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

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - El Salvador (Ratification: 1995)

Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Coordination of employment policy and poverty reduction. In response to the observation of 2006, the Government presented a comprehensive report in August 2007. The Government indicates that the annual economic growth rate in 2006 was 4.2 per cent, the highest in the last ten years. In 2006 some 35,000 new jobs were created and 29 new enterprises were established, thereby increasing the number of contributors to the Salvadoran Institute of Social Security and slightly reducing the official unemployment rate (6.5 per cent in 2007 according to data published by ECLAC). From 2005 to 2006 some 600,000 to 625,000 new regular jobs were created in the agricultural sector. The Government emphasizes that the economic indicators are a positive sign that efforts to create lasting and decent employment are succeeding. With regard to the impact of the Dominican Republic–Central America–United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA–DR), the Government projects major economic growth and employment gains in the entire region, including the creation of between 120,000 and 360,000 new jobs during the first six years of its entry into force. The Committee hopes that the next report will include an update on the impact of the trade agreements on the creation of lasting employment. In this respect, the Committee asks the Government to provide information on the manner in which the Government’s programmes and plans have included the promotion of employment to ensure that the creation of quality jobs is a central aspect of the macroeconomic and social policies.

The Committee notes the efforts being made in the framework of the National Network for Employment Opportunities in which placement services and labour-related information were being offered. With the support of the Spanish International Cooperation Agency, an action plan for the network had been formulated to facilitate the establishment of local employment management offices in the metropolitan area of San Salvador, La Paz and Ahuachapán. In 2006 the National Network for Employment Opportunities succeeded in finding jobs for a total of 16,102 persons. Furthermore, the Government included information on the results obtained by means of employment fairs (82,754 jobs had been offered and 40,984 jobseekers had found work opportunities). Measures to promote employment had been implemented in the Gulf of Fonseca region and other areas (Nonualcos, San Andrés Valley) through coordinated action among members of the employment network. The Committee asks the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken and the results achieved to encourage lasting employment in the most vulnerable sectors (women, young workers, older workers, rural workers and workers in the informal economy). Please add a summary of the policy proposal to promote youth employment and the results obtained for the promotion of their employment and vocational training.

Article 3. Participation of the social partners in the formulation and application of policies. The Government indicated that assistance from the ILO in the framework of the National Programme for Decent Work would be extremely helpful for the strengthening and continuity of its initiatives. The Committee once again requests the Government to forward the documents approved on the National Programme for Decent Work in relation to employment policy. The Committee also invites the Government to provide more detailed information on the consultations held with representatives of the most vulnerable categories of the population, in particular representatives of rural workers and workers in the informal economy, when formulating programmes and seeking support to implement employment policy measures.