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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Honduras (Ratification: 1980)

1. The Committee notes the Government's report and the detailed documentation that was attached relating to a number of points raised in its 1988 direct request. According to the data supplied by the Government, or that is available to the Office, the rate of open unemployment was around 12-13 per cent (between 1986 and 1988) and it is estimated that over 48 per cent of the labour force at the national level is underemployed. Within the framework of the employment generation programme agreed upon between the Ministry of Finance and the Agency for International Development of the Government of the United States of America (USAID), projects have been undertaken mainly to achieve improvements in respect to water shortages, the degradation of national resources and the deterioration of infrastructures, which have made it possible to generate more than 2,100 jobs per year until the end of 1987.

The Committee would be grateful if the Government would include information in its next report on the measures adopted within the framework of the employment generation programmes which ensure that these programmes contribute to promoting full, productive and freely chosen employment (Article 1 of the Convention). Please also indicate the extent to which the employment objectives set out in the 1987-1990 National Plan have or are being attained and describe the principal policies pursued and the measures adopted to meet all employment needs, with particular reference to overall and sectoral development policies (and in particular the measures adopted in such fields as investment policy; fiscal and monetary policies; trade policy; prices, incomes and wages policies).

2. Article 2. The Committee notes with interest the survey forms on households and the labour force, and the other material supplied in the Government's report from the General Directorate of Statistics and Census. The Government states that in order to promote development and employment a plan is being carried out to privatise various enterprises that failed when operated under the direction of the State. The Committee requests the Government to supply information in its next report on the impact of the privatisation plan on the labour market and to describe the procedures adopted to ensure that the effects on employment of measures taken to promote economic development or other economic and social objectives receive due consideration, at both the planning and implementation stages.

3. Article 3. For the third time in succession the Committee notes the lack of information in the Government's report permitting it to assess the extent to which the representatives of persons affected by the employment policy are consulted. The Committee recalls the importance of consultations with representatives of persons affected by the measures to be taken and that these consultations should have the objective of taking into account their experience and views and enlisting their support for such policies. The Committee trusts that in its next report the Government will not fail to supply the information called for in the report form on the consultations held with representatives of employers' and workers' organisations and of the persons affected, such as those working in the rural sector and the informal sector.

4. The Committee notes with interest that the production of coffee has absorbed increased numbers of the rural labour force. The Government also refers to a project for the rural sector consisting of the provision of food for agricultural workers in exchange for work performed through co-operatives. The Government may find it useful in this connection to consult paragraph 27 of the Employment Policy Recommendation, 1964 (No. 122) and it trusts that the Government will supply information in its next report on the above project and on other measures that are intended to create productive employment opportunities in the rural sector.

5. The Committee notes with interest the 1986-89 Plan of Activities of the National Institute of Vocational Training and also requests the Government to include information in its next report on the results achieved by the measures adopted to co-ordinate education and vocational training policies with prospective employment opportunities.

6. Part V of the report form. Please indicate the action taken as a result of the various technical co-operation projects undertaken by the PREALC and the competent departments of the Office in areas related to an active employment policy.

7. Finally, the Committee notes the document "Diagnostic. Operative Annual Plan for 1989" prepared by the General Directorate of Employment, that was supplied by the Government with its report. It trusts that in its next report the Government will indicate the manner in which the conclusions and recommendations contained in the above document have been put into effect.