Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2022, published 111st ILC session (2023)

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2021, published 110th ILC session (2022)

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2017, published 107th ILC session (2018)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2015, published 105th ILC session (2016)

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2012, published 102nd ILC session (2013)

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

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

The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not provided any information on the application of the Convention since its last report received in June 2004. The Committee trusts that the Government will be able to provide a detailed report on the application of the Convention, including information in reply to the points raised in the Committee’s previous observations, which set forth the following matters:

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field. It asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on the involvement of the social partners in the matters covered by the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

The Committee notes that the Government has not provided any information on the application of the Convention since its last report received in June 2004. The Committee trusts that the Government will be able to provide a detailed report on the application of the Convention, including information in reply to the points raised in the Committee’s 2008 observation, which sets forth the following matters:

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates.

The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field. It asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries. The Committee would appreciate receiving information on the involvement of the social partners in the matters covered by the Convention.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2010.]

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2008, published 98th ILC session (2009)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not supplied any information on the application of the Convention since its last report received in June 2004. The Committee asks the Government to provide a detailed report containing clear and up to date information in reply to its 2005 observation, which read as follows:

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. While the Government explained that the draft National Employment Policy represents the first comprehensive action to address the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country, it acknowledged that employment remains one of its greatest challenges since more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant among women, youth and graduates from institutions of higher learning, tertiary and other institutions. The Government has thus included employment objectives in the development plans and programmes, such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and the eradication of poverty. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates.

The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field. It asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee takes due note of this information and recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the General Survey of 2004 zon promoting employment). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners in the matters covered by the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

1. The Committee notes with regret that the Government has not supplied any information on the application of the Convention since its last report received in June 2004. The Committee asks the Government to provide a detailed report containing clear and up to date information in reply to its 2005 observation, which read as follows.

2. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. While the Government explained that the draft National Employment Policy represents the first comprehensive action to address the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country, it acknowledged that employment remains one of its greatest challenges since more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant among women, youth and graduates from institutions of higher learning, tertiary and other institutions. The Government has thus included employment objectives in the development plans and programmes, such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and the eradication of poverty. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates.

3. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field. It asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

4. Article 3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee takes due note of this information and recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the 2004 General Survey on promoting employment). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners in the matters covered by the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2006, published 96th ILC session (2007)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report due in 2006 has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat the main points raised in its observation of 2005 on the following issues:

1. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. While the Government explained that the draft National Employment Policy represents the first comprehensive action to address the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country, it acknowledged that employment remains one of its greatest challenges since more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant among women, youth and graduates from institutions of higher learning, tertiary and other institutions. The Government has thus included employment objectives in the development plans and programmes, such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and the eradication of poverty. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. It asks the Government to report on the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programmes to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

2. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field and asks the Government to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers).

3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicated that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee takes due note of this information and recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the General Survey of 2004 on promoting employment). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners on the matters covered by the Convention.

[The Government is asked to reply in detail to the present comments in 2007].

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2005, published 95th ILC session (2006)

The Committee takes note of the Government’s report received in June 2004.

1. Coordination of employment policy with poverty reduction. The Committee recalls that the efforts by Uganda to formulate a comprehensive employment policy dates back to 1996, when the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare prepared, with ILO assistance, a comprehensive national employment policy. In its latest report, the Government indicates that the draft National Employment Policy was to be submitted by the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare to Cabinet in July 2004 for consideration and adoption. While the Government explains that the draft National Employment Policy represents the first comprehensive action to address the problems of unemployment, underemployment, labour productivity and poverty in the country, it acknowledges that employment remains one of its greatest challenges since more than half of the population lives below the poverty line. Unemployment and underemployment are rampant among women, youth and graduates from institutions of higher learning, tertiary and other institutions. The Government has thus included employment objectives in the development plans and programmes, such as the Poverty Eradication Action Plan aimed at accelerating economic growth and the eradication of poverty.

2. The Government further indicates that within the employment policy framework, it aims to protect vulnerable groups such as women, youth and persons with disabilities and to assist them with special compensatory programmes, including those envisaged under the Poverty Eradication Action Plan. The Government also states that vocational training is being offered under the Directorate of Industrial Training and that it will ensure that these programmes are demand-driven through greater involvement of the private sector. The Committee requests the Government to provide detailed information in its next report on the measures taken to ensure that employment, as a key element of poverty reduction, is central to macroeconomic and social policies. The Committee emphasizes the importance of establishing a system for compilation of labour market data and requests the Government to report on any progress made in this field and to provide in its next report disaggregated data on trends in the labour market, including information on the situation, level and trends of employment, underemployment and unemployment throughout the country and the extent to which they affect the most vulnerable categories of workers (such as women, young persons and rural workers). The Committee also asks the Government to inform it of the status of the draft National Employment Policy and the Poverty Eradication Action Plan, as well as any evaluation on the impact of its programme to combat unemployment focusing on university graduates (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention).

3. Participation of the social partners. The Government indicates that during the development of the draft National Employment Policy, the views of all affected persons were taken into account through the various workshops held. The Committee takes due note of this information and recalls that Article 3 of the Convention requires consultations with representatives of all persons affected, and particularly representatives of employers and workers, in the formulation and implementation of employment policies. It is the joint responsibility of the Government and the representative organizations of employers and workers to ensure that representatives of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of the active population are associated as closely as possible with the formulation and implementation of measures of which they should be the prime beneficiaries (see paragraph 493 of the General Survey of 2004 on promoting employment). The Committee would appreciate continuing to receive information on the involvement of the social partners on the matters covered by the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2003, published 92nd ILC session (2004)

The Committee notes with regret that the Government’s report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its 2001 observation, which read as follows.

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, which was received in November 2000.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the draft Employment Policy has been submitted to the Presidential Economics Council. The Government states that the centrepiece of every policy is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), and that some programmes already have been implemented. Two of the central programmes include providing microcredit. The youth entrepreneurs scheme targets young university graduates. To date it has trained 1,200 participants in entrepreneurship and provided loans to 795. The Entandikwa credit scheme targets the poor, and has so far supported 180 rural microcredit institutions and increased access to credit of marginalized people, in particular, women, youth and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes these schemes with interest. It would appreciate receiving further information on the impact of microcredit on employment promotion, and requests further details on other employment promotion programmes implemented.

2. The Committee also notes with interest that the Government has established, with ILO assistance, a special unit within the Ministry of Finance and Planning, to oversee implementation of labour-intensive and labour-based programmes. A large programme on implementation has been completed and the ILO is assisting in the impact evaluation. The Government also has drawn up a plan for modernization of agriculture, which is expected to generate employment, including the agro-processing industries. It has undertaken a project on poverty reduction through skills and enterprise development, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and assistance from the Office. The UNDP is funding US$12 million. Furthermore, Uganda is part of the Jobs for Africa Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa of the ILO, and has completed a study on investment for poverty reduction employment and prepared a draft country action programme which outlines a number of projects and programmes.

3. Article 2. The Committee notes that the economy has been growing by an average of more than 6 per cent per year, and the Government has been effective in applying debt relief to reducing poverty, from 55 per cent of the population in 1992 to 35 per cent in 2000. It would appreciate further information on how the objective of employment promotion is taken into account in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper prepared by the Government as a condition for debt relief within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative of the World Bank and the IMF. The Committee also notes that implementation issues concerning the employment policy are now under consideration. It requests further information on how the employment policy and implementing programmes will be kept under review. Please also provide information on the measures taken to collect and analyse statistical data concerning trends in the size and distribution of the labour force, and the nature and extent of unemployment and underemployment, to facilitate its evaluations.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that the draft employment policy was developed with extensive input from representatives of employers and workers and of other interested groups such as rural and informal sector workers. It would appreciate continuing to receive information on the nature of consultations on employment promotion, including consultations on evaluations and revisions, and on how these views are taken into account, as required by the Convention.

The preparation of a detailed report, including the indications requested in this observation, will certainly provide the Government and social partners with an opportunity to evaluate the achievement of the objectives of full productive and productive employment of the Convention. The Committee recalls that the assistance of the Office is available to comply with the reporting obligations and for the technical implementation of an active employment policy in the sense of the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2002, published 91st ILC session (2003)

The Committee notes that the Government’s report has not been received. It is therefore bound to repeat its 2001 observation, which read as follows:

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, which was received in November 2000.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the draft Employment Policy has been submitted to the Presidential Economics Council. The Government states that the centrepiece of every policy is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), and that some programmes already have been implemented. Two of the central programmes include providing microcredit. The youth entrepreneurs scheme targets young university graduates. To date it has trained 1,200 participants in entrepreneurship and provided loans to 795. The Entandikwa credit scheme targets the poor, and has so far supported 180 rural microcredit institutions and increased access to credit of marginalized people, in particular, women, youth and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes these schemes with interest. It would appreciate receiving further information on the impact of microcredit on employment promotion, and requests further details on other employment promotion programmes implemented.

2. The Committee also notes with interest that the Government has established, with ILO assistance, a special unit within the Ministry of Finance and Planning, to oversee implementation of labour-intensive and labour-based programmes. A large programme on implementation has been completed and the ILO is assisting in the impact evaluation. The Government also has drawn up a plan for modernization of agriculture, which is expected to generate employment, including the agro-processing industries. It has undertaken a project on poverty reduction through skills and enterprise development, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and assistance from the Office. The UNDP is funding US$12 million. Furthermore, Uganda is part of the Jobs for Africa Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa of the ILO, and has completed a study on investment for poverty reduction employment and prepared a draft country action programme which outlines a number of projects and programmes.

3. Article 2. The Committee notes that the economy has been growing by an average of more than 6 per cent per year, and the Government has been effective in applying debt relief to reducing poverty, from 55 per cent of the population in 1992 to 35 per cent in 2000. It would appreciate further information on how the objective of employment promotion is taken into account in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper prepared by the Government as a condition for debt relief within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative of the World Bank and the IMF. The Committee also notes that implementation issues concerning the employment policy are now under consideration. It requests further information on how the employment policy and implementing programmes will be kept under review. Please also provide information on the measures taken to collect and analyse statistical data concerning trends in the size and distribution of the labour force, and the nature and extent of unemployment and underemployment, to facilitate its evaluations.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that the draft employment policy was developed with extensive input from representatives of employers and workers and of other interested groups such as rural and informal sector workers. It would appreciate continuing to receive information on the nature of consultations on employment promotion, including consultations on evaluations and revisions, and on how these views are taken into account, as required by the Convention.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 2001, published 90th ILC session (2002)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report, which was received in November 2000.

1. Article 1 of the Convention. The Committee notes with interest that the draft Employment Policy has been submitted to the Presidential Economics Council. The Government states that the centrepiece of every policy is the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP), and that some programmes already have been implemented. Two of the central programmes include providing microcredit. The youth entrepreneurs scheme targets young university graduates. To date it has trained 1,200 participants in entrepreneurship and provided loans to 795. The Entandikwa credit scheme targets the poor, and has so far supported 180 rural microcredit institutions and increased access to credit of marginalized people, in particular, women, youth and persons with disabilities. The Committee notes these schemes with interest. It would appreciate receiving further information on the impact of microcredit on employment promotion, and requests further details on other employment promotion programmes implemented.

2. The Committee also notes with interest that the Government has established, with ILO assistance, a special unit within the Ministry of Finance and Planning, to oversee implementation of labour-intensive and labour-based programmes. A large programme on implementation has been completed and the ILO is assisting in the impact evaluation. The Government also has drawn up a plan for modernization of agriculture, which is expected to generate employment, including the agro-processing industries. It has undertaken a project on poverty reduction through skills and enterprise development, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and assistance from the Office. The UNDP is funding US$12 million. Furthermore, Uganda is part of the Jobs for Africa Poverty Reduction Strategy in Africa of the ILO, and has completed a study on investment for poverty reduction employment and prepared a draft country action programme which outlines a number of projects and programmes.

3. Article 2. The Committee notes that the economy has been growing by an average of more than 6 per cent per year, and the Government has been effective in applying debt relief to reducing poverty, from 55 per cent of the population in 1992 to 35 per cent in 2000. It would appreciate further information on how the objective of employment promotion is taken into account in the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper prepared by the Government as a condition for debt relief within the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative of the World Bank and the IMF. The Committee also notes that implementation issues concerning the employment policy are now under consideration. It requests further information on how the employment policy and implementing programmes will be kept under review. Please also provide information on the measures taken to collect and analyse statistical data concerning trends in the size and distribution of the labour force, and the nature and extent of unemployment and underemployment, to facilitate its evaluations.

4. Article 3. The Committee notes with interest that the draft employment policy was developed with extensive input from representatives of employers and workers and of other interested groups such as rural and informal sector workers. It would appreciate continuing to receive information on the nature of consultations on employment promotion, including consultations on evaluations and revisions, and on how these views are taken into account, as required by the Convention.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1999, published 88th ILC session (2000)

The Committee notes the information contained in the Government's report for the period ending May 1998. It notes in particular that the draft employment policy has been completed and is under consideration by the Cabinet. The objectives of the employment policy are to promote full employment in the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and to improve the productivity of the labour force in order to increase wages. The Committee asks the Government to indicate in its next report whether the draft has been adopted and what programmes have been implemented to give it effect. It would also appreciate receiving further details on the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and information on how the employment policy is taken into account in the formulation of overall and sectoral development policies, in particular how the employment situation will be taken into account in the use of financial resources freed up due to the IMF and World Bank initiative for HIPC (heavily indebted poor countries) debt relief, as requested in the report form under Article 1.

The Government states that unemployment is highest among women, youth and those with advanced education or training, due to mismatch. It intends to institute as part of the draft employment policy special programmes for women, and gender sensitization training. It also has prepared programmes for youth, the disabled, and the unemployed. It intends to tackle mismatch by improving its career counselling, ensuring that training is demand driven, that the university curricula are up to date, and that records are kept of the placement rates of trainees and graduates. The Government also intends to provide less formal training in rural areas to better accommodate the needs of these workers. The Committee notes these programmes with interest and would appreciate receiving further information on their impact.

The Committee notes the Government's description of the tripartite consultation which took place during the formulation of the draft employment policy. It requests further information on how representatives of employers and workers, as well as representatives of other sectors of the economically active population, such as those working in the rural sector and the informal sector, are consulted concerning the review, within a framework of coordinated economic and social policy, of the employment policies and programmes adopted, as required under Article 3, in conjunction with Article 2.

The Committee notes that statistics are collected by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, in collaboration with the Department of Labour; however, no statistics were included in the report. The Government states that labour market information is one of the key areas that needs urgent attention. The Committee understands that the Government is working with the ILO EAMAT team in Addis Ababa on establishing a data system. The Committee welcomes these efforts and would appreciate receiving further information on the progress achieved, as requested in Part V of the report form.

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

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's short report for the period ending June 1996. It notes that the Government essentially refers to ILO technical cooperation activities, in particular through the multidisciplinary team in Addis Ababa, with a view to formulating a global employment policy in consultation with the representatives of all the sectors concerned. The Committee welcomes this regular cooperation with the ILO. In this respect it has been informed by the multidisciplinary team of the progress made, in particular through tripartite national workshops. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the date on which implementation of this employment policy is expected to begin. The Committee also requests the Government to state its intentions in regard to developing employment service networks. Finally, please supply information on the work of the Labour Consultative Council in connection with employment policy.

The Committee suggests to the Government that it should take advantage of its close cooperation with the ILO multidisciplinary team to prepare a full report giving detailed replies to the questions on the report form.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1997, published 86th ILC session (1998)

Referring to its previous comments, the Committee notes the Government's short report for the period ending June 1996. It notes that the Government essentially refers to ILO technical cooperation activities, in particular through the multidisciplinary team in Addis Ababa, with a view to formulating a global employment policy in consultation with the representatives of all the sectors concerned. The Committee welcomes this regular cooperation with the ILO. In this respect it has been informed by the multidisciplinary team of the progress made, in particular through tripartite national workshops. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate in its next report the date on which implementation of this employment policy is expected to begin. The Committee also requests the Government to state its intentions in regard to developing employment service networks. Finally, please supply information on the work of the Labour Consultative Council in connection with employment policy.

The Committee suggests to the Government that it should take advantage of its close cooperation with the ILO multidisciplinary team to prepare a full report giving detailed replies to the questions on the report form.

Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1995, published 83rd ILC session (1996)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1994. The Government indicates that due to lack of full information on the employment situation, it has been able, until recent years, to implement only fragmentary measures of the employment policy. It affirms, however, that it is now convinced of the urgency of formulating a global and dynamic employment policy as an integral part of the reforms undertaken at economic level. It mentions the initiatives taken in this regard, particularly the ILO multidisciplinary consultative mission on employment, which took place in October-November 1994 and of which it is awaiting the report.

2. In addition, the Committee received comments and information on recent developments from the ILO multidisciplinary team in Addis Ababa. The above-mentioned mission was followed by a national tripartite seminar in September 1995 which reaffirmed the need to formulate an employment policy on the basis of the elements set out in the ILO mission report. The Committee notes, in addition, that the Government has made an application for technical cooperation for a mission charged with formulating an employment policy programme in early 1996.

3. The Committee notes with interest the information which demonstrates the complementarity between standards and technical cooperation in the framework of the new structures established by the ILO. It is bound to encourage the Government to pursue its efforts, with ILO technical support, to formulate and apply "as a major goal, an active policy designed to promote full, productive and freely chosen employment", in accordance with Article 1 of the Convention. It hopes that the next report will show progress in this direction and will contain information as detailed as possible on the effect given to all the provisions of the Convention (reference may be made to the questions raised in the direct request of 1994). Bearing in mind the aforementioned observations of the ILO multidisciplinary team which stress the acute nature of employment problems and poverty in the context of a strategy of liberalization of the economy and privatization and the vigorous application of a stabilization and structural adjustment programme, the Committee draws attention, furthermore, to the requirement under Article 2, to decide on and keep under review employment policy measures "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy" and under Article 3, concerning the consultation and cooperation of the persons affected (representatives of employers and workers, representatives of other sectors of the active population, such as persons working in the rural and informal sectors).

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1994, published 81st ILC session (1994)

The Committee notes the Government's report for the period ending June 1992 and the relevant information which it contains in reply to its previous request. It would be grateful if the Government would supply further details in its next report on the following points:

1. The Government states that a structure to collect and analyse labour market statistics has been established, but that it does not have the necessary resources to function efficiently in the context of the budgetary restrictions applied under the structural adjustment programme. Please indicate the extent to which it has been possible to overcome these difficulties, taking into account the recommendations and advice of the ILO advisory mission on this point.

2. The Committee notes the Government's statement that it has recently undertaken to formulate an integrated and dynamic employment policy to address the problems of modern manufacturing, agriculture, the informal sector and vulnerable groups such as women and persons with disabilities. The Government refers in this regard, as it did in its previous report, to the programme document entitled "The way forward III 1991-1995, human resources and employment strategy". Please supply a copy of this document. The Committee hopes that the Government will be able to indicate in its next report the employment objectives established in development plans and programmes which are being implemented or prepared, and that it will describe the mutual relationships between employment policy objectives and other economic and social objectives.

3. The Government states that, despite budgetary constraints, it is endeavouring to reactivate the employment service network. Please supply information on the number, location and activities of the employment services. In this context, the Government may wish to refer for guidance to the ILO instruments on employment services (Convention No. 88 and Recommendation No. 83).

4. The Committee notes with interest the 1989 report of the Education Policy Review Commission. It notes in particular the recommendations relating to strengthening the links and complementarity between school education and vocational training. Please indicate the measures which have been taken or are envisaged as a result of these recommendations. The Government may consider it useful to refer in this respect to the relevant provisions of the Human Resources Development Convention (No. 142) and Recommendation (No. 150), 1975.

5. The Committee notes the dominant role of the informal sector in terms of employment and income, as well as the general features of the Government's policy for the development of the sector. Please indicate the measures which have been taken to achieve the established objectives of increasing employment opportunities in the sector while at the same time encouraging its progressive integration into the national economy. In this respect, see also below.

6. The Government states that representatives of employers and workers participate in the work of the Labour Advisory Board. The Committee notes that workers in the agricultural sector are also represented on the Board, but not workers from the informal sector. The Government states in this respect that it intends to encourage the establishment of associations which can represent persons who work in the informal sector on bodies such as the Labour Advisory Board. The Committee requests the Government to continue supplying information on the manner in which the representatives of all the persons affected are consulted concerning employment policies, in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention.

7. The Committee notes with interest the information supplied on the technical cooperation projects implemented in the context of the public works programme, the evaluation made of the results achieved through these projects and the difficulties which persist. It notes in particular that, in the Government's opinion, for them to be fully effective, the projects should be supported by employment and trade policies which encourage the use of labour-intensive methods and discourage the importation of capital goods. Please continue supplying information on ILO technical cooperation projects in the field of employment policy and the measures taken as a result of these projects.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1992, published 79th ILC session (1992)

The Committee has taken note with interest of the information supplied by the Government in response to its previous comments. It would be grateful if the Government would include in its next report additional information on the following points:

1. The Committee notes the results of the National Manpower Survey of 1987-88 which provided information only for establishments of more than five employees. It observes in particular that the informal sector employed two-and-a-half times as many workers as the formal sector, in which two-thirds were employed in the Civil Service. According to the Government, these figures reveal the acuteness and urgency of the problem of unemployment among young people, particularly school-leavers, and women. The Committee notes with interest that, following the recommendations of the ILO Multidisciplinary Advisory Mission of 1988, a structure has been created within the Labour Department to establish a labour market information system. The structure in question is not yet in possession of the necessary resources for an efficient collection of information on the whole of the formal and informal sectors, but it should gradually become able to cover activities in the rural areas. The Committee notes that, according to the Government, a knowledge of trends in supply and demand on the labour market is a prerequisite for the formulation of an employment policy consistent with the priority economic and social objectives; it asks the Government to continue supplying information on the measures taken to collect and analyse the relevant statistical data and the results achieved in that respect.

2. The Committee notes that a programme document entitled "The Way Forward III 1991-1995, Human Resources and Employment Strategy" is being prepared; it invites the Government to supply a copy of this document as soon as it is available or to describe the objectives set and the measures planned for attaining them. In this connection please refer to the questions raised in the report form under Article 1 of the Convention, according to whatever is relevant to national conditions.

3. The Government states that, following the ILO Advisory Mission, it undertook to reactivate the Employment Service network. Please supply information on the progress made in that respect. The Government states further that the commission set up to review the education system has recommended in its report the vocationalisation of the whole education system. Please supply a copy of that report.

4. The Committee notes that according to the Government the informal sector has a great potential for absorbing the increasing number of unemployed young people. It points out in this connection that the provisions of Part V of Recommendation No. 169 contain some useful indications concerning the principles that should guide employment policy in relation to the informal sector.

5. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest that the Labour Advisory Board was reconstituted in 1990 and that the Government is considering setting up a tripartite national coordinating committee. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would supply indications as to the way representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken are consulted concerning employment policies in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention. The Committee points out in that connection that the representatives of the persons concerned may include, in addition to representatives of employers' and workers' organisations, representatives of other sectors of the economically active population such as persons employed in the rural and the informal sector.

6. The Committee has been informed of the execution of several ILO technical cooperation projects concerning in particular support for the programme of labour-intensive activities. With reference to its previous comments, it trusts that the Government will indicate, as requested in Part V of the report form, the action taken or contemplated as a result of the assistance and advice received under ILO technical cooperation projects and any factors which may have prevented or delayed such action.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

The Committee notes that the Government's report has not been received. It refers to its previous comments and it hopes that a report will be supplied for examination by the Committee at its next session and that it will contain full information on the matters raised in its previous direct request, which read as follows:

1. The Committee notes the Government's very brief report for the period ending June 1988. The Government mainly refers to an ILO multidisciplinary advisory mission which visited Uganda in October-November 1988 to review methods of strengthening the Ministry of Labour's structure and functions. The Committee is concerned about the serious problems in the fields of employment policy, labour administration and wages and incomes policy described in the report of the ILO mission ("Wages, incomes policies and employment in Uganda: Agenda for institutional reform", which was published by JASPA in 1989). The mission made various recommendations in its report, including project ideas of technical assistance. It pointed out in particular the urgent need to establish a labour market information system in order to build up in a systematic way necessary database for policy-makers and planners to translate employment planning into the promotion of job opportunities. It also suggests that particular attention should be paid to the collection and analysis of information as a basis to deal with the occupational needs of specific categories of workers such as rural workers, workers in the informal sector, women, young persons and the disabled.

2. Furthermore, the Committee was informed that the ILO has also been active in supplying technical co-operation through four labour-intensive support projects; and three new projects related with employment and population planning have been implemented since 1989.

3. The Committee hopes that the Government will benefit from the technical assistance, especially the assistance of JASPA, in order to enable it to promote the goal of the Convention to pursue an active employment policy (Article 1 of the Convention). It hopes in particular that, taking into account the labour market situation, the projects designed to strengthen the labour administration and the labour market information system could be made operational shortly in order to further assist the Government in deciding and keeping under review, within the framework of a co-ordinated economic and social policy, the measures to be adopted to attain the objectives specified in Article 1 (Article 2). It trusts that in its future reports the Government will supply all available information on the action taken as a result of the technical assistance provided by the ILO, and indicate any factors which may have prevented or delayed such action (point V of the report form).

4. The Committee hopes that the next report or reports will contain all available information on the measures adopted or envisaged to implement the Convention, including a description of the policies pursued and the measures taken in the framework of the ongoing Economic Recovery Programme, with particular reference to overall and sectoral development policies, labour market policies and educational and training policies. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which the effects on employment of measures taken to promote economic development or other economic and social objectives receive due consideration.

5. Article 3. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the Government's statement that the Labour Advisory Board is expected to be reconstituted soon, and that it is hoped that the current labour legislation being drafted will place the Board on a statutory basis. In this connection, the Committee would like to emphasise the relevance of the recommendation made by the mission report mentioned above and according to which the tasks of policy-makers, planners and those involved in labour market information activities could be strengthened by the formation of a national tripartite co-ordinating committee with representatives from relevant government ministries and agencies and employers' and workers' organisations. The Committee trusts that in its next reports the Government will provide further indications on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken, and in particular representatives of employers and workers, are consulted. Please also indicate whether formal consultative procedures in the matters covered by the Convention have been established.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 1990, published 77th ILC session (1990)

1. The Committee notes the Government's very brief report for the period ending June 1988. The Government mainly refers to an ILO multidisciplinary advisory mission which visited Uganda in October-November 1988 to review methods of strengthening the Ministry of Labour's structure and functions. The Committee is concerned about the serious problems in the fields of employment policy, labour administration and wages and incomes policy described in the report of the ILO mission ("Wages, incomes policies and employment in Uganda: Agenda for institutional reform", which was published by JASPA in 1989). The mission made various recommendations in its report, including project ideas of technical assistance. It pointed out in particular the urgent need to establish a labour market information system in order to build up in a systematic way necessary database for policy-makers and planners to translate employment planning into the promotion of job opportunities. It also suggests that particular attention should be paid to the collection and analysis of information as a basis to deal with the occupational needs of specific categories of workers such as rural workers, workers in the informal sector, women, young persons and the disabled.

2. Furthermore, the Committee was informed that the ILO has also been active in supplying technical co-operation through four labour-intensive support projects; and three new projects related with employment and population planning have been implemented since 1989.

3. The Committee hopes that the Government will benefit from the technical assistance, especially the assistance of JASPA, in order to enable it to promote the goal of the Convention to pursue an active employment policy (Article 1 of the Convention). It hopes in particular that, taking into account the labour market situation, the projects designed to strengthen the labour administration and the labour market information system could be made operational shortly in order to further assist the Government in deciding and keeping under review, within the framework of a co-ordinated economic and social policy, the measures to be adopted to attain the objectives specified in Article 1 (Article 2). It trusts that in its future reports the Government will supply all available information on the action taken as a result of the technical assistance provided by the ILO, and indicate any factors which may have prevented or delayed such action (point V of the report form).

4. The Committee hopes that the next report or reports will contain all available information on the measures adopted or envisaged to implement the Convention, including a description of the policies pursued and the measures taken in the framework of the ongoing Economic Recovery Programme, with particular reference to overall and sectoral development policies, labour market policies and educational and training policies. It would be grateful if the Government would indicate the manner in which the effects on employment of measures taken to promote economic development or other economic and social objectives receive due consideration.

5. Article 3. Further to its previous comments, the Committee notes with interest the Government's statement that the Labour Advisory Board is expected to be reconstituted soon, and that it is hoped that the current labour legislation being drafted will place the Board on a statutory basis. In this connection, the Committee would like to emphasise the relevance of the recommendation made by the mission report mentioned above and according to which the tasks of policy-makers, planners and those involved in labour market information activities could be strengthened by the formation of a national tripartite co-ordinating committee with representatives from relevant government ministries and agencies and employers' and workers' organisations. The Committee trusts that in its next reports the Government will provide further indications on the manner in which representatives of the persons affected by the measures to be taken, and in particular representatives of employers and workers, are consulted. Please also indicate whether formal consultative procedures in the matters covered by the Convention have been established.