Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2019, published 109th ILC session (2021)

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Belarus (Ratification: 1979)

Other comments on C142

Direct Request

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Article 1(1) and (2) of the Convention. Formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and training policies and programmes. The Government reports that the national policy on vocational guidance and training is implemented by educational institutions as well as by the labour, employment and social protection authorities. With respect to vocational education in general secondary educational institutions, the Government indicates that, between 2015 and 2017, under the “Quality of Education” programme, revised course syllabi and teaching and assessment materials using a competency-based approach were produced for all general secondary subjects. In addition, the topic of “vocational studies” was introduced into general secondary schools and special educational institutions in the 2018–19 academic year. The Government indicates that vocational guidance in various forms reaches 100 per cent of students in their final year of general secondary education. In this regard, the Committee notes that, between January and June 2018, vocational guidance initiatives reached 30,000 students in general secondary education. The Government indicates that active vocational guidance work is also carried out by basic vocational, intermediate vocational and higher educational institutions which, through their resource centres, provide pre-vocational and vocational training, with a view to attracting young people to become entrepreneurs and innovators. The Government indicates that it responds to structural changes in labour market demand by commissioning education and training for workers and specialist staff. The Government also points out that, as a result, graduates are guaranteed their first job by the State and almost all graduates who have received state-funded full-time vocational education find employment that matches their training. The Government ensures that unemployed people are able to receive vocational guidance, vocational training, retraining and skills development training for free, upon referral by the labour, employment and social protection authorities. The Committee notes that, between January and June 2018, the labour, employment and social protection authorities provided vocational guidance services to 31,300 people on request. The Committee takes note of the work carried out to improve employment law with a view to increasing the quality of human resources. In this context, it notes the adoption of the Conceptual Framework for Youth Vocational Guidance in 2015, which establishes areas of vocational guidance work and clarifies the role of various government bodies, institutions and organizations in implementing a single national vocational guidance policy. It also notes the 2016 amendment to the Employment Act, which expands the list of groups of people for whom employers’ training costs are reimbursed. The Committee takes note of the measures aiming to provide the unemployed and other groups with vocational guidance and training included in the “Employment Promotion” subprogramme of the National Social Protection and Employment Programme 2016–2020. The Government indicates that vocational training for the unemployed is provided in over 120 occupations. More than 10 per cent of unemployed people who undergo vocational training become qualified in two or more occupations, thereby enhancing their employability. The Committee notes that, in 2017, 10,300 unemployed persons were sent for vocational training to improve their employability, out of which 3,000 were referred for training at their employer’s request. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide updated detailed information on the vocational guidance and training policies and programmes adopted and implemented and on their contribution to attaining the objectives of the Convention, including measures taken to coordinate vocational education and training policies with education, training and employment policies.

Articles 1(5) and 3. Specific categories of persons. In response to the Committee’s previous request, the Government indicates that it is focusing on providing vocational training for young unemployed persons who lack work experience and vocational training, and who are classified as belonging to a vulnerable social group pursuant to national legislation. In 2017, young persons accounted for 30.8 per cent of registered unemployed persons, 4,000 young persons between the ages of 16 and 30 were referred to vocational training, representing 39.6 per cent of all those referred. The Committee notes that additional employment-related guarantees for young persons are provided by law and that jobs are reserved by employers for unemployed young people every year at the behest of the local authorities. The Government indicates that the Employment Act and the Act on the Prevention of Disability and the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities establish a system of additional guarantees to promote the employment of persons with disabilities, who are given priority in terms of accessing vocational education. In this respect, the Committee notes that 2,300 persons with disabilities received job-search assistance from the State Employment Service in 2017 and 1,395 were referred to vocational training between 2013 and 2017. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed up-to-date information on the vocational guidance and training measures targeting specific categories of persons with the aim of increasing their participation in education and employment. The Committee further requests the Government to provide up-to-date information, including statistics disaggregated by sex and age, on the results of such measures, including the number of beneficiaries and the impact of the measures in promoting access to opportunities for lasting employment.

Article 5. Cooperation with the social partners. The Government indicates that, in January 2015, the tripartite National Council for Labour and Social Issues (the National Council) considered improving options for vocational education and training. The National Council recommended strengthening oversight over public and private organizations to better anticipate their staffing needs and adjust their training to optimize their human resources. The Government adds that, during the meeting of the National Council on 16 December 2015, the tripartite constituents signed the General Agreement for 2016–18, through which, inter alia, they undertook to continue to provide vocational guidance for the unemployed with a view to providing them with practical assistance to help them choose an occupation, change jobs or enhance their skills. The Committee requests the Government to provide updated information on the specific measures taken to promote the cooperation and engagement of employers’ and workers’ organizations and other interested bodies in the formulation and implementation of vocational guidance and training policies and programmes.