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

Human Resources Development Convention, 1975 (No. 142) - Azerbaijan (Ratification: 1992)

The Committee notes the Government’s report received in September 2005 and the information therein on legislation and institutions concerned with vocational guidance and vocational training. Further to its previous request, the Committee asks the Government to supply supplementary information on the following points.

1. Article 1, paragraphs 1 to 5, of the Convention. Close relationship with employment and equality of opportunity. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that, in the framework of a collaboration project between the Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) dating from 2002, a further training programme of pedagogical resources and technical infrastructure for occupational training, retraining and further training organized by the employment services for the unemployed and jobseekers has been prepared. While recognizing that the occupational training system does not respond entirely to current labour market needs and that improvement is still necessary, the Government indicates that during recent months the employment services have set up teaching programmes for the organization of short-term occupational courses on various subjects particularly in demand in the labour market. The Government indicates that, for the period 2002-03, the employment services have provided training for 4,527 people including 3,476 young people, 889 refugees and displaced persons and 36 handicapped persons. The Committee notes this information and requests the Government to continue to supply information on measures taken to ensure that vocational guidance and vocational training policies and programmes are comprehensive and coordinated and that they are closely linked to employment and the public employment service. The Committee also asks the Government to describe the measures taken to encourage women to develop and use their professional skills in all branches of economic activity and at all levels of occupational qualification and responsibility.

2. Article 2. Open, flexible and complementary systems. The Committee notes the information on general, technical and professional education as well as the number of establishments, students and teachers for the period 2003-04. It also notes the process of reform of the educational system launched in 1999. It requests the Government to indicate how complementarity is ensured between initial and further occupational training activities being conducted within and outside the formal education system.

3. Article 3, paragraphs 1 to 3. Policy of vocational guidance and information for the purpose of occupational guidance. The Committee noted earlier the establishment of a vocational guidance centre. On this subject, the Government indicates that for the period 2002-03 almost 2,000 pupils in the final year of secondary general education in the town of Baku have followed a vocational guidance programme and been given vocational advice. In addition, in the framework of the project with the UNDP, teaching material for organizing vocational guidance and a computerized system for identifying the jobs sought by the unemployed and by employers has been prepared. The Committee notes this information and, with reference to its previous request, asks the Government to indicate whether vocational guidance also includes information on conditions of work, and occupational safety and health and whether information is given on the collective Conventions and rights and obligations of all parties covered by labour legislation.

4. Article 5. Cooperation with organizations of employers and workers. The Government indicates that, under the Act on employment, 2001, local bodies of the executive authorities, associations of employers and trade unions prepare each year territorial employment programmes, of which certain sections are devoted to questions of vocational training, retraining and higher training of the unemployed and jobseekers. In addition, at local level there exist employment assistance coordination committees comprising representatives of the social partners. Finally, the social partners participate in preparing the national employment policy in regard to matters linked to improving the system of vocational guidance, vocational training and further training of the labour force. The Committee takes due note of this information and would be grateful if the Government would supply examples of the matters dealt with by these bodies, any advice they have given and the manner in which this is taken into account.

5. Part V of the report form. Application in practice. The Committee notes the statistics supplied by the Government on the number of persons who have received training. It requests the Government to continue to supply this type of information and to specify the placement rates recorded subsequently. It also requests the Government to communicate extracts from any reports or statistical data allowing appreciation of the effect given to the provisions of the Convention in practice.