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

The Committee notes the Government’s report containing partial replies to its previous comments.

Article 6(2)(a) and (b) of the Convention.  The Committee had previously asked the Government to provide further information on the implementation of the 11-point plan for a “positive transformation” of labour administration and to indicate how effect was given to Article 6(2)(a) of the Convention concerning the functions of the labour administration system in the area of the national employment policy. The Committee takes due note of the information concerning mostly training activities to strengthen key roles and competencies within the Ministry of Labour and, more generally, to promote employment and self-sufficiency, especially among the youth. The Committee also notes that, among the achievements reached under the 11-point programme, is the ratification of all the fundamental Conventions, the establishment of a productivity centre through the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, the restructuring of the Industrial Disputes Tribunal and the dissemination of information on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, to which Jamaica acceded in January 2005.

The Committee also notes, however, that point (1) on measures to reposition the Ministry to a higher profile among the Government’s planning and economic development agencies is, according to the Government, yet to be accomplished. It also observes that there is no specific information on the implementation of point (5) concerning the institutionalization of the Tripartite Labour Advisory Commission expected to play a more meaningful role in labour administration. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on progress made in the implementation of the 11-point plan, especially with regard to any measures taken or envisaged to implement points (1) and (5), and to provide copies of any relevant documents.

The Committee notes that the Government’s report does not contain information in reply to the Committee’s request on the progress achieved in the field of labour market information following the setting up in 2002 of an IT labour market information system, the establishment of the Labour Market Information Technical Advisory Committee responsible for providing technical advice to the Tripartite Labour Market and Labour Exchange Advisory Commission and the initiation of the Caribbean Labour Market Information System (CLMIS project) by the ILO in cooperation with the United States Department of Labor. The Government also indicated in its previous report that, in that framework, the Manpower Unit would be primarily involved in the revision of the Jamaica Standard Occupational Classification and the creation of a Dictionary of Occupational Titles. Accordingly, the Committee once again requests the Government to provide detailed information on progress achieved in the field of labour market information.

Articles 6(2)(a) and (b), and 7. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, the “Skills 2000” programme was initially addressed to persons on the Food Stamp Programme (now PATH) but, due to the overwhelming interest of the public, it had to be expanded and later handed over to the HEART Trust NTA (National Training Agency). The Committee notes that the programme has since expired and has been replaced by the Steps to Work programme run by the PATH Programme to help working-age members to become self-sufficient through four channels: job placement; remedial learning; entrepreneurship; and skills development. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide information on the implementation and results of the Steps to Work programme and explain in particular how effect is given through this programme to Articles 6(2)(a) and (b), and 7 of the Convention.

Part IV of the report form. Noting that, in 2004, the Government was able to provide the ILO with the 2003 Statistical Bulletin of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, which contained detailed information as to the functioning of the labour administration system, including data on the labour market, the Committee would be grateful to receive such reports relating to the period covered by the next Government’s report, in order to better assess the level of application of the Convention.