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

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

1. Articles 1 and 2 of the Convention. Implementation of an employment policy in the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in August 2008 in reply to the direct request of 2007. The Committee notes that, according to the information provided by the Government, between January 2004 and December 2007, the employed population increased from 9,793,825 persons to 11,707,121, with more than 1,900,000 new jobs being created. According to the Government’s explanations, the reduction in the active population has contributed to the significant reduction in unemployment and the unemployment rate fell between January 2004 and December 2007 from 19.1 per cent to 6.2 per cent. These results were achieved through the improvement of economic growth processes which included strengthening transformation relating to the recovery of industrial parks, contribution incentives, the modernization of telecommunications, the implementation of a new view of agricultural production, as well as activities to facilitate the financing of production through access to credit for small and medium-sized industries. Among the strategic objectives of the Che Guevara Mission, the Government also mentions the objective of placing employment at the centre of economic and social policy at the national, regional, local and communal levels. The Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the steps taken to generate productive, stable and high-quality employment. It reiterates to the Government its interest in receiving information on the extent and distribution of the labour force, employment, unemployment and underemployment and the manner in which such information has been used as a basis for regularly reviewing the employment policy measures that have to be adopted as an integral part of a coordinated economic and social policy to achieve the objectives set out in the Convention.

2. Workers in the informal economy. The Committee notes the slight decrease in informal employment in response to Government programmes aimed at strengthening productive activity, ensuring widespread social security coverage and providing support for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Committee notes that, despite the measures implemented, informal workers account for almost half the economically active population, and around 5.5 million persons are working in the informal economy. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the steps envisaged to facilitate access by workers in the informal economy to resources, product markets, credit, infrastructure, training, technical knowledge and advanced technology. It also requests the Government to include information in its next report on the impact in terms of generating employment of the steps taken under resolution No. 2888 of 2003, as well as other steps that it is taking to promote and develop the activity of micro and small enterprises.

3. Employment promotion and vulnerable groups. The Committee notes the downward trend in the unemployment rate of persons over the age of 45 years. It also notes the steps taken to recognize home work as an economic activity and the action aimed at getting women in extreme poverty into work. Furthermore, measures have also been taken to promote the integration of persons with disabilities into the labour market and their inclusion in vocational training plans. The Committee notes that the rate of youth unemployment (between 15 and 24 years of age) fell to 11.5 per cent in 2007. The Committee requests the Government to provide information in its next report on the steps taken to ensure that the most vulnerable workers find lasting employment, in particular that young persons do not find themselves in precarious jobs and have the possibility of acquiring sufficient knowledge to enable them to remain in the labour market.

4. Article 3. Consultation of social partners on employment policy. The Government indicates that social dialogue is an essential mechanism for contributing to the strengthening and recovery of the national economic fabric. This transformative mechanism is effective with regard to the participation of workers. In this context, the Committee notes the Framework Agreement for Co‑responsibility for Industrial Transformation, the objectives of which include protecting and generating new employment. The Committee reiterates the importance of securing the full cooperation of the representatives of the persons affected in formulating employment policies, including enlisting the necessary support for their implementation. It invites the Government to provide information on the results of the consultations held with the social partners and with representatives from other sectors of the economically active population, such as those working in the rural sector and in the informal economy, in relation to employment policies.