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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Venezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) (Ratification: 1982)

1. Application of the employment policy within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy.  The Committee takes note of the information provided by the Government in September 2004 with regard to its 2003 observation. The Committee notes with interest the reference to Convention No. 122 upon the adoption of Decree No. 2898 of 28 April 2004 which establishes a Presidential Commission for the support and incorporation of small- and medium-scale industries, cooperatives, micro-enterprises, family enterprises and other associative forms with regard to activities linked to agriculture, industry, tourism, infrastructure, manufacture of goods and provision of services in the country. This Presidential Commission will be responsible for implementing a special plan known as "Misión Vuelvan Caras" (Mission Returning Faces) to incorporate community associations into the process of the economic and social transformation of the State through the creation of centres of endogenous development and new sources of work. The Committee reiterates its request that, in its next report, the Government give details regarding the relations that have been established between the objectives of its employment policy and the other social and economic objectives, taking into account the fact that the Convention requires that labour policy measures be determined and regularly revised "within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy" (Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention). The Committee asks the Government to provide the results obtained with regard to the creation of productive and sustainable employment, through the actions of the "Misión Vuelvan Caras" programme, as well as through the State Special Purchasing Plan, the "Monta Tu Negocio" (Start your Own Business) programme and the "Fábrica de Fábricas" programme (Business Factory) programme referred to by the Government in its report.

2. According to information published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in its Economic Survey of Latin America and the Caribbean, 2004-05, the increase in economic activity was reflected in the fall in the unemployment rate, from 16.8 per cent in the second quarter of 2003 to around 12.5 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2004. The level of informal employment, which was over 50 per cent at the end of 2003, fell to 47 per cent on average by the end of 2004. In May 2005, the unemployment rate stood at 12.6 per cent. Annual economic growth for 2004 stood at 17.9 per cent and in the first quarter of 2005 the economy grew by 7.9 per cent, driven by the non-oil sector, in particular the following subsectors: construction; trade; transport and financial institutions. Growth of around 7 per cent is forecast for 2005. The Committee requests the Government to include in its next report information on the situation, level and trends of employment, unemployment, and underemployment which are required by the report form, indicating the extent to which particular categories of workers are affected (women and young people belonging to the poorest sectors of the population and workers in the rural sector and the informal economy).

3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. In response to the 2003 observation, the Government indicates that the round-table discussions have contributed to re-establishing trust between employers and workers with regard to Government management and have encouraged both sectors to take an active part in the implementation of the country’s plans for economic and social development. The Committee asks the Government to include updated information in its next report on the way in which social dialogue contributes to the adoption and application of employment policies and reiterates its interest in receiving data on the measures adopted regarding consultations with representatives of the rural sector and the informal economy with regard to opportunities for obtaining decent work (Article 3).