Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2010, published 100th ILC session (2011)

Employment Service Convention, 1948 (No. 88) - Madagascar (Ratification: 1998)

The Committee notes the Government’s report received in November 2009 and the labour market statistics covering the period between 2007 and 2009. It requests the Government to provide additional information on the following points.

Articles 4 and 5 of the Convention. Cooperation with the social partners. The Government indicates that the social partners who are members of the National Labour Council (CNT) are always consulted on every matter relating to employment and continuous training. It indicates that the Employment and Vocational Training Commission of the CNT has examined two draft texts on continuous vocational training; a draft amendment to Decree No. 64-495 of 18 November 1964 establishing an employment service and a draft Decree to reinforce the missions of the Malagasy Employment and Vocational Training Observatory. The Committee invites the Government to indicate in its next report the manner in which the cooperation of the social partners has been secured in the organization and operation of the employment service.

Functions of the employment service. The Government indicates that, following the adoption of Decree No. 2009-804 of 9 June 2009 determining the responsibilities of the Minister of the Public Service, Labour and Labour Legislation, the missions of the employment service have been broadened, taking into account the increase in the number of unemployed as a result of national and international crises. In its General Survey of 2010 on employment instruments, the Committee observed that, in the context of the global economic crisis, efficient employment services play a key role in maintaining full employment and securing the needs of the workers and enterprises affected (General Survey, op. cit., paragraph 202). It invites the Government to indicate the manner in which the employment service has contributed to ensuring “effective recruitment and placement”, as required by Article 6 of the Convention, in the context of the national and international crisis.

Article 8. Special measures for young persons. In reply to the previous comments, the Government indicates that in 2007,  around 100 apprenticeship contracts were concluded between the employment services and first-time jobseekers, but that since 2008, in view of the changes made at the level of those responsible, negotiations for apprenticeship contracts have been set aside and the number of apprenticeship contracts only amounts to around ten. The Committee invites the Government to provide updated information in its next report on the measures adopted in the context of employment and vocational training services to combat the unemployment of young persons.

Article 9. Staff of the employment service. The Committee requests the Government to report any measure adopted or envisaged to give effect to this Article.

Article 11. Collaboration with private employment agencies. The Committee notes Decree No. 2005-396 of 28 June 2005, which was attached to the report, establishing the arrangements for the operation of private employment agencies and for the granting and withdrawal of authorization. In its contribution to the 2010 General Survey, the Government also indicated that there were no major obstacles to the ratification of the Private Employment Agencies Convention, 1997 (No. 181). The Committee hopes that the Government and the social partners will make progress with a view to the ratification of Convention No. 181. It also invites the Government to indicate in its next report how effective cooperation is ensured between the public employment service and private employment agencies.