Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Mali (Ratification: 2016)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention.Formulation and implementation of an active employment policy within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy. Poverty reduction. While recognizing that Mali is going through a period of instability, the Committee, in the absence of information from the Government in this regard, once again requests the Government to provide information on the impact, in terms of promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment, of measures adopted in the context of the “National employment policy for 2015” (PNE 2015), the “Decent Work Country Programme 2016–18” (PPTD 2016–18), the “Growth and poverty reduction strategy framework” (CSCRP 2012–17) and the “Strategic framework for economic recovery and sustainable development in Mali” (CREDD 2016–18). Noting the recent adoption of a “Social stability and growth pact and plan of action (2023–27)”, a copy of which is attached to the Government’s report, and a new “Strategic framework for economic recovery and sustainable development” (CREDD 2019–23), the Committee also once again requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the adoption and implementation of any new employment policy. It also once again requests the Government to describe the mechanisms in place or under consideration to ensure that employment policy measures are regularly evaluated and reviewed, as part of a coordinated overall economic and social policy.

Article 2. Employment trends. Collection and use of employment data. The Committee notes the Government’s indications, in reply to its previous comment, regarding the steps taken to improve the labour market information system and the manner in which data are used to implement and review employment policy measures. The Committee also notes the Government’s indications that, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment is on the rise, particularly in the tertiary and secondary sectors. The Committee therefore requests the Government to include in its next report more detailed, up-to-date information, including statistical data disaggregated by age and sex, on employment trends and the scale of unemployment and underemployment.

Regional development. In its previous comment, the Committee noted the formulation of the “Accelerated development programme for the northern regions” (PDA/RN), whose overall objective is to consolidate peace and security through the socio-economic development of the regions affected by the crisis. The Committee also noted the adoption of the “Specific Strategy for the Development of the Northern Regions of Mali”. The Government indicates that the insecurity in the north of the country is continuing but has not provided any information on the implementation of the above-mentioned programmes or on the adoption of new measures to promote employment in the crisis regions. In this regard, the Committee points out that the Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205), contains guidance on measures to be taken to generate employment and decent work for the purposes of recovery, peace and resilience with respect to crisis situations. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to indicate the measures taken in relation to employment and decent work to promote the recovery and resilience of the regions, especially in the north of the country, affected by crisis situations.

Transition from the informal to the formal economy. In its previous comment, the Committee noted that the informal sector occupied a key position in the economy of Mali, with a rate of 93.3 per cent in 2018. According to ILOSTAT statistics, the proportion of informal employment was even higher in 2020, standing at 94 per cent (95.4 per cent for women and 93 per cent for men). The Committee notes the Government’s brief indications that the following measures have been taken to facilitate the transition from the informal to the formal economy: (i) formulation of a national entrepreneurship strategy; (ii) implementation of a training project for persons working in the retail trade (PROFAC); and (iii) a project to provide support for retailers (PACD). In this regard, the Committee draws the Government’s attention to the fact that the Transition from the Informal to the Formal Economy Recommendation, 2015 (No. 204), provides comprehensive guidance on the elements to be taken into consideration in developing and implementing policy responses for the informal economy, including: the promotion of strategies for sustainable development, poverty eradication and inclusive growth; the generation of decent jobs in the formal economy; the promotion of a conducive business and investment environment; and the promotion of entrepreneurship, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and other forms of business models and economic units, such as cooperatives and other social and solidarity economy units (see 2021 Addendum to the General Survey of 2020, Promoting employment and decent work in a changing landscape, paragraph 130). The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the measures taken or envisaged to promote the transition from informal to formal employment, particularly by incorporating the objective of formalization in public policies, in accordance with Recommendation No. 204. The Committee also requests the Government to provide detailed information on the impact of these measures, particularly in rural areas.

Promotion of rural employment. In its previous comment, the Committee noted that the population of Mali was largely rural and that agriculture constituted one of the main drivers of the country’s economy. The Committee notes that, according to ILOSTAT data, this was still the case in 2020, with 68.1 per cent of the Malian population employed in agriculture. The Committee notes with interest the information sent by the Government on: (i) the implementation and impact of the project entitled Vocational training, employment and entrepreneurship support for young persons in rural areas (FIER I 2013–22); (ii) the impact of the project entitled Contribution to policy for the insertion of rural youth in Mali (GCP/MLI/044/Lux); and (iii) the renewal of the FIER project for a second phase (FIER II 2022–30). Recalling that a large proportion of informal work takes place in the rural economy, the Committee requests the Government to continue communicating up-to-date, detailed information on the adoption and the impact of measures promoting decent, productive and freely chosen employment in rural areas of the country.

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.In the absence of information on this matter, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the initiatives taken or envisaged to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and to promote the creation of sustainable jobs through MSMEs.

Women’s employment. In its last comment, the Committee noted that the rate of economic participation of men in Mali was considerably higher than that of women. The Committee notes that, according to the ILOSTAT database, in 2020 the economic participation rate of women in Mali remained considerably lower than that of men (82.4 per cent for men compared with 51.6 per cent for women). In this regard, the Committee refers to its 2020 direct request relating to the Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention, 1958 (No. 111), in which it noted the Government’s indication that women “could contribute much more in terms of growth and development if they were not confronted with so many obstacles to empowerment in the labour market”. This being the case, and since the Government has not provided any information on this matter, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed, up-to-date information on the nature and impact of measures specifically adopted to promote decent work and sustainable employment for women.

The Committee wishes to draw the Government’s attention to the tools developed by the ILO to ensure gender mainstreaming in employment policies and to promote gender equality. The tools available for this purpose include examples of good practices and strategies to design and implement policies which respond to challenges encountered and opportunities linked to women’s employment and recommendations to improve women’s access to decent jobs (ILO, Employment Policy Design Lab).

Youth employment. In its previous comment, the Committee noted that access to employment is of vital importance for young people in Mali. In this regard, the Committee noted the establishment in 2023 of the Youth Employment Promotion Agency (APEJ). The Government has not provided any updated information on the activities of the APEJ. However, the Committee notes the information provided on the content and impact of the “Skills development and youth employment” (PROCEJ) project and the FIER project in terms of the promotion of youth employment. Nonetheless, the Committee notes that, according to the ILOSTAT database, the proportion of young persons neither in employment nor in an education or training programme remained very high in 2020, with an overall rate of 30.9 per cent (43.3 per cent for women and 15.2 per cent for men). The Committee therefore requests the Government to continue providing detailed, up-to-date information on the nature and impact of measures taken to facilitate the integration of young persons, especially young women, in the labour market, including in the context of APEJ activities and the FIER II and PROCEJ projects.

The Committee also draws the Government’s attention to the tools developed by the ILO to promote youth employment, which focus on the vital importance of training geared to improving youth skills and the adoption of inclusive policies responding to the needs of vulnerable young persons. The guidelines for national policies also recognize that it is crucial to encourage entrepreneurship with access to financing and also to ensure collaboration between governments, employers and youth organizations for sustainable solutions (ILO, Employment Policy Design Lab).

Particular categories of workers in situations of vulnerability.In the absence of information on this matter, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on the nature and impact of measures taken to improve the integration of workers with disabilities in the labour market. The Committee also once again requests the Government to supply detailed information on the measures taken to facilitate the integration in the labour market of other categories of workers in situations of vulnerability, such as persons living with HIV.

Education and vocational training policies and programmes. Coordination with employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s information provided in reply to its previous request concerning measures taken in the context of the “Ten-year programme for the development of vocational training for employment” (PRODEC I). The Committee also notes the adoption in 2019 of the second-generation “Ten-year programme for the development of education and vocational training” (PRODEC II 2019–28). The Committee further notes the Government’s indications concerning the implementation of the “Improving the competitiveness of enterprises through vocational training” (ACEFOR) project, which has resulted in the construction of two vocational training centres in the para-agricultural sphere. The Committee understands, on the basis of online information, that the ACEFOR project, funded by the French Development Agency, ended in July 2021. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide up-to-date information on policies and measures relating to vocational training and rehabilitation, including in the context of the “Ten-year programme for the development of education and vocational training” (PRODEC II 2019–28). The Committee also once again requests the Government to provide information on the manner in which vocational training policies or measures are designed to enable the Malian labour force to develop skills which respond to the needs of the labour market. In this regard, the Committee once again requests the Government to indicate the manner in which education and vocational training policies are coordinated with national employment policy.

The Committee draws the Government’s attention to the resources developed by the ILO aimed at supporting comprehensive initiatives for skills development and lifelong learning, including: guides on developing national skills policies and strategies; self-assessment tools, financing guides and governance resources; guides on digital skills, inclusivity and the ecological transition of vocational education; manuals on skills-based training and capacity-building for training centre managers; and tools for skills anticipation, commercial diversification and promoting autonomy in the rural economy (ILO, Key ILO tools on Skills and Lifelong Learning).

Article 3. Consultation of representatives of persons affected, in particular workers’ and employers’ representatives. The Government indicates that it sent a copy of its report on the application of the Convention to employers’ and workers’ representatives. However, the Government has not provided any information on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected by active employment measures, particularly employers’ and workers’ representatives, are consulted on employment policies. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to describe the manner in which, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, the representatives of the persons affected by employment policies are consulted on the formulation of these policies, so that full account is taken of their experience and views in this context.

COVID-19 pandemic. Socio-economic impact. Intervention and recovery measures. The Committee notes the information communicated by the Government in its report, received in September 2023, in reply to its previous request concerning the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.