4 and 5. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers agreed to establish a committee constituted of representatives of employers and workers. It also refers to section 16 of the Labour Code, Act No. 71 of 1987, which provides that an advisory committee shall assist the employment service. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the arrangements made 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 any advisory committee and the procedure adopted for the appointment of employers’ and workers’ representatives, as well as information on how it is ensured that the representatives of employers and workers on these committees are appointed in equal numbers after consultation with representative organizations of employers and workers.

Article 8. Special arrangements for young persons. The Government indicates that the Employment and Training Department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs provides jobs for young persons as well as credits to start-up small enterprises through employment centres. The Committee requests the Government to provide further information on the impact of the measures taken to combat the unemployment of young persons and to assist them in finding suitable employment.

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

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.