Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2013, published 103rd ILC session (2014)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Burkina Faso (Ratification: 2009)

Other comments on C122

Direct Request

2022
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2013

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Article 1 of the Convention. Pursuit of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the Government’s first report on the application of the Convention received in August 2012. The Government indicates in its report that the foundations of the national employment policy (PNE) adopted by Decree No. 2008-271/PRES/PM/MJE of 15 May 2008 are to be found in the poverty reduction strategy, the political programme of the President of Burkina Faso entitled “Ongoing progress for a society of hope”, the declaration of the African Union summit on employment and poverty alleviation, the Millennium Development Goals and the objectives of the ILO. With regard to the Government’s indication that an operational action plan (PAO) covering the 2008–11 period was formulated to support the political vision, the Committee notes that, since the implementation of the plan was delayed, its duration was extended for one year. The Committee further notes that the “Strategy for accelerated growth and sustained development 2011–15” (SCADD) refers to studies concerned with trials for centres of competitiveness and discussions regarding the possibility of establishing special economic zones, with a view to attracting investors and supporting exports; both of these initiatives are in progress. The Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report whether the difficulties encountered in the implementation of the PNE have been overcome. The Committee also invites the Government to include information enabling an evaluation of the extent to which the employment objectives defined in the PNE and the SCADD have been, or are being, attained. The Government is also invited to indicate the measures that have been adopted with a view to making work as productive as possible.

Youth employment. The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government regarding unemployment (an estimated 2.9 per cent for men and 1.7 per cent for women). In urban areas, 14.4 per cent of young people in the 15–24 age group and 9.6 per cent in the 25–29 age group are without jobs. The Government reports on the adoption of a special job creation programme for young persons and women (PSCE/JF) covering the 2012–14 period. The Committee also notes initiatives aimed at improving employability, such as the national youth policy (PNJ), the occupational training programme (PFM) for 50,000 young persons, the entrepreneurship training programme (PFE) for 25,000 young persons and the vocational training and apprenticeship support fund. The Committee invites the Government to include information in its next report on the impact of programmes adopted to ensure the integration of young persons in the labour market.

General and sectoral development policies. The Committee invites the Government to supply information in its next report on the measures taken to promote the employment market and on the impact of general and sectoral development policies contributing to the promotion of full, productive and freely chosen employment. It also requests the Government to indicate whether regional development measures have been implemented to ensure a balanced distribution of economic activity in the country.

Informal economy. In its report the Government refers to the establishment of the informal sector support fund (FASI) in the context of financing support measures for the creation of micro- and small enterprises. The PNE highlights the scale of informal work and the lack of dynamism in modern structured activities, estimating that 70 per cent of the non-agricultural workforce is employed in the informal sector. Women represent more than half the workforce. Most of the urban population is involved in the informal economy and accounts for 25 per cent of jobs in rural areas. SCADD plans to strengthen the technical and management capacities of the informal sector through the adaptation of training to these needs. The Committee invites the Government to include information in its next report on the measures in which the PNE and SCADD have proved effective in terms of the creation of productive employment for workers in the informal economy.

Education and training policies. The Government indicates in its report its intention to improve access to vocational training for young people. The Government observes the minor role played by organized placement, even in the informal economy, apart from the process of recruitment in the public service. The Committee refers to its direct request concerning the application of the Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142), and invites the Government to continue to provide information in its report on Convention No. 122 on the training and education programmes in progress and to state the results achieved regarding the insertion of beneficiaries, especially women and young people, in sustainable employment.

Article 2. Collection and use of employment data. The Committee notes that, in order to resolve the issues arising from deficiencies in the national statistical apparatus, especially for employment and training, the Government has established the National Employment and Vocational Training Observatory (ONEF). The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the activities of ONEF aimed at tackling existing employment data issues. The Committee also invites the Government to supply up-to-date information on the labour market in its next report.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and implementation of policies. The Government indicates in its report that the PNE is the result of extensive consultations involving all development players. Moreover, the consultations with the different partners are largely conducted within the National Employment and Vocational Training Council (CNEFP), a body chaired by the Prime Minister which brings together the social partners, civil society organizations, the public administration and technical and financial partners. The Committee invites the Government to include information in its next report on the consultations on employment policy within the CNEFP. The Government is also requested to indicate the manner in which account is taken of the opinions of representatives of other sectors of the economically active population, such as workers in the rural sector and the informal economy, with a view to securing their full cooperation in formulating and enlisting support for measures taken in this area.

Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Government indicates in its report that Burkina Faso has been the beneficiary of a project entitled “Support for employment promotion and poverty reduction” (APERP) and that the latter has enabled a number of initiatives including: a survey of labour and employment market policies; reviews of public expenditure and programme budgets geared to employment; and the formulation of the PNE. Moreover, the Committee notes that the Decent Work Country Programme was recently approved in Burkina Faso. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken further to the ILO assistance received in the areas covered by the Convention.