Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Guatemala (Ratification: 1952)

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

Article 3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to promoting employment. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare has developed, in cooperation with other ministries, the National Decent Employment Policy 2017–32 – Inclusive, Sustained and Sustainable Economic Growth. The Government indicates that the approach and guiding principle of this policy is inclusion to achieve equality of opportunity in employment, in particular for the most vulnerable groups, namely young people, women, indigenous people, migrant workers and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes that the first area relating to job creation includes the introduction of a “Programme to Strengthen the Public Employment Service”. According to the statistics provided by the Government, in 2022: (1) 28,272 jobseekers benefited from personalized counselling to increase their employability; (2) 46,291 vacancies were advertised on the “Your Job” portal; (3) 34,846 people registered for the employment service; and (4) 7,323 found employment, mainly in the real estate, rental, wholesale and retail and repair sectors. As to human resources training, the Committee notes that, according to the information provided by the Government, 5,747 people benefited from short or certificate courses – 70 per cent of whom were women – in new technologies and innovation in order to exploit recent employment niches. Grants may also be awarded, for example, to acquire non-technical and/or cross-disciplinary skills and learn English. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the “My First Job” programme has been set up to promote and support the employment of young people aged 18 to 24 in cooperation with private enterprises. The Government states that 703 young people benefited from this programme in 2022. Lastly, the Committee notes that the National Employment Service is supported primarily by the “Your Job” electronic portal, which manages job supply and demand and directs jobseekers to the appropriate services responsible for improving their employability. This system proved to be of vital importance during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting employment crisis. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the functioning of the National Employment Service, in particular on the impact of the measures taken underthe National Decent Employment Policy 2017–32 on employment and labour intermediation.In particular, the Committee would be grateful if the Government could provide information on any measures taken or envisaged to modernize public employment services, strengthen institutional capacities, promote cooperation between the public and private sectors and improve the transparency and inclusiveness of the labour market.Moreover, the Committee requests the Government to also indicate whether any actions have been undertaken or envisaged to integrate active labour market policies and social assistance programmes to ensure resilience in the event of economic shocks.

Article 4. Cooperation between the social partners in the organization and functioning of the employment service. The Committee notes that the Government reiterates that currently there are no advisory committees allowing cooperation between the representatives of employers and workers in the organization of the employment service. It notes the indication that the national employment policy is being updated in cooperation with civil society bodies, which keeps the National Employment Service fully occupied. The Committee recalls that consultation of the social partners is essential and provides an additional source of information for the development and effective implementation of employment policies. The Committee therefore once again requests the Government to take effective measures without delay to ensure the full cooperation of representatives of employers and workers in the organization and functioning of the employment service and in the development of a policy for the employment service.

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

Article 3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to promoting employment. In its previous comments the Committee requested the Government to provide information on the functioning of the public employment service. The Committee notes that the Basic Regulations of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, adopted by Executive Agreement 215-2012 of September 2012, establishes the duties and undertakings of the National Employment Service (SNE). The Government also indicates in its report that the SNE has been implementing strategies that promote direct linkage between the employers’ sector and jobseekers, at both national and urban level. The SNE is made up of units for career guidance, labour intermediation and training for employment. The number of persons placed in jobs increased from 4,626 in 2012 to 15,448 in 2014. In the period from January 2012 to May 2015, a total of 138,504 persons were registered as jobseekers, of whom 41,068 were placed in employment. The SNE holds regional employment fairs and employment “kiosks” in the departments to facilitate the matching of jobseekers with job providers. Furthermore, municipal one-stop shops for employment (VUMES) have been established to provide labour intermediation services. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the functioning of the National Employment Service, indicating how the measures adopted have contributed to satisfying the needs of employers and workers in the various regions of the country.

Article 4. Cooperation between the social partners in the organization and functioning of the employment service. The Government indicates that currently there are no advisory committees allowing cooperation between the representatives of employers and workers in the organization of the employment service. The Committee once again requests the Government to take steps to ensure the participation of the representatives of workers and employers in the organization and functioning of the employment service and in the development of an employment service policy.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Article 3 of the Convention. Contribution of the employment service to employment promotion. The Committee notes with interest the detailed information provided by the Government in September 2010 on the national employment system. The objective of the system is the provision of employment placement services at the national level and the conclusion of agreements with departmental delegations for the creation of a network of offices throughout the country. The departmental delegations establish a unit for employers. A total of 151 agreements have been concluded with municipal delegations for the establishment of employment offices with access to a single employment exchange. In 2009, the vacancies offered numbered 5,000 and some 6,800 persons were registered. An employment fair in the Department of Quetzaltenango was attended by 6,500 persons and dealt with 3,500 vacancies. The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information on the number of public employment offices, applications for employment received, vacancies notified and persons placed in employment by the offices (Part IV of the report form).

Consultations with the social partners. The Committee refers to the comments that it has been making for many years and requests the Government to provide information on the necessary measures to give full effect to Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention, which provide for the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers through advisory committees in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

The Committee notes the report provided by the Government for the period ending September 2005 which contains detailed information on the Electronic Employment Exchange, Employment Kiosks, Employment Fairs and the labour market measures adopted by the General Directorate of Employment (Article 6 of the Convention). The Government expresses the hope that it will have greater resources to establish a sufficient number of agencies to meet the needs of both employers and workers throughout the country. The Committee trusts that the Government will provide information in its next report on any further progress achieved in modernizing the network of offices and the measures adopted to ensure that they are sufficient in number (Article 3).

Articles 4 and 5. The Government indicates that there is a project in the General Directorate of Employment for the adaptation of employment councils. The Committee refers to the comments that it has been making for many years and trusts that the Government will take the necessary measures to give full effect to the above Articles, which provide for the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers through advisory committees in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

Part IV of the report form. Please continue providing statistical data on the number of public employment offices, applications for employment received, vacancies notified and persons placed in employment by such offices.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

The Committee notes the Government's detailed report and hopes that, in its next report, the Government will be in a position to provide information in respect of the progress made with regard to the following points.

Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes that the organization of various local employment offices has been revised and that a programme to modernize the central office of the National Employment Service has been implemented. Please provide information in respect of the modernization of the network of employment offices and the measures adopted to ensure a sufficient number of employment offices to meet the needs of employers and workers in each of the geographical areas of the country as laid down in this Article.

Articles 4 and 5. The Government states that no meetings of advisory committees have been held as provided for in these provisions of the Convention. The Committee hopes that these advisory committees will be operational in the very near future to ensure that full effect is given to Articles 4 and 5 which provide for the cooperation of representatives of employers and workers, through advisory committees, in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of an employment service policy.

Article 6(c) and (d). In its report, the Government states that a department within the General Department of Employment and Salaries has been established to collect, analyse, assess and study the employment market, among other things. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would provide examples of the information which has been collected and analysed by this department to ensure that the employment service is able to carry out its functions effectively, in particular, the functions provided for under items (c) and (d) of this provision.

Point IV of the report form. Please continue to provide statistical information concerning 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.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

With reference to its earlier comments, the Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report, and in particular, that concerning the application of Articles 8 and 9 of the Convention.

Article 3. The Government indicates that, within the programme of restructuring of the employment service, there are plans to open other offices in the central region and north-eastern region, as well as in the municipality of Tecùn Umàn, of the Province of San Marcos. The Committee asks the Government to continue to supply information concerning the extension of the network of offices and on measures taken to establish and locate employment offices sufficient in number to serve the employers and workers in each geographical area of the country, in accordance with this Article.

Articles 4 and 5. The Government indicates that, due to irregular participation of the employers' and workers' representatives in the meeting of the Advisory Labour Council, a proposal has been elaborated to amend the Government Decision of 23 December 1957 creating the National Employment Service, with a view to motivate the participation of the social partners. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would forward a copy of this amendment, as soon as it is adopted. It trusts that the Government will not fail to adopt measures, in the near future, in order to give full effect to these Articles, which provide for the cooperation of employers' and workers' representatives, through advisory committees, in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of the employment service policy. The Committee asks the Government to provide, in its next report, information on any progress made in this regard.

Article 6(c) and (d). The Committee notes from the Government's report that measures are being taken, in accordance with the programme of modernization of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, to strengthen this body and to fulfil the requirements of these Articles. It would be grateful if the Government would describe in more detail measures taken to ensure that the employment service performs effectively its functions, such as, in particular, collection and analysis of the fullest available information on the situation of the employment market and its probable evolution, in order to make such information available systematically and promptly to the public authorities, the employers' and workers' organizations concerned, and the general public (subparagraph (c)), and the cooperation in the administration of unemployment insurance and assistance and of other measures for the relief of the unemployed (subparagraph (d)).

Article 7. The Government indicates certain measures that have been taken to meet the needs of disabled persons seeking employment. The Committee notes with interest that the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled Persons) Convention, 1983 (No. 159) has been ratified by Guatemala in 1994. It would be grateful if the Government would continue to provide information concerning the arrangements made to meet adequately the needs of this category of applicants for employment, under this Article and/or in its future reports on Convention No. 159. Please also indicate measures taken to facilitate within the various employment offices specialization by occupations and by industries, such as agriculture and any other branch of activity in which such specialization may be useful.

Article 10. Please indicate the arrangements made nationally and locally in cooperation with employers' and workers' organizations to encourage full voluntary use of employment service facilities.

Point IV of the report form. Please furnish statistical information available concerning 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.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's indications in its last report that, for the time being, the Office of the Province of Quetzaltenango is being restructured and that it is planned to open another office in the Province of Escuintla. The Committee hopes that, in its next report, the Government will indicate the measures adopted to establish and operate employment offices sufficient in number to serve each geographical area of the country and conveniently located for employers and workers.

Articles 4 and 5. The Committee takes note of the indications concerning the meetings of the Advisory Labour Council held in 1987. The Government indicates that the employers' and workers' attendance is low and irregular and that the delegates attended meetings only when the Advisory Council was first established. Consequently, the Committee can only hope that, in its next report, the Government will include information on the efforts made to ensure cooperation and consultation with employers' and workers' representatives in the organization and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

Article 6, (c) and (d), and Articles 7, 8, 9 and 10. The Committee takes note of the difficulties and limitations encountered by the Government in giving effect to the above provisions. It notes that some positive results have been achieved, for example through programmes to promote the collection of information on vacant posts and the placement of juveniles (Article 8). It expresses the hope that, in its next report, the Government will provide more detailed information on the measures adopted or under consideration to give full effect to these provisions of the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee notes from the Government's indications in its last report that, for the time being, the Office of the Province of Quetzaltenango is being restructured and that it is planned to open another office in the Province of Escuintla. The Committee hopes that, in its next report, the Government will indicate the measures adopted to establish and operate employment offices sufficient in number to serve each geographical area of the country and conveniently located for employers and workers.

Articles 4 and 5. The Committee takes note of the indications concerning the meetings of the Advisory Labour Council held in 1987. The Government indicates that the employers' and workers' attendance is low and irregular and that the delegates attended meetings only when the Advisory Council was first established. Consequently, the Committee can only hope that, in its next report, the Government will include information on the efforts made to ensure co-operation and consultation with employers' and workers' representatives in the organisation and operation of the employment service and in the development of employment service policy.

Article 6, (c) and (d), and Articles 7, 8, 9 and 10. The Committee takes note of the difficulties and limitations encountered by the Government in giving effect to the above provisions. It notes that some positive results have been achieved, for example through programmes to promote the collection of information on vacant posts and the placement of juveniles (Article 8). It expresses the hope that, in its next report, the Government will provide more detailed information on the measures adopted or under consideration to give full effect to these provisions of the Convention.