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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - India (Ratification: 1998)

Other comments on C122

Observation

Direct Request

2013
2006
2004
2002

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Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of an active employment policy. The Committee notes the report received in August 2013 in which the Government indicates that various employment generation and poverty alleviation programmes have been implemented both in rural and urban areas. The Government recalls that the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007–12) growth strategy was based on sound macroeconomic policies and that it envisaged the generation of productive and gainful employment with decent working conditions as a critical strategy element. The Government highlights that the drafting of the employment policy was undertaken against that background and that the main objectives of the policy were to enhance the growth of employment in the formal segment and to improve the working conditions and productivity of the large labour force engaged in the informal economy. The Committee notes the results of the survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) (2009–10) and observes that the unemployment rate had declined, that the unemployment rate was much higher among youth as compared to overall population and that the underemployment rate dropped by 1 percentage point each in both rural and urban areas. The Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report to which extent measures implemented under the 11th Plan have managed to improve the quality of the employment generated and alleviate both unemployment and underemployment. Please also include information on the efforts made and the results achieved under the new five-year plan to improve the employment situation for young persons and workers in the unorganized sector.

Labour market trends. The Government indicates that it has been developing policies which provide special measures to promote employment among scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and women. The Committee notes the report prepared by the NSSO on employment and unemployment among social groups in India and observes that the labour force participation rate (LFPR) was highest among the scheduled tribes (46 per cent), followed by scheduled castes (41.2 per cent), and “other backward classes” (40 per cent) and lowest for others (37.5 per cent). The Committee also observes that the male/female differences in LFPR seem to be quite prominent in all categories in social groups with male LFPR much higher than female LFPR. The Committee notes that the 12th Five Year Plan endeavours to increase women’s employability in the formal sector, improve the conditions of self-employed women and take other steps to ensure decent work for them. The Plan also aims at extending labour protection for women in the informal economy. The Committee invites the Government to include in its next report relevant disaggregated data on the situation and trends of the labour market (for example by state, sector, age, sex and skills) (Articles 1(2) and 2(a)) of the Convention.

Employment programmes. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act programme (MGNREGA). It notes that the programme had targeted and outreached the poor and marginalized groups like scheduled castes/scheduled tribes (38 per cent) and women (53 per cent); that information communication technology has been used to improve the programme efficiency, and that areas of work under the programme included agriculture, fisheries and rural sanitation. The Committee invites the Government to continue to provide information on the impact of the MGNREGA and on other employment schemes such as the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme in enhancing job growth and sustainable employment.

Article 3. Consultation with the representatives of the persons affected. The Government’s report draws attention to the fact that broad-based stakeholders were involved in the two national consultation meetings that took place in 2008 concerning the preparation of the draft employment policy. The Committee invites the Government to provide other examples of decisions reached on employment policy through tripartite bodies. It would also appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners in the implementation of the major employment generation programmes.

Part V of the report form. ILO technical assistance. The Committee refers to its previous comment and invites the Government to continue to provide updated information on the measures taken as a result of the collaboration with the ILO with respect to the matters covered by the Convention.