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

The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no reply to previous comments. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

1. The Committee took note of the Government's report for the period ending June 1996. It regrets that it replies only partly to the points raised in its previous observation. The Committee notes that the global statistical data supplied on the active population, employment and unemployment relate to 1993 and 1994 but not to the period covered by the report. It hopes that the Government will supply in its next report statistical data as detailed and up to date as possible on the level and trends, during the period in question, of employment, underemployment and unemployment, at national level and in the various regions, by sector of activity, sex, age and level of qualifications. The Committee recalls in this respect that it is essential for employment policy decisions to be made on the basis of precise knowledge of the situation and trends in activity and employment. It requests the Government to describe the measures taken or under consideration to improve collection and analysis of the relevant statistical data. 2. Basing itself on information and analyses made available by the competent services in the ILO, the Committee believes it can summarize the evolution of employment and unemployment since 1994 in the following manner. The hydrocarbons sector, as well as agriculture which has profited from favourable climatic conditions, are mainly responsible for the increased production of 3.9 per cent in 1995 and 3.4 per cent in 1996, while industrial production has contracted sharply. In this context, the employment increase both in the modern sector and the informal sector has proved to be insufficient to absorb the growth in the active population, and the unemployment rate which was already 26.5 per cent in 1994, has reached the unprecedented rate of 28.3 per cent in 1996. The Committee is bound to note the contrast between the progress made within the framework of the structural adjustment programme agreed with the International Monetary Fund, in terms particularly of budgetary balance, a noteworthy reduction in the inflation rate and the stabilization of external accounts, and the continuing deterioration in the employment situation, where young people looking for their first jobs are the main victims. Since the Government has not supplied the information required on this matter, the Committee is bound to express its concern in regard to the effective pursuit "as a major goal" and "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy" of "an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment". It trusts that the Government will supply in its next report information demonstrating that the measures taken or contemplated in regard to investment policy, monetary and budgetary policies, industrial and regional development policies and prices, incomes and wages policies are contributing to pursuing the objectives of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to specify how it envisages the impact on employment of implementing its privatization programme. 3. The Committee notes the general indications relating to the new arrangements for youth integration into employment. It notes that the Government confirms the reorientation of labour market policy measures in favour of the establishment of micro-enterprises and refers to the launching of pre-recruitment contracts. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply any available assessment of the contribution of these arrangements to the lasting integration in productive employment of those concerned. Furthermore, it requests it to supply in its next report on the application of Convention No. 88 full information on the renovation of the public employment service which it mentions. 4. The Committee particularly regrets that the Government has not supplied the information requested showing how consultation with all the persons affected on employment policies is assured in practice, as required by Article 3 of the Convention. It is bound to stress once again the importance it attaches to the full application of this essential provision of the Convention, particularly in a context of high unemployment and wide-ranging structural reforms. The Committee recalls that it requested the Government to describe the consultations held within the framework of the Economic and Social Council, providing all relevant examples of recommendations, opinions, reports or studies. It hopes to find full information on this matter in the Government's next report.