Observación (CEACR) - Adopción: 2024, Publicación: 113ª reunión CIT (2025)

Convenio sobre la política del empleo, 1964 (núm. 122) - Níger (Ratificación : 2018)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment. In its previous comment, the Committee noted that the National Employment Policy (PNE 2008–12) had been adopted in 2009 and that, following broad consultation with all the parties concerned and in collaboration with the ILO, a preliminary version of a new National Employment Policy (PNE 2020–25) had been discussed at a validation workshop in July 2021. However, the Committee notes that, in its report provided in September 2023, the Government indicates that a new PNE is still in the process of being adopted and adds that the Office will be kept informed of any developments in this regard. The Committee also notes that, during the period covered by the report, the Government prepared a Resilience Programme to Safeguard the Country (PRSP) for the period 2024–26, under the leadership of the Ministry of the Economy and Finance. According to the information available online, the PRSP 2024–26 is due to enter into force in 2024 and has the objective of the robust and equitable development of Niger on the basis of four focus areas: (i) the reinforcement of security and social cohesion; (ii) the promotion of good governance; (iii) the development of the bases for economic sovereignty; and (iv) the acceleration of social reforms.

The Committee notes that Niger is facing several significant challenges. The economy of Niger is not very diversified or competitive, which limits formal employment opportunities. A large proportion of the active population is in practice employed in the informal economy (ILO statistics), which gives rise to challenges in terms of social protection, conditions of work and job stability. The country is therefore faced by the urgent need to create decent and productive jobs for men and women, and particularly for young persons. The rapid demographic growth is complicating the labour market integration of young persons (ILO, L’état des lieux du système de formation professionelle, Niger, 2019). Gender inequalities persist and affect the access of women to employment opportunities and equitable terms and conditions of work, with the result that offering employment opportunities to everyone, including women and persons with disabilities, is still a major challenge (CEDAW/C/NER/CO/5, paragraph 41 and CRPD/C/NER/CO/1, paragraph 7). The country is also facing a period of instability, as well as environmental and economic challenges, including climate shocks and the price volatility of basic products (World Bank, Niger, Overview, 2024).

In the light of this information, the Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to finalize the adoption of the employment policy without further delay. Indeed, the Committee considers that the adoption of a robust employment policy that pursues the objectives of full, productive and freely chosen employment as established by the Convention is an essential step for the inclusive and sustainable economic development of Niger, which will make it possible to address the current challenges and create a more prosperous future. Employment policy is a major asset for the reduction of unemployment and poverty through the creation of decent and productive jobs, particularly for young persons and women. Based on the establishment of emblematic objectives and measures for the fuller integration of informal workers into the formal economy, the new employment policy could improve social protection, working conditions and job stability, while at the same time increasing tax receipts. Moreover, the adoption of an inclusive employment policy could make an effective contribution to reducing gender inequality by ensuring the equitable access of women to employment opportunities and fair conditions of work. Furthermore, by encouraging economic diversification, the employment policy could be designed to create new employment opportunities in different sectors, thereby reducing dependence on a few industries and increasing economic resilience. Lastly, the adoption and implementation of an employment policy in conformity with the requirements of the Convention would encourage constructive social dialogue between employers, workers and the Government, as well as with the representatives of all the population categories affected by the policy, thereby improving conditions of work and promoting social justice.

The Committee is raising other matters in a request addressed directly to the Government.